JCA

Even I will admit that it's probably the accent, but one thing I noticed immediately is that an Irishman can swear with an elegance that is rarely achieved by an American. There is something viscerally genteel about a quiet "Jayzez Christ Ahhlmightee" uttered by a cab driver who has very quickly become exasperated with his American charges.

It began innocently enough, simply an attempt to make it easier for our traveling companions to get into the back of the van, but apparently folding down the middle seat was not the thing to do. What folds down in Dublin, stays down in Dublin. Never mind that the seat was obviously meant to fold down. Apparently being meant to return to its upright and locked position was not a slam dunk.

When it was clear that no handle, strap, button or random bit of metal would be pushed, pulled, prodded or turned to return this seat to its proper position, despite 10 minutes of trying to get it to cooperate accompanied by additional JCA's at a rate of about one every 30 seconds, we were told simply "Well, pop in then. I'll have to run home and get it fixed after. Where are ye going?" We climbed on top of the folded down seat and set off for our hotel. Commence uncomfortable silence.

We all finally got over this, and started chatting about the weather and what we should see on our trip. This conversation focused heavily on Guinness' and Jameson's, and for some reason, tombs at St. Michah's. Apparently you can touch dead vikings. JCA.


Spent the rest of the day getting oriented, taking a brief nap, and had a very fun dinner with our traveling companions from the Colorado Inns of Court. There will be law and history on tap for today, with dinner tonight at the King's Inn in Dublin.

The Whiskey for the day was Middleton's very rare. It had a green apple nose and a definite apple taste, with caramel back notes. You could taste the rare.

And yes Kevin, the Guinness does taste better here.