After few quiet weeks, it finally was time for my holidays which started with a weekend for himself and myself in London. Despite the extremely early mid night wake up to get the Airlink bus from Smithfield to the airport to make it in time for our flight 7.35am to Gatwick. We made it through security with ease and had the obligatory pint before meeting up with Paddy's Sister Clare and Sheila and made our way to board our flight. The flight itself despite been a short one was a turbulent one. Once we disembarked and that, we were on next available train then tube towards our respective hotels near Earl's Court tube station. All four of us went for food first before going our separate ways. Paddy and me had a little while, after checking into our hotel before we had to leave again to make the Matinee performance of Motown the musical. The musical is based on the history of Berry Gordy's founding and of his record label and his personal and professional relationships with its artists. The musical was like a jukebox showcasing all the label's biggest hits. We walked the short ten mins walk towards Leicester Square area as I still had to collect the tickets for that night's performance of Harold Pinter's play No Mans Land starring Sir Ian Mckellen and Sir Patrick Sewart. These tickets were the main reason we made the trip over to London, was to see these two legendary actors in person live and I had got them for his birthday as a present. We saw Clare and Sheila in a restaurant near the Wyndham Theatre so we joined them for some food before the play. Despite the subject of the play itself being quite heavy, the acting by all four actors in the play was unreal and experiencing the chemistry and dramatic performance of the legendary actors was amazing. We went to stage door to see if we could get an autograph or photo of the actors which luckily we managed to get. Before getting the tube home after such a tiring but thrilling day. Exiting the station what did we come across but a TARDIS type structure right outside the station.
Early next morning, Paddy showed me where he used to work and met some of his old colleagues and friends before going to Putney where he used to live. After such a nice weekend it was pain to make our way back to the airport for our journey home. Despite the delay leaving Gatwick, we arrived back home safely.
Early next morning I got the bus towards the Phoenix park visitor centre to do the Magazine Fort, only to be informed the information I came across online was wrong but got my tour sorted for the Friday after I got home from Spain. So as I had unexpectedly time to spare and it was a pleasant enough day, I walked to the zoo nearby and made use of my annual pass. Any excuse to avoiding packing for Spain.
Wednesday morning about 4 am after alarm went off somehow we both ended up falling back asleep but I woke up with a shock. Despite being only a tad behind schedule, we got a taxi to the airport, made use of Aer Lingus new bag drop service and were through security again with ease, we were back on schedule mostly stress free. Also helps Niamh had a taxi code I could use which helped with the cost. Once we boarded the plane and got settled, we had decent seats and the seats were actually comfy. The flight itself was a smooth one and heavenly compared to our London flights that we both slept some of the way. One of a Paddy's oldest friend and the groom Ken collected us and his parents from the airport and we spent several hours chilling and enjoying the sun in the villa he got for his family to stay at, before he brought us up to where we were staying up in Mijas Peublo. After we got settled in and took in the amazing views from our villa up in the mountains, that we noticed poor Paddy got severely sunburnt which he would suffer with for a few days. It didn't take Paddy long to make friends with the 2 house cats that live on the property which were so playful and adorable.
The next morning I wanted to go exploring around the village and collect a few essential supplies. I had been told before the holiday I had to check out the chapel of the Virgin of the Rock. This chapel was excavated in the rock by Mercedarian friars and according to tradition Marian apparitions began in 1586 above the chapel. I also took in some of the Compas panoramic views from the viewpoint situated next to the chapel, before taking in other sights of the village such as the donkey taxi, constitution square, and various churches, before the trek back up the mountain towards our villa with breakfast for both of us and to enjoy the afternoon sun, as I had been exploring for long then I had planned to. We enjoyed the quiet, peace and views from our villa and of course the sun, before meeting the other member of the Tripod as Paddy puts it, Fergal and his girlfriend Ciara for food and drinks in the coastal part of Mijas. Paddy and me soon realised that taxis and cost of same was gonna place a big part of this holiday. That Friday night we went to pre wedding evening in the Trocadero Arena on the beach near Marbella. Been a vegetarian and a picky eater for once worked in my favour, as Emma the bride arranged for one of the waiter to come to me with a special plates of canopies throughout the night which was nice of her and tasty.
The following morning was the day of the wedding, main reason we were on holidays in Mijas, as the wedding itself wasn't until that evening, Few hours before it, we were brought to the villa closest to the wedding one , where we got to enjoy some more sun and the pool before the ceremony. When both Paddy and me suited up, I must say we did scrub up quite well if I do say so myself. The wedding itself was on hill top, just up the road from we all were. When the wedding started after some vamping by the groom, around 8pm it was still about 28 degrees, we were seated outside on the hilltop during the sunset as they said their vows. The reception afterwards was at the rear of the villa around the poolside with flowers and candles in the pool. Emma the bride painted all the signs and such which were all around the place. There was a good laugh and buzz as everyone enjoyed themselves.
Sunday was a day of rest from what we gathered for nearly everyone that was at the wedding, besides the ones who went to watch the All Ireland match at the nearest Irish pub which didn't include us both. For the next two days, post wedding celebrations we got to enjoy the villa and the village just the two of us which was nice. Tuesday the day before we had to leave, Fergal collected us, so we could met up with Ciara, Ken, Emma and a few others at the wedding villa, as it could be a long time before everyone was together again, for some sun, fun and banter. Later that afternoon, when Fergal and Ken were heading back our way towards the supermarket, we got a lift back and on route I got to see the buildings and structures I hadn't been able due to location such as the Bullring and was able to see a different view and side of the village which was pretty cool. We had a cosy last meal just Paddy and me in one of the village squares which was tasty and perfect way to finished off the holiday, before surprise surprise getting a taxi back to our villa, to enjoy our last night before the dreaded thoughts of the flight home. The morning of our flight home arrived way too quite for either of our liking, but good things have to end. As Fergal and Ciara were heading to Malaga that morning, they collected and dropped us to the airport on route which was very nice of them to do. Before we knew it we were boarding the plane, and on our way home. Both of us managed to get forty winks during the flight, as it was a smooth flight and a comfortable enough plane.
The next day, I had arranged a private tour within Dublin Castle to check out a John Hughes' Statue of Victory depicting Hibernia at War, tending to the dying solider. I dragged Niamh along with me, as this statue is located in the grounds of the conference centre, part of Dublin Castle which is closed to the public. It was nice of Jenny of the OPW to arrange and do that for me. That Friday I finally was available to do the Magazine Fort tour in the Phoenix Park, I had to walk the whole way to the Visitor Centre which took just short of an hour due to the Bus Strike. Despite having to walk all the walk, I got on the next available tour, where the OPW brought the group of us doing the tour by bus to the Magazine Fort. It was quite interesting to hear about the history of the complex, see some of the original buildings, the conservation been done by the OPW to maintain the structure for the future. The different viewpoints in this Ammunition fort shows off different parts of the park and nearby historical structures and buildings. Despite the 10 km around trip by the time I got home later that afternoon, it was worth the effort despite the later pain and aches I would in my legs, was nice way to finish off my holidays.
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