Started at SFO with a 0920 departure Monday morning to Chicago on an AA 737-800. Had a 3 hour layover there which gave me time to visit the Flagship Lounge (first class international lounge). Nibbled on some pizza rolls and chicken kebab and washed that down with a Sams Adams. Didn't want to eat too much as I knew I'd be fed well on the Dublin flight.
Nice 767-300 flight to Dublin with an 1830 departure--just walked right out the back door of the lounge to the gate. The woman sitting next to me, a Chicago resident, was on the way to meet her husband in Dublin who is on assignment in Scotland. They were heading up here to Belfast on Thursday to see the Titanic Museum. The flight had a couple empty seats up front.
I selected turkey meatloaf as my main course. This is one of the signature dishes that a name-brand chef puts together for AA (the chef also has a lemon grass chicken dish on the menu). Other choices were ravioli or a shrimp dish. I had read some reviews on this meat loaf dish as I was a little worried. I had recently bought the turkey meatloaf that Costco sells in the Bay Area and didn't care for it, but the AA meatloaf, according to one flyer, is supposed to be 50-50 beef/turkey, and I have to admit the meat itself tasted just fine. It could have used a little more pizzaz like some salsa instead of a weak tomato sauce. I probably would not order it again unless it came down to ravioli or meatloaf.
AA supplies Samsung tablets, like the one I have along with me (not good for lengthy e-mails as you have to use the on-screen keyboard), and I watched The Descendants with George Clooney. Made me want to buy a CD with Hawaiian music once I got off the plane. I had sampled another movie and went to this as my second choice.
Slept 2-3 hours at most and was up 2 hours before landing for breakfast.
Was at the gate at 0830 and at passport control 10 minutes later. Officer working there commented that those with my family name always come back to Ireland. Although he asked the two couples in line ahead of me how long they would be in Ireland, he didn't ask me, probably because I told him I'm back every year.
Hit an ATM for Euros, then across the walkway to the bus zone where it was raining. Took shelter under a bus shelter and caught the 0920 bus to Belfast (just over 2 hours, 23 Euros, about $31RT--a one way ticket was $21). Figured when I come back to Dublin this weekend I'll work my way in from the airport for the cost savings of a round trip. Interesting that the bus I was on, operated by the Irish carrier Bus Eireann, is not allowed to pick up passengers once we cross into the U.K.-- they can only drop off. We did make three stops along the way, the first being in Newry, and I'm convinced the bus driver is trying to gain a slot in the Indianapolis 500. He passed cars, zipped around roundabouts and intersections, and clearly didn't want to waste any time getting up to Belfast. I'm still surprised he didn't take out a street sign or another car.
Once in Belfast about a 20 min walk to the Holiday Inn Express on University Street. Lost my bearings slightly as there are so few street signs here. I knew I was heading in the right direction and just intersected with University a couple blocks further out than planned. Checked in right at noon. Had printed a google map but forgot to download the google city map to my tablet. Have that now.
After a long nap headed into the city in the evening, walking around City Hall, the Europa Hotel which has some history to it (see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_Hotel,_Belfast ), and a very dead city center. Not many people out and about. Might have rained while I was sleeping as the streets were wet. Stopped in a Kentucky Fried Chicken just before 10 for a chicken breast sandwich, cole slaw, piece of chicken, fries and a Diet Coke for about $8. Checked out a number of restaurants and will probably hit one of those over the next few days for dinner. Botanic Street, which is about 5 mins from my hotel, is packed with cafes, coffee shops (Starbucks and Neros) and markets, so everything I need is pretty close by.
The first 10 photos in this gallery are from my two AA flights:
http://tom911.smugmug.com/American-....4552&k=HNvqSxZ
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