It seems to have been a long day.....Last night we were told by the receptionist at the Sheraton Hotel, that there was only a 7.00am and a 9.00am shuttle bus to the airport. The 9.00am didn't really give us enough time for a flight from Heathrow, as we know only too well how busy Heathrow can be! She suggested we should get the 7.00am bus. This we did....So it was up at 6.00am and we had both not slept particularly well either.

When booking out this morning, we were given the correct information and there were buses at later times that would have been far more appropriate. Our flight was at 10.35am. We had breakfast at Heathrow and sat around for 2 hours longer than was necessary. But it is better to be early, than stressed thinking you are going to miss the plane. Peter read the paper and I tapped away on blogs, that I do need to catch up with.

The flight to Dublin with British Airways was good, just one and half hours duration. But when we arrived, getting through customs was terrible. And we laughed when a sign told non Europeans to queue one way and the guy directing everyone told us to go the opposite way! Then he came and took us back the way the sign had said we should go! By then they had actually removed the sign! One could say "We are in Ireland"!

Weather is cloudy, but fine in Dublin and a pleasant 17 degrees. We were the only ones transported on the 'Insight' bus. We were met by Debbie at the airport and then our tour director Patrick Kealey (he has to be Irish) at the Hilton Doubletree Hotel. This hotel has tissues, face washer and Wifi, so I'm happy. We were given a double choc warm cookie when we booked it. Delicious it was with a coffee too! And the Sheraton has sent a survey, so I have been quick to give them their feedback! They say they welcome it! 

Dublin looked a nice city, from what we saw on the drive from the airport. Our driver was Mohammad who came from Kosovo, to live in Ireland in 2003. Married his wife who came from the same country in 2005 and they have four boys. He hasn't done any tours for Insight this summer, as their youngest son is only 3 months and he needs to be home at night to help his wife. Good man!

 As we came past the Civic Centre, Mohammad told us the ceremony for Irish Citizenship was being held today. Once you have lived in Ireland for 5 years, providing you have no criminal record, you are invited to become an Irish citizen. The cost is 950 euros and they hold these ceremonies 3 or 4 times a year and there can be up to 4,000 people receiving citizenship at a time. Mohammad talked a little of his home country and it being at war in 1998 through to 1999. His sister was brought to Ireland as a refugee in 1999. Kosovo only has a population of 2 million and is 7 times smaller than Ireland.  

A nap this afternoon seemed the order of the day and the 'Welcome Dinner' was at 6.00pm. Patrick is actually more English than Irish. He has Irish parents, but was educated in England and this is where he lives. He told us we are in for a treat this week. There are 33 of us doing the tour and quite a number have Irish DNA. Patrick talked about the reasons other than the DNA, that we may have chosen to do such a tour. The history of the country, there is plenty of that, forty shades of green, you will certainly see that. Maybe some Irish humour! The Irish are very friendly and we will probably experience a conversation with an inquisitive Irish resident. The Irish love a good time and a big night out is a 'craic'. Cheers is 'slainte'.