The trip began well enough with the train into Pearson. I was solo as this was an item on my bucket
list, attending a World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon) and not Geri’s. I added a few days at the front end to do
some dark political tourism in Derry as the cheapest flight I could find was on
Rouge to Belfast via Edinburgh.
Smooth train ride to Pearson. And on arrival I got a free entry to one of
the stand-alone (not connected to an airline) lounges because I have a low-end
Amex card.
I had to overstay the time allotted to me though as my
flight was, in the end and after several rolling changes, four hours late in
departing for Edinburgh. By the time I
realized that it was going to be late in leaving I had already eaten the cannabis
brownies we use to sleep through flights while keeping our backs relaxed. We time them such that they kick in about the
time we board the aircraft, allowing for a one hour delay while the THC kicks
in. Makes it possible to sleep on the
plane no matter how small the seat.
Made the last couple of hours I spent in the lounge kinda
fun. I oscillated from having a fine time
to being ready to put my hands behind my back when the SWAT team figured out
that I had overstayed my free two hours.
Edinburgh Drama:
On arrival in Edinburgh I tried to relax and make the best
of things. Kinda proud of how well I did
at that.
Turned out that there are only two FlyBy Airlines flights
from Edinbugh to Belfast on Saturdays and the first had, as expected,
left. The second was full but I went on
standby for it anyway, killed a few cappuccinos. Just in case someone didn’t claim their seat.
No dice, it stayed full.
Air Canada gave me a room at an airport hotel plus food and booze to a
max of I think 100GBP. So my plan was to
nap, head into town and see what I could of Edinburgh. The nap went well but when I woke up it was
raining heavily. I grabbed my Kindle and
went to treat myself to a steak for dinner on Air Canada. It and a book and some nice (and free) wine)
were the plan.
A couple of bites into the steak I was running out of oxygen
and standing by my table, trying to convince people in the dining room to give
me the Heimlich maneuver. About three
quarters of the room looked annoyed at me for disturbing their evening meal and
the rest looked as scared as I felt.
Only one other guest and the bartender started running
towards me. I still don’t know which but
one of them grabbed me and did the deed.
I turned my back to them to speed things up as my vision was going red
around the edges by then.
After much gratitude etc. I sat back down and continued my
meal. Actually finished it. But later spat up some blood when brushing my
teeth for bed. I asked about a clinic
etc at the desk and choose to spend a couple of hours reading and drinking ice
water in the lobby while the staff kept an eye on me.
Once the bleeding stopped it was fine though I did stick to
soft food for the rest of the trip I think.
I am in line to take a first aid course that includes the Heimlich.
Sunday morning I was off to Belfast. From the domestic airport I took the
Airporter bus to Derry.
Derry:
Fascinating. A
flashpoint during The Troubles and where Bloody Sunday took place.
Photos HERE.
The tensions are ramping up again as Brexit approaches. Some really unpleasant actions by Loyalists
and some petrol bombs in reply just the day before I finally arrived.
Abbey Road B&B is highly recommended. See photos.
Mostly walked around on my own. Aside from the murals left over from or
referencing the Free Derry period lots of political graffiti and memorials to
both civilians and IRA volunteers killed by the British.
I took the murals walking tour. These are conducted by the families of those
killed on Bloody Sunday. The Free Derry
Museum was also worth a look-see and some cash.
My only regret was that because of the delay I wasn’t able
to make lunch or a beer with the General-Secretary of the Derry Trades Union
Council. Would have been the icing on
the cake.
Bus to Dublin:
Bit of a tour of Loyalist towns and some rather deliberately
and spectacularly offensive symbols, liberally used.
News to you I am sure:
Ireland is very green. 😊
And it rains a lot.
Perhaps there is a connection.
Anyway, the whole time I was there it rained with little or no
warning. Small storms in off the Irish
Sea.
Dublin:
Photos of the Dublin bits HERE.
It has been a long time since we travelled to Europe in the
summer. 1984 for me I think. The cost of rooms was a reminder of why
(weather being the other reason). So I
stayed in the Trinity College dormitory.
Stark but serviceable. Short
middle-of-the-night trot to the toilet.
I enjoyed the WorldCon.
Glad I went, crossed it off my list.
The convention programme was 188 pages.
6300 people registered. All
organized by volunteers. Very
impressive.
But I am more a reader of science fiction than a serious
fan. And while I got to meet some nice
folks and see and hear some authors I have been reading (one for fifty years or
close to it I think), I won’t be off to another one. Just not my thing plus I thought it was just
too big. The largest room at the Dublin
Conference Centre holds 3,000 people.
Which meant that I often had to line up to get into workshops or panel
discussions. Once I skipped a workshop
so that I could line up early to get into a workshop that started two 50 minute
time slots later and still wasn’t there early enough to get in. And I was never able to get anywhere near the
front of the lines when I tried to get my name down for a beer with Joe
Haldeman.
Anyway, other than some longish waits I had fun at the
WorldCon. Finally go to see one. And the strange people who go to them.
When not there I took Lorcan Collin’s renowned 1916 Rising
walking tour and made the required pilgrimages: Glasnevin Cemetery, Connolly
statutes, Larkin statue, Dunnes Stores strike memorial.
Just as importantly I got to The Celt for what will likely
be my last pint there before I croak. A
pub Geri and I have always made our local when in Dublin.
Met friends there too, always an oddly fun thing to do when
far from home. Pat and Michael were in
Dublin on their way to Michael’s family reunion. And Blaine and Rosalie had swapped houses
with a retired professor (I think) and where just outside town for a whole
month.
I met B and R at the Guinness Storehouse, a stout museum. Again, travelling during the high season was a
problem as the place was PACKED. Bit embarrassed
that I had recommended it to them actually.
As always, Dublin public transport was fab as were the
busses Belfast to Derry and Derry to Dublin.
Got in a really, really interesting lunch with the
International Secretary at the ICTU and coffee/breakfast with three folks from
the Dublin TUC. Always interesting to
see and hear how other people do things.
Especially with Brexit looming.
Seamless trip home.
Two years in a row when I have had some solo travel. Don’t mind but not as much fun as Geri to
talk to each evening about the day past and the one to come.
