Dream to Travel from NCM

Sopot! And we sprung forward today.

March 26th, 2023

Poland changed their clocks and sprung forward at 2AM today.

Weather yesterday and today was good—mid to high 40s. Mostly sunny. Not too windy. Lots of walking. Ok, the bad news, Mike just found out that he has COVID. 😷 Hoping Mike is good for traveling to Galway on April 3!🤞 Anyone want to zoom for happy hour? Your happy hour, my nightcap.

Today. Mike looking good despite COVID. Another usual coffee spot for Mike and me.

Today again. Was actually pretty nice even though in this picture the sky looks kind of ominous.

First morning, yesterday. Latte from my usual spot. Usual morning stroll on the pier—remember from my fall posts, the longest wooden pier in Europe. Opened in 1827. Stretches into the Baltic Sea from the middle of Sopot.

First morning. Nice and sunny. No wind.

AirBnB is nice. Great location again—right off the Monte Cassino pedestrian street and central square again, but on the other side of the square this visit. Two bedrooms, an office (with fold-out couch) and listing said it has one and 1/2 baths. The bath situation is a tad misleading; it really has one bathroom split into two rooms—one room has the shower, sink and laundry, second has the toilet and a sink. So again, really one bathroom split into two rooms. Am I being picky? All ok with me though since Mike stays at his apartment. Mike’s apartment is very close to my rental.

PS I like to get a rental big enough so Mike and I can hang out and cook a little. I also keep hoping that on one of my trips a sibling or niece might join me for a few days. I keep hoping.

Couches are right behind me.

Wish the little garden looked like this now!

This washing machine has words not icons. I can google this! And, I think, this machine is also a dryer. Still trying to figure this out. ; ) Laundry tomorrow.

PS the Polish people are serious about their locks!

PPS washing machine is just that, a washing machine. Darn.

Back to the drying rack.
Last day in Dublin. Wouldn’t be complete without a Guinness Storehouse tour. Leaving for Gdansk this evening.

March 24th, 2023

Took a taxi over to the Guinness Storehouse. Walked back. Tour at 10AM.

Our first tasting.

My favorite part of the tour was the advertising walk-through the ages. I’m kinda missing a science gene so lots of the brewing parts went right over my head.

Cool photo booth.

So much fun to watch. Drinking and serving Guinness.

With me now. With my Guinness at the Gravity Bar. Very good!

Beautiful views of Dublin from the Gravity Bar at the Guinness Storehouse.

Really lovely row homes, during my walk back to The Shelbourne. This is the first real neighborhood I have been in, it is called The Liberties.

Eileen, I thought about you.

To friendly skies!

Friendly skies all around. Arrived in Gdansk no problem. It was late, but easy and the flight was on time.
Walking tour of Dublin + Irish Whiskey Museum + The Pig’s Ear

March 23rd, 2023

Walking, walking and more walking. It was like a summer day today. Weather perfect even though in some of my pictures it looks a bit cloudy.

Off to my walking tour. Stopping to smell the roses. And, of course, get coffee.

We met at the spire at 11AM,

General Post Office was across the street.

Known as “the Liberator” for successfully campaigning for the right of Irish Catholics to become Members of Parliament, Daniel O’Connell is celebrated by the O’Connell Monument on the street which bears his name. O’Connell himself stands surrounded by a frieze of figures depicting elements of Irish society. Immediately underneath O’Connell is the Maid of Erin, symbolizing Ireland, who is pointing at the liberator and holding in her other hand the Act of Emancipation, while her former shackles lie broken at her feet.

The River Liffey is the river that flows through the center of Dublin.

Wax Museum. Didn’t go in, but couldn’t resist a picture of the wicked witch of the west, batman, dracula and superman. Passed this museum on our walking tour.

Entering Temple Bar area.

