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It’s another rainy day here in London as Ben and I enjoy a coffee and 30min of online time at a little Internet cafe near the hotel.  A hotel, I might add, which looks lovely and comfortable on the outside and in the lobby, but features rooms smaller than submarine crew quarters and mattresses suitable only for a hunchback.

Ben and I are striking off to London in the morning and will be there through Thursday afternoon. While in the UK you can reach me at (0044) 77 8938 0659. In the UK, you would dial 077 8938 0659. So much to write about when I get home, including but not limited to, Guinness-swilling dwarfs, old ladies seen chasing crows with cooking vessels, anti-abortion messages printed on beer coasters, fattening food, bathrooms built for Chinese acrobats, and some very cryptic road signs. One example: “calming traffic ahead.” Oh, and the Northern Irish accent is completely indecipherable.

Ben and I are now in County Donnegal, meeting all manner of long-distant relatives. Fine folks, all.

if you need to call me from the US between now and Tuesday, just call 00353 (that is the country code for Ireland) then my local number; which  is 879848092.

Ben and I safely arrived in London this morning and soon after caught a flight to Belfast. From there, we drove (on the wrong freakin’ side of the road, already) to Derry (or Londonderry, or whatever you need to call it so you don’t piss people off), which is where we are now.

In just one day we have already seen a Guinness-swilling midget, have been serenaded by a Chinese Elvis Impersonator with an Irish/Chinese accent, and endured a nearby passenger’s very loud case of airsickness on the way to London (on a nearly turbulence-free flight at that). And might I add that Virgin Atlantic’s Premium Economy Class is well worth the extra charge, especially if you have a successful son to pick up the tab.

Many photos and commentary to follow, including my thoughts on Heathtrhow Airport, which may as well be its own country, and the very scary lads who wander the streets of Northern Ireland.

… oh, and even at 11PM, it is still almost light enough to read a newspaper this time of year.

Ben and I are hitting the road (sky, actually) later today for a week in Ireland and the U.K.  While in Ireland, we will be attending a family reunion in the far north of the country (farther north then Northern Ireland, in fact), and then spending two days in Dublin before heading to London for another two days.  

I plan to get either a pre-paid mobile phone or a local SIM card for my own phone when we get there, and I will post the number here when I know it.  I hope to have access to email while there as well.