Day 8

Got the 7:09am train to the airport and arrived 35 mins later. Took all of 5 mins to check-in, drop off a bag, and get through security, as neither had lines. Headed to Turkish Air’s contract lounge with Skyserve where I had some hot chocolate, yogurt and some marble pound cake, along with a banana and some water. Departed on time at 10:05am.

Turkish flight to Istanbul was an hour long once in the air, but that was enough time for a snack tray of a small salad with feta cheese and a turkey sandwich. Landed in Istanbul in the middle of a snowstorm, and had to be bused to the terminal from a remote stand, and that meant walking down the stairs in the snow and waiting on the bus with doors open while snow swirled about us. Fortunately my connecting Dublin flight did not get cancelled (saw one flight on the monitors to Pisa cancelled, and an Irish woman told me 30 others were cancelled). We did depart about 45 mins late and had to be deiced. Wasn't expecting snow for this trip but a nice diversion.

Lunch on the Dublin flight was eggplant, rice and chicken with another feta cheese and tomato salad, with chocolate mousse for dessert. Had a nice chardonnay with that. My in-seat audio was not working so fired up the tablet and watched Where Eagles Dare. Once airborne, flight time was 4 hours. Irish customs requested to scan my bags as I had torn off the airline destination tags. Told me not to do that again. Saw one person to the side who was flagged for bringing in too many cigarettes.

Caught the Airlink 747 bus into the city around 4:45 and was checked into my hotel about 45 mins later. Stopped at a Kentucky Fried Chicken at 7:30 for a chicken sandwich. Headed out just after 9 for music and ended up at Fitzsimon's in Temple Bar which had a very good singer/guitarist. Sipped on a pint of Smithwick's Irish Ale during the performance. Was back at my hotel, Maldron in Parnell Square, at 11p.m.