The Temple Bar is a public house located in the Temple Bar area of Dublin. Standing at the corner of Temple Lane South, the first pub on the site was reputedly licensed in the early 19th century. Some say that it was named after a family with the last name Temple. However, it is more likely that Temple Bar was named after the Temple district in London. Ireland was under British rule at the time and it makes sense that there was a desire in Dublin to imitate a prestigious London neighborhood.

One of two medieval cathedrals within a stone’s throw of each other, Christ Church Cathedral dates back to Dublin’s Viking times.

Founded by the flamboyantly named King Sigtrygg Silkbeard, the cathedral is in what in the Middle Ages was the heart of Dublin – Dublin center has since moved eastwards.

Dublin Castle is a former motte-and-bailey castle and current Irish government complex and conference center. It was chosen for its position at the highest point of central Dublin.

Chester Beatty Library at Dublin Castle.

A motte-and-bailey castle is a European fortification with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised area of ground called a motte, accompanied by a walled courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch. I never knew that.

Irish Whiskey Museum.

Irish coffee in the making.

With my Irish coffee. Please excuse my appearance–it is now about 3PM and I have been walking since 10:30AM.

Plotting my whiskey distillery tours with Mike in Galway.

Reservation tomorrow evening, The Pig’s Ear. Thank you Cathy (pickleball peep) for the tip.

Kept forgetting to post, I’m in the Bono room. : ) I’ve been streaming U2 music. And, of course, Van Morrison. I’m hoping to see Irish singer songwriter, Sioban, in Galway with Mike.
The Shelbourne, Dublín and The Book of Kells.

March 22nd, 2023

Pictures from yesterday and today. The weather has been GREAT! Walking everywhere.

The Shelbourne. We are in a terrific location. The Shelbourne loves JFK. JFK’s close family ties to Ireland made him particularly beloved in this country. The Shelbourne was honored to welcome JFK and Jackie as guests, both before and after his election.

Ok, so if you want coffee without Irish Whiskey, Irish cream liqueur or Baileys Irish Cream, seems like Italian coffee is popular and the way to go. This is my go-to spot. We are looking for Love Supreme, highly recommended–their beans, are imported from Sweden’s Koppi Fine Coffee Roasters.

I am directly across the street from Saint Stephen’s Green Park.

My entrance to the park.

Famine. Memorial at St. Stephen’s Green Park in Dublin captures the history and tragedy of the Irish Famine, also known as Ireland’s Great Hunger. Between 1845 and 1851 approximately one million Irish people died of starvation and disease and millions more fled Ireland in search of a better life.

Daffodils in full bloom in the park.

James Joyce memorial in the park.

Just outside the park. I had the Baileys Bliss on the far left. YUM!

Saint Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. No time to go in. Darn.

Trinity College and the Old Library. The Book of Kells is a masterpiece of medieval art―a brilliantly decorated version of the four Gospels with full-page depictions of Christ, the Virgin and the Evangelists as well as a wealth of smaller decorative paintings.

The Old Library. The Long Room.

Christ holding a Gospel book (folio 32v). I am pretty sure this is the page I saw. Found this on the internet. I was lucky to get to see a beautiful image. I’m sure all the pages are great, but this was so vibrant! No photos allowed.

It’s green week at Trinity College (and maybe all of Dublin).

Pink Restaurant. My picture doesn’t do it justice.

Bought a ticket. Going this evening. But first a late lunch/dinner.

Open Clare Island Oak Smoked Salmon with smashed avocado, crusty sourdough bread and overnight tomatoes. Pinot Noir. All absolutely delicious!! I had never heard of overnight tomatoes. I’m going to try this at home.

Dessert. Shelbourne Gateaux of the day–carrot. Out of this world delicious!

After I ate about 1/3 of this amazing dessert, I had to push it aside before I finished it completely and licked the plate! Crazy good.

Hope to go here tomorrow + the Guinness Storehouse and I am going on a walking tour at 11AM. So many places,
so little time. ; )
And we’re off in style–pod style,

March 21st, 2023

Traveling a bit lighter this trip–only three weeks. I was lucky to be upgraded to business class at the last minute. Also, getting caught up with my posts today and going to stay on track for the rest of my trip.

