roger pfaff

The less exhausting than expected day of departure starts at 7:45. Packing the last stuff together, get a coffee, making the last bank transfers to ensure communication and make sure not to get arrested on return. Everything's done. Bye bye is said to everybody. Let's go to the train. Attention to the time...cheers...9:15. The train departs at 9:30, 40 minutes to the airport to get the flight at 10:50. This is short but timing rules. Arrived at the airport i have to search the baggage check in first. Obviously it's not at the station but it felt like miles away. After check in the lady told me that i must be at the counter at 10:10 what was exactly three minutes ago (did i mention the timing thing?). So no time for nothing, start over to the gates, security check, asking to the pole position of the rows, check in at C03. But hey, at C03 is Belfast and the displays showing C01 but there goes a flight to Cork. Any clearance needed? At least Aer Lingus is not on time and all running and asking was for nothing, but better than missing a flight, eh?

Next event... rent a car. The guy at the counter looks at us and states if we really want the smallest car respecting our body sizes. So we take the upgrade to a Toyota Avensis and an extra driver and i don't know what else he tried to put on the list. I go with the small insurance that leaves a 1600 euro excess but i don't expect to crash the car. After driving a few meters with Chris at the wheel i think again about this but it's too late, we're on the Road. (Sorry Chris, your driving abilities did not proof you a licensed driver ;) ) (for my sake: it was the new car!)

The first conquer across Ireland makes a good impression of the green island. Besides adrenaline boosts from time to time because of the previously mentioned driving experiences. There is much green, many sheeps ( horses and cows too) and the other people here drive also... strange. Or should I say irish? We arrive at Achill Sound in the deep darkness of the early evening.

The house Chris has leased is pretty nice, less nice is the fact that the gas tank is empty. The living room can be heated to a comfortable temperature with an electrical heating. 5 women in a room create a respectable amount of noise that helps me forget the temperature. A few talks later we go to the next pub and there i must discover that the irish people are small people. I barely fit through the door but inside a fire is burning and with a pint cidre i feel home. ;) 1m92 is too tall for them. It takes not too long and the first inhabitant tries to communicate with us but i don't know if it's his alcohol level or his dialect... I don't undestand a word and it's not really important to him so this talk is over really fast. Another Cidre later we leave and take our disserved sleep.