KEY POINTS:
Only in Ireland. It's funny how many times that has been said and thought in the last 10 days.
There is a charm and warmth to the Irish people that makes this one of the best countries to visit. There is also a lot of slightly muddled activity that only adds to the charm.
The most curious sight of all was seen on a country road when sweeping round a corner, the brakes had to be rammed on as the car ahead was crawling along, dangerously slowly. Was the car breaking down? Was the driver okay? Yes and yes, the car was fine, the driver was fine.
The little dog chugging along beside the car was also fine. Why walk when you jump in the car and tell Rover to bound along behind? Only in Ireland.
Asking for directions in Ireland could also elicit some fabulous responses. The most common was, 'for sure, you can't miss it'. Seriously, you could miss it and you could keep on missing it.
Better still was the response from the local girl working in the gorgeous hotel in Adare, the lovely little village south of Limerick.
Could she help locate a hotel on the southern ring road in Limerick? 'No, no, to be sure, now, I'm from Adare.' Only in Ireland.
Or there was the chap who, when he arrived in his hotel on the southern ring road in Limerick was told he had no room. Names have been changed here to protect the identity of the quite fantastically stupid but the conversation went a bit like this.
'I believe I have a room here, my name is Hank Melon.'
'I'm sorry Mr Hank we don't appear to have a room for you.'
'No, no I'm Mr Melon.'
'Did you inform anyone here about the change of booking from Mr Hank to Mr Melon?'
'No you see ...
'To be sure, now, Mr Melon, I could maybe see if I can put you in Mr Hank's room if you say he's not coming now, but I'll need to check with my supervisor.' Only in Ireland.
Gregor Paul
