Welcome to Ireland. I landed on Sunday, last week. I got bumped out of coach and into business class so I had a great seat for sleeping. So I did just the opposite, of course, reading, eating and watching movies. I did manage to catch an hour or so but that wasn’t really enough and I slogged through the day tired.

First order of business when I landed was getting my rental car – no good public transit where I was headed. So I spent about 10 minutes trying to find the doorlock before I realized it, and the driver’s door, was on the wrong side. Oh yeah now I remember. They drive on the wrong side here, too. Right, now I’ve got that sorted.

Next stop was a shopping center to pick up a suit. My dry cleaner apparently went out of business and took my clean suit with him. Note to self, keep an extra suit clean for cases like these. The exchange rate is much better than my last trip here but it’s still not great. I found a good suit that looks great on me (if I do say so myself) but I paid a lot more than I wanted to. Ouch. Damn dry cleaner better not steal this one.

Next stop, the Amber Springs Hotel and Spa, in Gorey. Don’t be fooled by the name, it’s a hole. The Internets didn’t work in the first room I had but it does in the one from which I’m writing you. None of the rooms’ doors seem to close fully unless you pull them shut. I thought it was odd that the hallway smelled like mildew until I saw the large dark patch on the carpet indicating a leak from behind a wall. It’s been there all week so I assume it’s been there longer than that. It’s probably the hot water from my shower, as that seems to be missing. But being a spa, they at least help you get in shape. The elevators don’t work. I give it a half-star – the lone highlight being the sausage in the breakfast buffet.

It’s been beautiful and sunny here all week, but it started raining just in time for the weekend. Ah, lovely Irish weather. I’m heading to the west this weekend, out to Galway or Limerick or something. I’ve got a car I figure I might as well use it. Alright, off to dinner and a Guinness.