Yesterday morning was no different to any other except that I went to a coffee shop that I had driven past a couple of times in my hunt for my hotel the day before. You know when you spot a cafe that you just know you have to try. Breakfast was an unusual savoury event, especially given that French Toast was on the menu. I had espresso, scrambled eggs with mushrooms, then a flat white. It was excellent except for the flat white. The Irish insist on scorching the milk, and serving coffee in huge cups/mugs which really annoys me.
After brekky I went back to the hotel and finally managed to get an appointment for a massage. It was at 11.45 so that didn't really leave enough time to do anything constructive in between. I wandered into town and on the way in I saw that Evita was playing at the Grand Opera House. I purchased a ticket for the same night. Then I did a spot of shopping at M&S and then caught a taxi for the massage place. On the way, I asked the cabbie what a particular grand building was. Well the Northern Irish may as well be speaking Dutch because I can barely understand a word that comes out of their mouths, especially if they talk fast. I just said thanks.
Had my massage, which was ok, but not deep enough. I had said to the woman that I need you to bring a tear to my eye. She didn't, but I think she was still effective. From there I got a taxi to the Titanic Museum. Spent a bit of time there, it was pretty cool.
From there I went back into the city and got a ticket for the hop on hop off bus, although I wouldn't have time to do a lot of 'hopping off'. However, one of the early stops was at the very building I had asked the taxi driver about. Turns out it was their Parliament House. I only had half an hour there before needing to get the next (and last) bus, but I happened to catch the start of a tour and managed to see the lower and upper house chambers. Not unlike our Parliament House in Australia, a lot of the materials come from other countries, and in their lower house they have some Australian Walnut (I think). The grounds of the parliament were spectacular too. When I was walking up to the building, one of the police started talking to me and he knew we had just had an election and we talked about that and the economy. Lovely chap.
I got back on the bus and did the rest of the tour on the top deck, not undercover. I could have been warm and dry downstairs, but I figured I would see more upstairs. So I wrapped two jackets around me, both we hoods which I wrapped over my head. I must have looked quite a sight. But I got lots of photos. The most interesting part by far was all the murals on the walls. It was great to finally see for myself this area that I have seen images on television news for as long as I can remember. I still have memories of watching the clashes on the news as a little girl.
The bus dropped us back in the city and I went on the hunt to find a particular restaurant that was listed in the magazine I had. I found it, and it was very close to the Opera House, which was in turn very close to my hotel, so I figured I would go back to the hotel, get changed to go see Evita, and have an early dinner (I hadn't had anything since breakfast). The restaurant was called Deane's. I ordered two 'small plates' instead of a main, with a side. So dinner was a Crayfish cocktail. Mushroom risotto with a side of green beans (and a glass of NZ Sauv Blanc of course). All of them outstanding. The meal was so good that I figured I would just have to have dessert even though I was feeling quite full. I ordered Creme Brulee, but asked the waitress to wait 10 or 15 mins before bringing it out. It too, was outstanding. I should point out that the glass of wine I ordered was £8, and in Australia I could have bought the whole bottle for that price! (I noted that a bottle of Cloudy Bay was €55.)
I made my way to the Grand Opera House, and it was indeed grand! The lady and her husband in a wheel chair sitting next to me started chatting to me. Such a lovely couple, so nice. Turns out the husband's cousin is a dude on Adelaide television that does the Ford ads, but I don't watch commercial TV so I can't place him.
Evita was stunning, the woman who played Eva Peron was magnificent. The narrator (Che) was played by Martin from the old band Wet Wet Wet. The couple next to me told me he went off the rails for a bit, turned to drink. But he certainly looked in fine form now. Although I'm not sure his voice was totally suited to the role.
Back at the hotel and the Asian couple in the next room (we had an adjoining door) were talking. Talking at normal voice mind you, but loud enough that I actually had to ring reception to get them to call them, to keep the volume down. I heard the phone ring, then the couple talking again, this time he spoke in a more hushed tone, but she didn't... But it seemed to quieten them down enough for me to fall asleep, except at 1.00 am in the morning I woke, they were still carrying on. I had to put the pillow over my head to fall asleep again. This morning I woke and put the tele on, and turned up the volume and slammed a few doors, just for the heck of it.
After I got ready this morning I went out to grab some breakfast, and I went to a place near the one I went to yesterday, that also looked worth a visit. I had an espresso, toast and then I ordered a flat white. This time it really was proper made barista coffee. I spoke to the barista about not being able to find barista made coffee in Ireland and then not even seeing 'flat white' on the menu. We had a good ol' bitch, being the coffee snobs we are.
I got back to the hotel, and rang mum in Italy, but my cousin Luca answered, I had just missed her by about 5 mins, she was going to her other sister's house for lunch that day.
Checking out, I knew I would have to pay for all the phone calls I had made. They amounted to £9. I was trying to get rid of all my pound, so I gave the lady all my leftover change. But then I had to pay the balance in Euro. I thought I handed her a €10, but I must have handed her a €20, because she then gave me £10 in change. So I ended up with more pounds than when I had started the transaction!
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