Our 'Old' Friend Eija Finally in Dublin!!

Sunday, 6 June: Rainy morning in Dublin. On my way to Eija's hotel, (unfortunately, she is allergic to cats so she is unable / lucky to stay in a hotel) the Dublin main street, O'Connell, was closed for traffic because they were doing road resurfacing (in the rain and on a Sunday... the workers cannot be Irish ;)

Rain, rain go away...

Lunch/late breakfast in Porter House ( http://www.porterhousebrewco.com/ ) at Nassau Street close to Grafton Street and St. Stephen's Green):

In one of the Temple Bar pubs, Eija had a date...:

On our way to catch the bus to Malahide we saw something strange: people swimming in the river Liffey...:

... and not only swimming but doing synchronized swimming... or maybe they were doing 'winter swimming' as the water really cannot be too warm!

Finally got - not the bus but a bus and after getting home Eija delighted us with so many great Finnish treats: candies, chocolates, coffee, magazines... and champagne (not Finnish, though):

Eija had taken her antihistamins and was enjoying Molly's company, too:

Eija's 'soulmate' Markus and his son Lauri joined us for the evening. Eija and Markus have both gone to school in Martinlaakso (there is a house about 5 blocks from us called Martindale - I do need to take Eija there to get a pic!) Vantaa, Finland, and they found at least 67 people they know/used to know back then... - Slainte!!

While Eija and I enjoyed the Dublin city life, J-P had been cooking and cleaning the house. We had an absolutely great tapas-style dinner waiting for us. (does'nt sound like Irish but at least the lamb-skewers were made of Irish spring lamb):

'Suomi-boys' - speaking loads of English with each other...:

Lime-cheesecake with fresh (Irish) strawberries:

***

Monday 7 June (a bank holiday here so no school nor work): We took Eija for a drive around the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains. Our first stop we had in the little village of Roundwood, in the Vartry House pub that insists being the 'highest pub in Ireland':

Finally in Glendalough. - Sorry, I didn't take too many pics as we've been there 6-7 times before and now it was raining, too. - Rudolf and Saaga posing here...:

Rudolf:

After spending about two hours in Glendalough we drove back to Roundwood... to another pub to have lunch. This is seafood chowder, served inside a bread...:

... and this is what it looks like when you open the 'lid'... yummy fish, mussels, squid rings, prawns and veggies:

Eija had chicken with a puff pastry crust, very tasty had it been, too :)

***

Today I have been working and looking after 3/4 of our schoolkids. Eija is hopefully enjoying the city centre. Tomorrow, Wed the 9th, Eija will take a train to Malahide and we'll go for a drive around Malahide and Portmarnock, and then enjoy the cliffs of Howth and fishmongers on the pier there :) Roosa's summer holidays started now and she will be 'baby'sitting Ruu, Saaga and Frans in the afternoon.