Dublin

Up about 2.45 to get ready for the taxi to the airport at 4! The hotel gave us a breakfast bag with muffins & fruit, most of which we gave to a group of American students at the airport. Checked our bags through to Chicago (yay) but couldn't go through US pre-clearance because we're stopping in London, albeit only long enough to change planes. Dublin airpOrt certainly has changed since we were here 13 years ago and the safety screning was probably the criendlieSt and most efficient I've ever experienced.
Observations/things learned about Ireland:
* Absolutely everywhere you go, even on the hop on bus, you are told that you are "very welcome" here. Some places say it twice, once to Ireland and once to where you actually are.
*Very friendly and jolly people.
* The Irish are very loyal and patriotic and those involved in tourism are well- informed about their history.
* According to the guide at the Little Museum many Irish people have a copy of Ulysses in their home but most of them probably haven't read it!
* Meals are generally very generous serves.
* Only saw lamb on the menu once, it's usually beef & Guiness stew not Irish stew as we know it.
* The Irish national hurling and Gaelic football teams are amateurs and aren't paid.
* People are generally positive that lasting peace has finally come to Ireland.
* I still hate Guiness!! But I do like Jameson whiskey!

DUBLIN - LONDON
Arrived at the airport about 4 a.m. and there was a very, very long queue but it moved steadily. The wonderful Aer Lingus lady booked our cases through to Chicago, but also added Louisville onto the tag, which eventually meant that we didn't need to pay for any of them! Security at Dublin airport was the most efficient and friendly I've experienced anywhere.
OK Aer Lingus flight to London and not much time before next connection.

LONDON - CHICAGO
Fantastic flight on British Airways - lovely crew, great food, fantastic entertainment system & quite comfy seats. US Immigration & security were a nightmare and a total shmozzle.
Arrived at the gate to find the flight to Louisville was delayed by an hour and eventually cancelled due to lightning. We rebooked on a flight leaving at 7.15 the next morning, arrive in Louisville at 1.20 in the afternoon. Ron bought a prepaid SIM card for the phone but we couldn't get the old one out. Internet was only free for half an hour and was dodgy anyway. I had to borrow a kind man's phone to call Norman and let him know. We decided to try for a room at the Hilton, which was next to the airport but they didn't have any. Caught a shuttle to the Hyatt but they didn't have any either so we had to go back to the airport. They had put out lots of stretcher beds with pillows and blankets in the terminal so we grabbed two and stayed put for the night - a first for us! Got quite cold during the night and I didn't get much sleep but it certainly was nice to be able to lie down.

CHICAGO - LOUISVILLE (via Charlotte)
Good flight to Charlotte but not much time to spare for the connection to Louisville.
Norman was waiting and had been there at 9.30 this morning and had to go away and come back!!
It's great to be back in Bardstown again. It's so green everywhere - a bit like Ireland.
Shots of our beds for the night in O'Hare airport.Read more