Just some ruminations

It's early Saturday morning, and we're on the ferry on the way to Glasgow. We have a three hour tour (with hopefully no uncharted islands in the vicinity) until we get there, so I have a little time to write. Nice that there's free satellite-based Wi-Fi on board!

Tour bus
Zach and I actually managed to get on the top in the back of a double-decker bus... prime spot because it's uncovered, hard to get because everybody else likes it too. While we were stopped at an intersection, something landed on the floor! It took a minute to figure out what happened, but apparently some little brat on the third floor had chucked a water balloon onto the bus. He peeked out the window to observe his handiwork (the balloon didn't break), which of course got the attention of everyone on the top of the bus. One guy whom the balloon landed close to actually found it and lobbed it back. He almost made it through the window! Unfortunately, it hit the top and fell to the ground. I wish he'd made it.

Churches
I knew churches were in bad decline in Europe, and Ireland is certainly no exception; what I found particularly interesting—and particularly unfortunate—was how many churches had been converted into stores. Logical use of now-unused space, I suppose, but it still seems wrong.

Guinness
We went to the Guinness Museum in Dublin, which is a logical stop in Dublin! At the end of the tour was a complimentary pint... or so they call it; I would call it a fair portion of the 14-euro entrance to the place. As fascinating as the process is, as rich the history of the brewery, I still don't like the stuff.

Martin & Lucy
Zach and I will get to spend one more evening with Martin & Lucy Hull just before we head back to the States. I'm glad. They have been wonderful hosts. Everyone we've met from Matt's church has been wonderful, but I can't imagine anyone I'd rather stay with.

Their kids are interesting... I generally get along great with the kids of people I stay with, but Stewart and Jack have been pretty much content to completely ignore me all week. I guess next to a big kid at heart like Zach, I'm positively vestigial by comparison! :) But it's all good. It's fun to watch Zach and Jack roar around the house with imaginations going full-tilt.

Next stop... Glasgow. I hope these scribblings have been worthwhile (or at least interesting) to read, and the photos fun to see.