Rocky Roads of Dublin
In July and August 2005, I spent two weeks in Ireland. Most of it was with a tour group via a public radio station, before I stayed at a Dublin hostel for three days. This excerpt covers the transition from traveling with a group to staying at a hostel.
Saturday August 6. 2005
The tour group ate breakfast at Trinity College. It was a cafeteria, but of course with tea and the ubiquitous little pitchers of milk. We had our last conversations over breakfast (when I’m not at my most awake). We parted, and I headed straight for the hostel in hopes that I could check in immediately, since I have luggage. I felt some sorrow at parting with the group.
My final breakfast with the tour group — at the Trinity College breakfast cafeteria (they have another dining hall besides that) — involved much chatting, so we were at the table well after most of us finished eating. I mention this because the party animal Dave told the group about some kids in their early twenties, who he and Lynn met at a pub the night before. He said that one of them was so outgoing and talkative that he made Bob look quiet, which I found rather amusing given the way Bob talks (but at least he says interesting things — he…