Entering Europe...surprisingly nice!!

Leaving Honduras and the developing world in general is kind of surreal. I look forward to Europe, but ina totally different way.

The flight to Atlanta goes without a hitch. Having heard so many bad stories about immigration nazis I am more than a little surprised when the cheery middle aged white fella I see plays an April fools day prank on me, saying my new chip passport mustn’t be formatted properly. I almost fall for it!

From there on in I lurk around the airport for 3 hours, as my next flight is running late. The place is bloody huge. Six terminals, spotlessly clean and everybody who works there is black. It doesn’t feel so different from Honduras after all, at least the coloured workers. I want to spend a $1 coin from Ecuador, and get tripped up with the tax situation.. a 99c ice cream turns into $1.08. Doh! Going to spend my now more change, I realize I don’t have enough for anything. Out of nowhere the workers pull coins out of their own pockets to help me out! Bizzarree.. maybe the US of A is not such a bad place after all.

The flight across the atlantic goes quick enogh I guess. Into Paris though I way clearly not going to catch my connecting flight to Madrid. This means I have to que up with almost the entire plane for 2 hours to organize another. I explain to the kid who serves me I actually need to get to Dublin, and will now miss my Ryanair flighth. He is all too good about it and reroutes me straight to Dublin, no problems at all.

I have three hours to spend till I have to check in. Noticing the Air France 1st class lounge in the corner, I decide to bluff my way in, seeing as their delay caused my extended stay here. I walk up to the desk, passport in hand and look like I belong towards the five (no less) staff staring at me. This clearly has an effect cos they smile at me… and I walse on thru the door.

The first three mins I wait to get rumbled. Everybody else is wearing a suit, and I am in traveling clothes… Somewhat startlingly nobody challenges me. So I make good use of the internet and bar service. I don’t want to drink too much so… a glass of Bollinger ($100 a bottle in NZ), 2 beers, and 6 self poured bourbon and cokes later I am pretty content. Unfortunately the lounge only has snax for food (bloody palpers).. but I nod “merci”as I wander out the door… sweet!

It is lucky that I got on line though, cos I find a new email from Brad in Dublin, whom I am staying with. His work has called him away.. he is in Zurich till Thursday eve… and today is monday!! His flatmates are being sports though, and say I can still stay there. This works out pretty well, cos I get to sleep in his bed. And indeed I do sleep well.

Flatmates turn out to be sisters Deidre and Katie, who are both good sorts, and over the next few days I see the sights of Dublin… in the SUN!! Four days in a row, no less… And everybody grizzles about how wet it is here… Admittedly it is bloody freezing at night though.

The guiness factory is pretty cool. The old buildings and general layout is nice. Trinity College is massive, and totally enclosed. The whole city is very well set up for tourists, with excellent signage, etc. But most of all I am amused by the people in general. Compared to South America, there is just so much money floating around. No surprises there, but walking thru the large shopping malls and streets hearing kids grizzle at parents to buy them more (and more) is a bit startling. As is the clothing and general appearance of everyone. Loads of makeup and flash haircuts, and trendy clothes of course.

The other interesting thing I note is the number of eastern Europeans, recent immigrants since the EU opened up. I had read about this previously, but am still amazed that you can hear their various languages everywhere, and see specialized food shops even.

Other missions accomplished are receiving a box of my stuff from wanaka (just in time), and swapping my Ozzy driving licence for a local one.

Whn Brad gets back it is the night before Good Friday so we go out for a few drinks. And a few on Friday night too. His mate Tim is over from London too, just to add to the party. Prices are even more scarey than I expected. A four drinks round hits 28 Euros!!! That’s well over my daily budget for the last six months….

Luckily, we spend our one day together (Friday) actually doing something. That being hearding out to the sea at Howth. Again, the sun is shining, so its all very nice.

Flying to London on Saturday, I am amazed to see that Heathrow airport treats Dublin as a domestic flight. No immigration, customs or problems. Very nice. The tube to Jon and Fi’s is quick, and Jon and I enjoy a few beers that night with his local friends.

The next day is also perfectly sunny. The three of us go bike riding, and even play a little hacki sac.

Monday and Tues are in class, starting the training trip with Topdeck, then wed us drivers take off to Holland. More about TT in the next post…. Maybe…