Leaving Europe

Still more old posts that need to be put in:

We had a nice walk through St. Steven’s Green at sunset that gave us the impression that we had found the real Dublin because there were families, students, couples walking, feeding swans,

sitting, and flowers are blooming here.  It was very nice and a good end to the day.  We have started a day of travel that will make all the others pale in comparison.  John was anxious to not be late to the airport (usually that is me) and we arrived and were checked in by 10:30 for our 1pm flight.  This has given us a chance to have a larger 

 breakfast and relax for a while as we get ready to go through US customs.  That’s right, we’re going through US customs in Dublin before we board the plane.  I’ve never had this happen.  But maybe this will expedite our entrance

  to Chicago and we can get on the first available bus to Michigan City.  If the Weather channel is to be believed, and I don’t think that it ever really is, we will arrive before the next winter storm hits Chicago and comes to Michigan.  Hopefully, this means a good flight with minimal problems driving out of Chicago and for our ride coming to pick us up.

 On the bus ride here, I realized that I didn’t include some pictures that I specifically mention in the narrative.  So, I’m including the copy of the bridge of sighs on Christ Church and the statue of Sir John Gray with bullet holes in the side of it (that you can’t see in the picture) from the rebellion.  So, picture 3 is the Venice Bridge of Sighs, 2 is the Dublin bridge of sighs, and 1 is John and his 

illustrious ancestor (most likely not related in any way).

By the way, as John said in his comment on traveling alone, there is something special about sharing travels with others.  I know that all of you who have been reading this will still have to suffer through endless accounts from me of these travels again and again over the coming weeks, but I want you to know that sharing things as  

they have happened has been fun for me.  I hope that you have enjoyed traveling with John and I through all of these travails and were able to just quit reading them if they bored you to tears.  I have enjoyed receiving responses to them when something touched you or spoke to you.  I will probably continue for a couple of days with the trip back and the perfect end to a long trip: the joy of entering your home again.  Let me know if there is anything in particular that I’ve talked about that you want to hear more of or if there is a particular picture I didn’t include that you want to see.  I think we have over 1500 pictures and I have been very sparse in the posts.