April 11, 2005 – A Different Class
Today we fly back to NY. It’s a day for reflection and duty-free shopping. I know I should have taken advantage of the super cheap prices and picked up a few bottles of whiskey. It’s just that, after so much time spent raising glasses, buying booze was the furthest thing from my mind. Instead I got another book called How the Irish Saved Civilization. It’s the untold story of Ireland’s role from the fall of Rome to the rise of Medieval Europe. Should be a good read.
To sum up; I can’t honestly feel that a few days is enough to judge an entire country. Although I can say that it has left a very good impression on me. I highly recommend a trip like this to get a feel for a country and to whet one’s appetite for coming back.
I admit again that I prefer the pace and feeling of welcome in the smaller towns. I guess living in Hoboken and spending most of my adult social life in the bars of NYC made the more hustle and bustle scene of a city like Galway seem a bit tedious.
Thanks to Sean and Jeannie from MurphGuide.com, Tony our guide and the rest that made up our rag-tag, fun-loving team of 19 for making this so enjoyable.
Now the reality of going home really set in as we waited on line at the airport. Tom was pulled from the line fro a random security check. He told us this may happen since they always pull the guy with the beard. Sure enough of the three people that got pulled, all had beards. Sean referred to this as ‘facial profiling’.
Thinking back to McDermott’s joke of being in row 44 when we got bumped to First Class on the flight here, some karmic realignment was served up for the trip home. The 3 1/2 Steves were now actually in rows 43 and 44. The last two rows of the plane. Until Morgan got moved to an exit row and had the extra legroom.
In extreme contrast the to four ladies we had serving us in First Class, we had a man who was easily in his mid-seventies. He farted in my face while reaching for the overhead. I guess it was a good way to prepare me for the air quality back home.
Speaking of back home, after the Air Train, the subway, the bus and on into Hoboken, I ended my trip much as it began. With a couple of slices from Molfettas. Hey and guess what? No corn!!
Cheers,
Stephen
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