Hooray, upgraded. Getting priority check-in, security and boarding perks, lie-flat seats, comfy pillows and blankets, headphones, plenty of entertainment and multi-course dining. Plus, complimentary access to airport lounges. It makes the eight or nine hours bearable.

My pod.

To friendly skies! Flight was great.

Hello Ireland.

Bins are everywhere in Ireland, just like the rest of Europe.

I took this picture leaving North Cape May to remind me that even though Dublin, Sopot/Gdansk and Galway/Spiddal will be great, beautiful and picturesque, NCM is so beautiful too. Thinking spring!
Dreaming of Dublin,

March 18th, 2023
and I’m off again. Philadelphia to Dublin. First stop, The Shelbourne, 27 St. Stephen’s Green North. Then to see Mike; can’t wait to see him!! Approximately twelve days in Sopot. Then back to Ireland with Mike. Flight to Dublin, train to Galway–five days in Galway/Spiddal.

Packing. This is the worst part of the trip for me. Everything has to fit in one carry-on and one checked luggage. Wish me luck. The list,
- ten pairs of socks and underwear–long length sports bras for layering
- three pairs of shoes (walking shoes, boots and inside AirBnB shoes)
- six tops (three sweaters/cardigans, three long-sleeved, warm t-shirts)
- four bottoms (two long/warm, one pair of nice slacks, one skirt (maybe))
- winter jacket, gloves, hat and scarf
- sunglasses, sunscreen, travel-sized toiletries
- phone, iPad, Apple watch and laptop
- dental kit and medical kit (just in case!)
- European travel voltage converters (Ireland and Poland are different)
- passport and international ID card
- credit cards and some cash
- binoculars (might not bring this time–really didn’t use in the fall)
- poncho
- umbrella
Talk again Tuesday or Wednesday. It always takes me a couple of days to catch up once I land. ; ) But, I did post the flower show with sisters and this post to get me back in practice.
On the road again,

March 9th, 2023

Philadelphia Flower Show, March 6 – 8. Sisters midweek get together!

Meeting the sisters at 30th Street Station.

Weather near perfect. First evening’s sunset.

The grand entrance.

Our first selfie.

Flower show hat.

Our hats.

One of my favorite room displays.

Lunch, Reading Terminal Market. DiNic’s. Yum!

Sibs. Jack and Debbie joined us at the flower show and for lunch. Debbie is taking the picture, not in it, darn.

Sunset second night. Getting ready to play pool.

Check out my face. Scary!

Finally, a picture with Debbie. We had a great time!
New Year’s in St. James, Southport. Weather perfect!

January 2nd, 2023

Party. Neighbors. Walks. Pickleball. Driving range. Relaxing. Great company. Great food. Fun.

New Year’s Eve with Mary and Tony and their neighbors.

Great egret. New Year’s Day walk in the neighborhood.

New Year’s Day turtles.

Driving range.

St. James beach front community center. That’s Mary’s neighbor in the green sweatshirt.

Walk on the beach. Perfect weather.

hopefully a pickleball picture to come. I forgot.
Between Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Garrett Park.

December 29th, 2022

Thank you Leslie and Simon for hosting and including me. I had a great time!

Our hosts.

Merry Christmas! 🎄

The gang.

Trader Joe’s Brussels sprout pizza was so delicious. Yum. Leslie you are an exceptional hostess.

The big redhead debate. This redhead is the cutest!
Christmas 2022 in New Hope

December 25th, 2022

Christmas table.

Sam, Meeghan and Margot.

Charlotte.

Ellen and Zoe.

Nancy, Zoe and Ellen.

Merry Christmas from the Mulgrew family.

Merry Christmas from North Cape May – late afternoon when I got home.

Ski trip: Zell am See, Austria. Merry Christmas from Mike.