Day 12 - Edinburgh to Dublin

We awoke determined to get exercise and see more of Edinburgh before our 2 pm flight to Dublin, Ireland. Before breakfast, we laced up our running shoes and took a jog through Edinburgh as the city awoke. The sun was breaking through the clouds, shops were opening for the day, and we ran into the heart of Edinburgh, across the Royal Mile, and over to Holyrood Park, the largest natural park in Edinburgh. The park is dominated  by a series of hills which are remnants of a historic volcano. We jogged up to the top of the peak and were treated by sweeping views of the city and surrounding landscape out to the Firth of Forth and the North Sea beyond. A compass mounted on the top of Arthur's Seat gives linear directions to other important landmarks in Scotland.

After relishing the view, we jogged back into the city, popped into a corner market for a sweet roll and bought some tangerines and espresso at an open air market, then walked back to our hotel, munching and enjoying our final moments in the city. We packed up the car, and began trying to find our way back out to the airport. One thing we've learned on this trip is that printed Google map directions are pretty much useless as a navigation tool while driving in foreign cities since there are so many one way streets, street closures, unsigned streets and street name changes that we quickly found ourselves lost and reverting to our main city navigation strategy, asking people for directions. We eventually linked to a route that was signed for the airport and made it from there with no problems. We said goodbye to our trusty rental car and after a spell in the airport and a relatively pleasant security line (shoes and light jackets can stay on) boarded a quick flight for Dublin.

When we arrived in Dublin we called Shane Murphy, who readers either know personally or perhaps recall from the wedding as the Irish lad who engaged in a notorious dance off with Meggan Crow, one of Carmen's matrons of honor.  He gave us his address and after picking up another rental car at the airport, we proceeded to blunder our way through Dublin to find Shane's house. The rental car people helped us with directions by telling us that Shane's neighborhood (Ballbridge) was located near the main rugby stadium, so it would be easy to ask people for directions to the neighborhood. This turned our 30 minute drive into a 1 hr 30 min drive. After a scenic expedition that included many requests for directions from pedestrians, wrong turns, and a final phone call to Shane one we reached Ballsbridge, we arrived somewhat disheveled at Shane's house.

Shane, being the gentleman that he is, watered us with beer at this his stylish cottage, then we headed out for dinner at the Winding Stair in the heart of Dublin near the Ha'penny Bridge over the Liffey River. Shane had made us reservations and invited his girlfriend, Michelle and friends Stephen Campion and his wife Jen.  Stephen worked with Gavin (and Shane) at Steve and Kate's Camp in Mill Valley back in the day. We had a great meal and even better company. A highlight was when Jen, Michelle, Stephen, and Shane explained to us the pride many in Ireland felt during a fantastic dance performance, the Riverdance, when traditional Irish step dancers with a modern flair took the world by storm. We were provided with ear buds and an ipod and watched the Riverdance performance on youtube at dinner. Afterwards, we descended on bars in the happening Temple Bar area across the river and Gavin got to try some single malt Irish whiskeys, an important step in his ongoing whisky/whiskey education. We spend the night back at Shane's in Dubin. The leg of our trip in Ireland was off to a great start!