We were quite lazy this morning: we didn’t wake until a few minutes after 8:00! But today is moving day so there’s really no need to rush.

I showered and packed, and then we went downstairs to have some coffee. We rarely purchase breakfast at these places — €15 per person just seems ridiculous! So instead we went to the bar area because Dan had seen a woman with coffee the afternoon before, and we did see an espresso machine there. No one was in the room so we wondered if we’d have to venture out when a man came from the kitchen. We asked if we could just get coffee and maybe a bite and he said he could bring croissants from the breakfast room and yes, he could make my cappuccino and Dan’s espresso. When he came back with four miniature croissants, butter and jam, and proceeded to make our coffees. Perfect! We sat around a bit, and when it was time to pay Dan again had to wait for someone to notice us. A woman finally came into the room and we found out that the croissants were free and we only had to pay for coffee. Can’t argue with that.

She talked a bit to us about the weather. (Turns out she lived in New York for something like seventeen years.) She said the weather they have been having was colder and wetter than usual. We noticed that, finally, the weather looked quite nice and she agreed. Of course we were leaving so it didn’t matter a whole lot to us! (Side note: and yesterday when we were buying our baseball caps the young woman at the register said she had majored in meteorology and it didn’t do her much good with figuring out the weather!)

Going back up to our room after our little breakfast we collected our things, checked the room carefully as we always do, and checked out. We walked in the direction of the “coach station” (bus station to us). Every time we head out of an area it seems I feel as if we missed a lot, but of course it’s impossible to see it all. So it goes.

Partway there popped into a little store to purchase a sandwich for the bus. Arriving at the station we spotted our door and sat nearby.

I had read that we must be at the station ten minutes ahead of departure time but we were about thirty minutes ahead. My kind of timing! We didn’t have to sit for long, as the bus arrived rather soon after we got situated. I had mentioned to Dan that we get no reserved seats on a bus, so I wanted to get on as early as possible. We did, in fact, get in so soon we could easily sit together and find seats toward the front. Lesson: never just arrive at the last minute — some groups of people had to sit separately and I could see they were caught by surprise.

The bus itself was clean, but the seats weren’t terribly comfortable: they were too upright and there was no way to recline them, and anyone of any girth would probably need to buy two seats! They said they had outlets but they were underneath our seats and nearly impossible reach unless one of us stood and the other got down rather low to plug things in. No issue for us since we had fully charged everything, but I do wonder why they hadn’t thought to put them in front of the seats rather than underneath.

There were rules that I had read (although my confirmation didn’t state any of them and I wonder how many people go online to read them). No drugs, do alcohol, no smoking or vaping, no weapons. Well, okay, I guess we can deal, but what to do with my lightsaber?! We were also not to have “odorous” food. We dealt with that too. We are so obedient.

Almost precisely at 11:30 we left the station. Goodbye Galway! (Although we did one other stop in Galway to pick up more passengers.) The ride was fine. Three hours of “fine”. One thing of note was that people on the bus were much quieter than people on most trains we’ve been on. Curious.

I took iPhone shots as we went. The colors are off since the windows are tinted.

There was a quick stop in Limerick as well. No time to get off the bus, though.

Off we drove. Well okay, I did no driving. Off we sat …

… and then we arrived at our final Ireland destination.

Hello Cork!

We went out in search of a taxi as the walk to the hotel would be over and mile. With backpacks that wouldn’t be an issue, but these roller bags make it less pleasant. The lay of the land — or at least the roads — was odd and the driver had to go a round about way, but I knew that would be the case having checked the map earlier.

Our hotel didn’t have our room ready when we arrived, so we hung out in their lounge for about 30 minutes. No biggie.

In 30 minutes it was, in fact, ready, so we headed up. The room is a good size, with one of those not-quite-king beds. At the little coffee station were two pieces of chocolate which was, well, sweet. (Yep, still imaginative here.)

(The last photo above is from our room’s window.)

But then I saw a box of five little chocolates. Hmm. How nice of them to give us even more chocolate! And then I saw the card … and that was even more fun to read.

We did a bit of in-hotel-room laundry, and then we decided what to do with the remainder of the day. Answer: wander around a bit. Duh.

So off we went, just a random walk.

When dinner was desired we just opted to go in to a restaurant for no particular reason other than it looked like it would do. I had prawn curry and Dan had a chicken burger of some sort. Having forgotten to take a photo yet again, I just quickly shot this silly thing. Why? So I can go back if necessary to remind myself of what we had that night. Why? Because occasionally Dan and I reminisce about a trip and we start naming our meals. Why?

Because.

On our walk back to the hotel we clearly fit it so well with everyone wander about. I’m sure people thought we were locals. After all, most of those out and about were probably college age. Like us. Um. Many years ago.

But seriously, I was surprised by the huge number of younger people wandering about. Not quite as surprised by how so many were in summer clothing even though I was in my wool Shacket , though. I’m sure low 60°s here is just fine for summer clothing for them. Me? No, not so much.

Now we are back in our room, and I guess we might want to make plans for tomorrow.

Ciao for now!

Update: Forgot to post the pathetic stats for today.
7,713 steps, 3.12 miles, 0 flights climbed