valeriesbookofme

It’s 9:30 pm and I am relaxing on the bed after a third busy day. I rate Bealkelly House close to the top of the b & bs I have stayed at. It wasn’t that easy to get to—unmarked turn off the road, up a long one-way almost cattle track—but it is so relaxing and comfortable. Anita, my hostess, couldn’t be kinder. When I was having trouble getting my U.S. internet service here, she hovered by me, suggesting things, trying to look things up on her laptop and allowing me to call the U.S. from her landline (not looking forward to hearing about THAT bill, I was on for close to an hour!) The family part of the house and the guest part of the house are quite separate and I am the only guest so it is like having a small house to myself. The one small quibble is that the shower is VERY small. Richard would barely fit into it. But the water is hot, the rest of the room is large, WiFi is good (and free), bed is comfy, breakfast is wonderful (eggs any way I want them, bacon, mushrooms. ...

Another airport. Another upcoming flight. Get up in what seems to be the middle of the night. Walk a mile from hotel (which doesn’t offer early morning shuttle service for an early morning flight.... Delta rep says “Thanks for choosing Delta.” And I beg, “Just please don’t lose my luggage.” She replies, “Well, can’t guarantee that.” Umm, not reassuring. I didn’t pack a lot into the checked baggage but after figuring out the clothes I would need for slightly chilly, slightly damp (who am I kidding?) Ireland, I knew that I couldn’t manage with just a carry-on. But so far so good. I somehow got “TSA Pre approved” so I didn’t have to take my shoes and jacket off, I didn’t have to unpack my liquids or iPad. And I didn’t set the detector off and subject myself to a pat down. It’s all good. Especially as I reflect on past travels.... My first flight as a “grown up” was with a friend to Freeport Bahamas. It was through Sun Tours, Air Canada’s shoestring vacation company. And it WAS a shoes...