The Fool's Are Off!

Ah, we defy you, you fool's errand...

May 24th, 2010- The week started out innocently enough. The five Fools waking up in their respective houses, awaiting a ride from Mr. Steve Flynn. Austin and Ann were the first to join Steve on the early morning venture to Lou and Laura's only for the last stop before the airport to be at the Vic, where we picked up Rita. Surprised that we were able to stow their bags neatly in the back of the minivan, we breathed relief at trying to fit our luggage in the smallish cars we were to rent the following day.

After a slight confusion with our check in at DIA (all of us except Laura were sent to speak to an actual person), they checked their monstrous bags and proceeded to procure breakfast before the flight to Chicago.

The Chicago flight was easy and comfortable, though we were reseated and none of us were next to each other. Our layover in the Chi-town was six hours. Since Lou and Laura were recent residents of the city, we decided to head into downtown for some serious bean action. After several photos at the shiny monument in Millennium Park, exhaustion hit the group.

Arriving in what we thought was plenty of time to make our international flight we had a drink at the Gaslight in O'Hare. After the refreshing beverage, Ann went to the gym (Yes, before we were going to get onto the airplane. Yes, they have a gym at O'Hare) and the rest of us decided to relax at the gate and grab some food.

After a quick run through security we went to find our gate only to realize that we did not got go through international security. We zipped to the appropriate gate, went through security and began searching for dinner. Only then to find, that there are no restaurants on the other side of international security at O'Hare. So we went back out, had dinner and went back through security. That's right folks, we went through security three times in about one hour.



The flight from O'Hare to Dublin was about seven and half hours long. Sleeping in economy was and is something that is nearly impossible, though we had the distraction of a bevy of movies and music at our disposal, courtesy of Aer Lingus. At least we were all sat close together. Lou had the pleasure of a nice Iranian-American woman asking him when the plane landed, every hour on the hour. Rita and Laura had the distinct pleasure of the friendly but loud senior citizen brigade announcing their utter confusion as how to work the remote for the television. Needless to say, our weary adventurers got little sleep.

May 25th, 2010- They let us into the country. Really, it was that simple. No brow beating or back room talks or nothing. Suckers. The zombie Fool's Gold stumbled to the car rental where they met with the standard at all rentals. "We know you reserved THESE cars, but we don't have THESE cars. We can rent you THESE other cars, they are smaller though." Rita and Laura displayed there disappointment. For the record, the duo of Rita and Laura expressing their dissatisfaction to the poor young man at Enterprise is enough to never want to run into them in a dark alley. Just saying. Needless to say we got a discount on our 43 day rental of two perfectly little cars that were more than enough for what we needed.

Driving on the left side of the road takes some getting used to but after following Rita's sister-in-law, Linda and Rita's mother, Mary, along with the little squish-able cuteness of Linda's daughter, Juno, we made it to our first home in Dublin.

Our first week has been spent at Rita's sister's home in Ballyfermot (the one on the left with the blue door), a small neighborhood just outside of Dublin proper. A cute little house that the five of us have quickly learned is not nearly enough space for 5 people. Proudly however, we can say that thus far no causalities can be reported, though Austin has disappeared. Austin?

Elaine, Rita's sister, Linda, and Mary served up tea, coffee and snacks that gave us the energy we needed to the next leg of the journey. Delicious yogurt, fruit and chocolate filled our bellies! The dairy in this country is amazing. Seriously amazing.

Continuing forward with our first day in Dublin, the crew decided to journey to Dublin for a bit of adventure. Hopping a bus, as to drive in Dublin is like driving in hell, the Fool's headed downtown to meet with Gary, Rita's brother. Gary definitely had the upper hand as he jokingly harassed us. But Fool's were on the downward spiral of what felt was several weeks worth of travel. We managed to have our first pint at Fitzpatrick's, where Lou nearly fell asleep at the bar.



Heading back to their Dublin home the Fool's rested for several hours before waking up to eat and then going back to sleep. It was a good first day.