The internet is rubbish here so no photos and just a quick update for now.

We picked up Mum from Heathrow two days ago, and being the trooper that she is, she had a quick shower at the hotel (and curse you, Heathrow Hilton for charging so much for the internet) and then we hit the road.

I’d read up on pretty drives through Wales and so we took the M4 towards Cardiff then turned off and drove up the A470 most of the length of Wales. The scenery was nice to begin with – rolling green hill, then the Brecon Beacons then the OMG-amazing Snowdonia National Park. As I commented to Luke, it was like driving through a car commerical.

After 8 hours or so we arrived, exhausted, in Holyhead and checked into the Boathouse Hotel, which was full of Australians who were also catching the ferry.

We left the lights on overnight in the van so we needed a jump start in the morning. The good thing about being a super-early person is that there’s time to start the car, drive around to charge it up, get to the supermarket for some bits and pieces and then get to the ferry terminal in plenty of time.

The ferry crossing was pleasant and the sun was out all day, despite predictions of rain. Speaking of weather, the drive through Wales was more Melbourne than Melbourne – I think we went through maybe 10 showers and 10 bursts of bright sunlight during the day. It was quite odd.

We drove from the terminal to our apartment and became very frustrated with Dublin’s one way streets. Luke was driving and he doesn’t really like driving in the city at the best of times and got quite cranky by the end of it. Still, we found our place and we’d been upgraded to a two bedroom apartment, which was nice.

We went to a pub around the corner for a couple of drinks and a snack mid afternoon. Turns out it was a Czech pub and they were watching ice hockey, which we’d already learned was huge in central Europe. Lots of shouting and cheering and a great atmosphere.

Our apartment has decent cooking facilities so I cooked a pasta dinner and mum had a quiet night but Luke and I took a ghost bus tour. I’ll go into that more later.

I’ll also post about seeing Rowan and Kerry in London as soon as I can – must add photos to that post:).

Today we’re sightseeing in Dublin then off to Waterford tomorrow.