Day 4: A Day on the Town

Nuala Murphy came home from practice this morning, and put her head down on the table. After a moment of silence she moaned: "I have forgotten what Peter's practices were like, and I was rudely awakened this morning. She was exhausted. To make matters worse for her, Coach Earl, her coach, was there taking notes as Peter put the Blue Wave team through it's paces.

Today after practice was a free day. While the kids of the host families had school, the Blue Wave parents were treated to a day on the town with the team. We all split up and went our separate ways, but what was amazing to me is in a city of 4 million, how often we were running into our teammates. It won't take you long to figure out what group I was with. All the other photos taken out in the city were people that I just happened to run into.

Places we went today were the Dalkey Castle, Dublin Castle (photos by Adam), the Dalkey Bluffs, The Temple Pub, The Guinness Plant, The Penny Bridge, shopping, and walking tours around town. MY FEET ARE KILLING ME, and my legs are dead.

OK, I went with the group that went to the Dalkey Castle. We learned how to kill body lice "organically," the origins and history of the tension between the United Kingdom and Ireland, how food was prepared and how the castles were protected. We learned about life in Dublin 700-800 years ago, and we also learned what was dumped down the murder hole if the castle security was breached - ask your kids about it! This evening Mr. Murphy (our host family), took us up to the bluffs overlooking the Irish Sea, Dalkey, Dun Loaghaire and Dublin. Simply enjoyable. I can only imagine what it must look like in late spring during sunrise. At the highest point of the bluffs there was more than enough snow on the ground for Ty and me to have a snow ball battle. What he did not realize before picking this fight, was that I grew up in the snow belt of northern Pennsylvania. Back to the bluffs: fascinating is how rural and quaint this area is, and within a 20 minute DART ride, you are in the heart of the largest city in all of Ireland.

Parents, know that your kids are becoming quite proficient at the DART - the public train that takes us in and out of town. Perhaps it is a good thing that we do not have any such mass transit in the bay area, or you might never see your children. I got a crash course on how to use the DART (buying tickets, what side to use, where to get on an off, and how to get back - all from my daughter, who, in just a few short days has become an old pro at it).

Christi Hester: She may deny it, but Jessica commented this morning to one of the girls: "I hate it when Peter is right." It was pretty darn cold today - spitting snow several times. He told her that she needed to dress warmer, but she claimed that she was plenty warm enough. Guess what?

Doug and Laura, Sloane is doing just fine. And Liz and Scott: Sorry to break the bad news to you, but Alli may be moving to Dublin. Parents of the older kids: If I saw them more, I would put more photos on line. Rumor has it though, they too have been having a "grand" time.

Well, it is now 1:10 AM and we have to be down at the hotel at 8:45, as the bus leaves for Galway at 9. I have to pack up my computer gear and clothes yet tonight, so I better wrap things up for today. Later!