May 5 & 6

  We traveled lighter with a large backpack with wheels and a small backpack each.  The large backpacks hold less than 18 kg so there is no problem with overweight luggage.

  We arrived at the Air Canada terminal domestic wing of Toronto Pearson airport at the last gate and walked the 1.6 km to the Air Canada International wing to the its last gate.  The good thing was that we did not have to go through a security line, just a few check points.  We stopped for coffee and a snack at Tim Hortons then settled in to read, since we already had surpassed our daily walking goal.

  While waiting at Toronto Pearson airport, we saw news reports about a terrific wind storm in southern Ontario and Quebec which downed trees and powerlines leaving over 4400,000 Ontario and over 220,0000 Quebec customers without power. The Toronto winds created a ripple effect of delayed flights throughout Canada.

 We were able to find out that the Winnipeg Jets won the hockey game #5 in Nashville with a score of 6 to 2.

  The flight to Dublin was just over six hours.  We left Toronto at 11:35 p.m. (4:35 a.m. in Dublin) and arrived in Dublin at 11 a.m.    

    Total distance walked was 12.96 km for the day.

   We booked Premium Economy for the first time and were pleasantly surprised with the seats and perks.  The seats are a bit wider and recline much further than regular Economy seats. We had a bulkhead behind us so we could tilt back the full range without disturbing anyone behind us. There was plenty of room from the seat in front to cross your legs with room to spare, also making it easy to access your under-seat bags. When we got onboard, not only did our seat have a pillow and blanket, which is normal, but also a 600 ml bottle of water, updated earphones and a pouch (to keep) containing an eye mask for sleeping, a pair of socks, a travel toothbrush and a tiny tube of toothpaste.  Once seated, we were offered a cup of either water or orange juice. Then as the other passengers boarded, menus were handed out from which we could choose a main course of either roasted chicken or beef tenderloin with beans & sweet potato accompanied by a salad with a 20 ml bottle of oil & balsamic vinegar and a moist chocolate cake. The orders were taken before takeoff. The meals were served on china plates with metal cutlery that was wrapped in a white cloth napkin. There was even a glass for a complimentary 200 ml bottle of red or white wine.  It reminded us of the mid 1980s when Wardair flew to England and served the meals on china plates.  We might have got two hours of sleep during the flight.

  Dublin’s temperature was 15 C, it was sunny with a gentle breeze, you didn’t need a jacket.

  We landed at 11 a.m. in Dublin and were shown into our accommodation by 1 p.m. After breezing through luggage pickup and Irish Immigration, it took only 45 minutes to be standing at the #757 Express bus stop to take a 45 minute double decker bus ride, with luggage storage, into central Dublin to near Doheny Bed & Breakfast. The route included using the Dublin Port Tunnel which was underground for several kilometers and surfaced at the Dublin Port along the Liffey River to Tara Street and past Trinity College. We noticed lots of public gardens with colourful tulips and other bright coloured flowers. We are staying two nights at the B&B. We had booked the B&B at the end of October for a cost of just under $110 Canadian per night. It is a typical brick rowhouse over 100 years old in a quiet residential neighbourhood. The room had a skeleton key to unlock the door and the two locks on the main door, each had their own key. Our hostess gave us a good map of Dublin and marked the location of the B&B. Our room was on the main floor with a small ensuite. The dining room, for the morning continental breakfast, was 12 steps down the hall. We found the suitcases that we borrowed from our children, that can convert to a backpack, very useful on the ten minute walk from the bus stop to the Bed & Breakfast.

  We freshened up and took a short nap then walked about 20 minutes (2 km) then to the Liffey River which is bordered by streets and walkways along either side. We walked from Church Street along to Moss Street where we crossed the river on a bridge and walked back to Church Street about 45 minutes (3.5 km). We passed the train station where we had arrived at in Dublin three years ago and recognized some other sights.  It was a beautiful day to be walking.

  We finished with a late afternoon self-guided tour of a Christ Church Cathedral. The official name includes “Cathedral of the Holy Trinity”. It was founded in 1030.  There has been a church on the site for over 1,000 years and some of the original material was used in later century renovations. The last major renovation took place in the 1870s when the removal of previous additions allowed for the materials to be used to reconstruct parts of the original plans. The architect, Mr. Street, replicated the original tile that covered the floors in the 1200s and renewed the floor tile and constructed a vaulted space in the north transept to house the new pipe organ.  Over the centuries it has been the seat of the Irish Parliament and the crypt, that runs the entire length of the church, served as a market place with three pubs during the time when the law courts were next door.  Also displayed in the crypt are costumes used in the TV series “The Tudors”. Both the crypt and the church were used in episodes, of the marriages and baptisms as well as taverns, which were shot in the crypt.  It was spared from Henry VIII’s destruction of Romana Catholic churches with negotiations to become an Anglican church.

  It was after 6 pm when we returned outside to the church yard and we went over to the garden at St. Patrick’s Cathedral just a few streets away.  There were many people enjoying the sun and colourful gardens in the park.  We continued down Nicholas Street which changed names several times, before finding a pub at the corner of South Circular Street, less than a ten minute walk from the B&B. At No. 57 Gastro & Craft Beer Bar, Larry sampled half a pint of O’Hara’s Irish Stout from county Carlow.  There was an option to try several samples at a time with offerings of a tray of 3, 5 or 12 different beers. We chose Cajun Chicken Burger with English chips (deep fried potato wedges) and Fish & Chips. The fish was Hake covered in a beer batter and deep fried. The delicious flaky pieces had a delicate flavor.

    The sun was still shining at 7:30 as we walked back to the B&B.  Sunset in Dublin is around 9 p.m.

Today’s total distance walked was 12.84 km.