Wagamama

2014-03-05

In the afternoon we headed to Frankfurt/Main. Due to the usual commuters and lorries, it took us nearly two hours to get there. Luckily we reached the airport with enough time to spare to grab a bite before check-in. Boarding started twenty minutes late as we had to wait for a stand-by crew.

We arrived at Manchester airport after 10 pm, decided to take a cab to get to the Days hotel. Check-in was quick, and I got a charger for my smart-phone without fuzz – I really appreciate this uncomplicated service. Thank you very much, dear Days Hotel Manchester staff – we had a great time at your place!

Days Hotel Manchester

Incredible timepiece in the hotel lobby:

Whitworth Gardens / Sackville Gardens

The Beacon of Hope

The Tree of Life

It must be spring…

Alan Mathison Turing Memorial – I am an IT nerd, remember? 😉

2014-03-06, Birthday lunch at wagamama – you might remember the seaweed salad… 🙂
My very special thanks to the manager – she will remember what it’s all about.

Printworks – impressions

Help! They shrunk my husband! 😀

Bierkeller

We had a Brahma (smooth – perfect for Wolfgang) and a Brooklyns (darker, not black and pretty spicy – perfect for me)…

2014-03-07, York

Inside the train station

The ‘Spinner’ (will be featured in an upcoming short story)

The Flying Scotsman

After two hours as serious museum visitors interested in everything railway, we met the author David Coles and his wife Jan at the restaurant – to talk books, writing, reading, blogging, reviewing, jobs, an interview, Jack Everett, his partner in writing, York, etc. We had a great time with you, Jan and David – we would love to meet you again and chat.

When we parted, I was given a signed copy of Postponing Armageddon by Adele Abbot.

After our meeting, we strolled through York, and even had a little trip on the river Ouse.

World’s largest Gothic minster north of the Alps

River Ouse

This was a nice trip on the ‘Captain James Cook’… And the captain did a great job on our Ouse tour!

At the Yorkshire Terrier, we had a ‘Yorkshire Terrier’ (smooth – perfect for Wolfgang) and a ‘Ghost Ale’ (darker and spicy – perfect for me)

Burgers at Wilde’s Wine Bar (I even had a veggie burger – it was delicious!)

Afterwards we headed back to Manchester.

2014-03-08

Public transport in Manchester is pretty awesome

Metroshuttles

Metrolink

And this is for our friend Markus – the third O’Shea’s Pub for our collection – this time in Manchester:

As you can see, this was a great birthday trip – without snow, this time… 🙂

To recharge our spirits we once again went to Dublin. Thanks to the combo ticket (Dublin Bus & Luas) we were constantly on the road and/or tracks.

The Leprechaun Museum offered a special Halloween event. I had to switch off my mobile phone, therefore I cannot offer any photos here.

Turning right on leaving the Croke Park Hotel we always pass by this pub with its ever-present Guinness ad.

A morning glimpse at the Croke Park:

Breakfast at the Candy Café was great.

Morrison Books, 2A Parnell Street
Searching an opportunity for book swapping, searching special books? Stop by. We chatted with Mr Morrison for a while about films, politics, the seaside, etc.

After finding the book I had looked for (Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz) at Morrison Books we walked to the nearest bridge over river Liffey.

If you like the Brazilian kitchen, you might want to dine here at Taste of Brazil (their website is coming soon):

I was talking about mazes and/or labyrinths in a previous blog post (https://mytrainofthoughtson.wordpress.com/2013/11/07/mazes-amazing-or-annoying/). Here is the labyrinth of Dublin Castle “Dubhlinn Gardens”:

Next to the labyrinth, the Chester Beatty Library is open for visitors; the entry is free of charge. It is prohibited to take photographs. And why not enjoy a coffee at the Silk Road Café?

St Stephen’s Green:

Five Lamps in the early morning, on our way to the DART:

Another pub with Guinness ad:

For our trip to Skerries we took the DART. It is awesome to reach Skerries like that, travelling apparently on the sea, getting the first glimpse of the Skerries Mills.

Skerries Community Centre and another glimpse of one of the Skerries Mills:

We had breakfast at The Little Café:

We continued to the harbour. Some of you might have guessed that I love the sea – and Skerries. 😉
Now you all really know:

If you zoom in, you can even see the Holyhead lighthouse:

It is beautiful to wander along the Skerries seaside:

Another morning, another pub with Guinness ad:

We went to Enniskerry. At the bus station you see the yard of the Schoolhouse for Art Sculptures by Conleth Gent:

Our lunch at Wagamama in Dublin was a must. The online menu had promised this seaweed salad – and it was yummy. Goma Wakame Salad (shredded carrot, wakame seaweed, spring onions and a dash of red chilli. served with Wagamama house dressing and roasted sesame seeds):

St Stephen’s Green shopping centre (my favourite):

As usual we visited Peter’s Pub. I was longing for a pint of Beamish… And then I had to learn that they did no longer serve it. 😦
They suggested a pint of O’Hara’s – and it is nearly as good as a Beamish. It has favourite potential. 😉