Up and early start to get to the airport. We were warned there might be delays in our travels because of the celebrations at this time of year in Cairo, but we were actually at the airport pretty early. That is along the way the taxi had to stop for gas, (45c per cubic meter), then we still had to run the gauntlet of absolutely everyone asking for money. A stranger runs to the taxi, grabs your bags and puts them on a trolley, before you can get out the words, 'please leave them' he is asking for money, then the inspector at the security check is asking for money saying he will get you first in line, then the staff at check in are asking for money to sit you beside each other, then the next check in tells you, 'you have a knife in your bag' even though you don't, oh but if you pay it will be okay. It is exhausting and must be for them as well. Pete hadn't been feeling well, and by the time we got on the plane had gone into a fever. 4 blankets later and shivering Pete was on his way to being rejected from entering the UK as he turned a slight shade of pale and was appearing like he had come down with some Mummy Flu. But by the time we got there, 5 hours later, the fever had started to subside. Arriving at Heathrow was interesting. We thought it was going to take forever and really it was all fine. We arrived at Terminal 5 which is a new terminal at Heathrow, we then needed to catch a train to Terminal 1 and find our way to BMI Airlines to get our connection to Dublin. That is via immigration and customs, and a lot of walking. But we got there. I had also received an email from Mum earlier to contact her as she had some 'sad news'. I had tried to call from Cairo before we left a couple of times, but couldn't get through, so when we arrived at Heathrow I got a phone card and finally got through. News was that my darling cat Manuel had been put down. He had developed a severe kidney infection and was operated on but they said they couldn't do anything for him. It was very sad news. So while we sat at Heathrow waiting for our Dublin flight Pete and I were in tears wishing that we had been home for him. Of course it is not news you want to hear, but it is still something you want to know. So with all of our transferring and ringing around we didn't have time to do much at Heathrow. I bought a Lonely Planet guide for Ireland, a phone card, and shed a lot of tears.
We arrived in Ireland about 5:30pm and it was dark. Still had to organise car hire and accommodation, and pretty quick as Pete really needed to collapse somewhere. Ended up with a car from 353 Car Hire. Don't know if all UK/Ireland car hire is the same but its all basically a rip off. They give you cheap prices, then freeze 1200 pounds off your credit card just in case you have an accident and need to claim and astronomical petrol costs on top. Accommodation was at Landsowne Hotel, also deceptive in its promotion. We were looking for somewhere with a guest laundry, free wifi, and breakfast, all of which were promoted on its web page. No guest laundry - they send it out and charge you, no free wifi - free computer in reception for 20minutes, 3 euro per 30min from your bedroom, and full breakfast is 12.50 euro. Seems it doesn't matter which country you are in there is deception in what is included. Pete was pretty exhuasted from his day in a fever so it was early to bed and see what tomorrow would bring. Picture - Manuel in his prime position out in the sun out the back.
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