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Right Side Left Side?

2/26/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
Here are the two intrepid "exhausted" travelers
sipping coffee at our first overnight location the 
Nuremore Hotel and Country Club.
The flight over from Chicago to Dublin was uneventful except for one aspect, we did not sleep well on the plane. With all that excitement we forgot that the flight would only be a six hours in length! The plane left at 7:15 pm, great we thought for a good nights sleep and we would hit Ireland with gusto. We we on adrenalin getting into the plane. First of all, there was a supper to be had! By the time that was over an hour was gone. Then, we had a movie screen in front of us, well, we thought, let's watch a movie! 


You can see where this was going. 


By the time we began to think about sleep we'd both watched two movies! It was paradise! Two guys with unlimited move access on an 
airplane were totally helpless and out of control. Two moves later we began to think about tomorrow and, oh right, we should get some sleep. Well by the time we'd reclined our chairs and adjusted our pillows we were about thee quarters of an hour from our 9am landing in Dublin, Ireland!

As we exited the airport we stopped in at the Dan Dooley Car Rental counter and rented the car that was to take these two innocent lambs for a holiday tour of Ireland! They never saw it coming.

At the rental lot, the agent was very helpful, dispensing all kinds of advice regarding the vehicle, how to handle driving on the left side of the road, "Don't drive onto the right side at all as long as you drive this, our car!" etc. He told us where to go to get onto the road to our first hotel and everything. I don't think we heard a word! We were so excited to get going...like wild horses in the racing chutes, scared as all get-out, yet eager to take off in all directions!

We drove out of the rental parking lot and in two turns found ourselves
on a narrow one-way road that seemed to be taking us back in the direction of the airport. In not time it was to long to back up on...What? Plus we could not turn around, pull over or even check a map.

In two minutes we found ourselves approaching a parkade entrance gate which would open only if we claimed a ticket. We stopped and considered our situation, and not too calmly! The pressure was on. We had no choice! We pushed the cursed button and pulled a ticket out of the dreaded machine. The arm lifted and we drove into the parkade area looking desperately for an exit route! Which we did eventually find. 
Picture
Here is our driver, Larry with our European 2014 Ford.
Standing on the "Drivers side of the vehicle"!
We wondered if this meant that we might be paying an incredible 
amount of parking tickets throughout our journey through Ireland! This driving on the left side of the road could become expensive! When we got to the exit, we pushed in our ticket and surprise! The arm blocking our way lifted without demanding Euros! God is good!


I think the staff at the Country Club could see how exhausted we were and asked us immediately if we would like a coffee or tea. "Oh yes..." we were ready. 

The rest of the day, we slept and recuperated for the next day of driving, much more aware of the impact traveling on the left side of the road would be on both the driver and the navigator. 
If everything comes your way, 
you are in the wrong lane. 
~Author Unknown
1 Comment
Linda Mulvey link
2/26/2015 10:04:22 am

Your story sounds rather similar to my story three years ago going home to Scotland! It is not easy to drive on the left side of the road, but it sure can be fun once you start to feel comfortable, which I am sure will not be long. Have fun!

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    We, Larry and I (Cliff) are going to Ireland! Join the  adventure of our personal discovery of this magical island.

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