How was that wedding? Was Dublin up to your expectations?

The wedding was great. Bride and bridesmaids all pretty much glowed with youth, beauty, all that (and the groom and groomsmen weren't too shabby either!). Hmm, I should do a little travelogue for my sisters, but the short version:

- After camping at Henrick's in Bedford (playing Ringo to Paul and George...thanks Henrick!) I paused in London for a day, rode The Eye (nice day and view) and then, *yes* I took the train to Holyhead and crossed to Dublin on the Irish Ferries Ulysses. The trip was fine. What can I say. I love trains and ferries.

- Weather in Dublin was fine for the most part and our B&B Hotel was just a block south of Saint Stephen's Green. Easy walking everywhere. They hired a double-decker bus to get us all to the wedding and reception. Couldn't be easier.

- Lots of Guiness. The only related disappointment is that the Guiness "tour" really isn't a tour at all, more like an artsy museum walk with a beer at the end. Nice view from the bar, but an expensive "free" beer at Eur 13.50!

- OK, the best part: Monday, with most of the wedding party dispersed, I rented a little Suzuki from Avis and drove west to Grange, Stradbally, Portlaoise, Laois and found the 78 year-old historian of Stradbally (a Ms. O'Dooley) who put me in her Toyota, drove me around the Grange (a spot that exists on no maps but only in the mind of the postman) and pointed out the tumbledown thatched huts and gravestones of Hogans Past. That was a kick.

- Trip back was fine, but no custom in-flight entertainment having left Empeg #2 with Rob....

(edit: oh, and I don't think that Robbie had booked up this hotel, rather that a bunch of folks coming from outside of Dublin for an upcoming Robbie show had booked it full)