Home Soil

I went, I saw and I conquered, well apart from one sandwich. Over the past two weeks I visited three of the worlds great cities; Dublin, Las Vegas and finally Seattle. I was only in the Irish capital to make a connection but this did afford me a day in the city centre. Visited a few of my favourite places including The Sackville Lounge off O'Connell Street and Bruxelles Bar off Grafton Street.

The handy thing about leaving for America via Dublin is that you clear US immigration and customs before you leave. It takes a lot of the hassle out of the process and means that once you arrive you're treated as a domestic passenger and can make your connection without having to go through security again. I was flying with American Airlines so was subject to delays. The two international flights were four and 3.5 hours late while the two internal were an hour and 30 minutes respectively. I am happy to report that the Air Alaska flight between Las Vegas and Seattle was on time and that if your luggage isn't in the carousal in 20 minutes you will be compensated. Good work. This flight was great, the sight of the highest Cascade Mountains poking through the cloud will be with me for ever; especially Mount St Helens and it's cratored top. The result of the 1980 volcanic eruption.

I will return to my trip in later posts.

Blogs Gold II

Rescued this from my old blog site. 1st posted June 2007

 

Crumpled Photograph

A few years ago when the latest exciting photographic equipment was a disposable camera, the crumpled photograph was an important and often moving sight.

Usually a former partner or close friend who had decided to distance themselves from you, a photo of them would be held in your hand, screwed into a ball and flung at the floor. For many unknown reasons this balled and crumpled item would find its way into a draw or under a sofa only to emerge many months or even years later. The rediscovery of the photo would no doubt provoke much soul searching of the what if or if only variety, along with hopefully a few happy memories.

These days with digital cameras and the growth in popularity of the camera phone the possibility of uncovering such images can be quickly be avoided with use of the delete button.

 

Some might call it progress.
 

I've added a new blog about  a modern photographic phenomenon. Click here to see it.

Vegas Baby

                                                                Old School Las Vegas

                                                                            
It's less than 2 weeks until my annual vacation. This year America, Las Vegas and Seattle to be precise. I'm never too sure what it is that drags me back every year but as this will be my 12th trip across the Atlantic so there must be some reason.

The almost shared language is a good start, even I can get by without a phrase book. The food can be something to behold from a chimichanga to a rare New York strip and everything in between. To be honest, it can all become a bit of a strain on the waist by the end with the ubiquitous fry turning up with everything. The burgers are always good though. This year I'm hoping to visit Stripburger on Las Vegas Boulevard. I just hope that the choices for the cheese burger are less than 10. More than that and I can't remember. Not sure were else I will be filling my boots apart from Toby Keith's as it's handy for the hotel on the 1st night.

Once Seattle is reached, the one place I will definitely be visiting is The 5 Point Cafe , always fun and feisty in there. Just watch world go by with a Miller High Life. Dive bar to the max.

Blogs Gold

Rescued this from my old blog site. Originally written October 2008.

 

Credit Crunch

According to what seems like an endless parade of spokesmen it's "business as usual" for all the many banks and finance houses effected by the on going credit crunch on the Island. Several have had their UK owners forced into mergers as specualtion about their ability to survive has driven down the share price to such a point that the company appears worthless. This must have an effect. If I saw on the TV news or read in a paper that the place I kept my nest egg was about to go down the swanny, I'd be there sharpish to get my money out and find somewhere better or safer at least. But perhaps some of these places are used to long lines of customers closing their accounts and questioning the basic financial soundness of the company that it just is "business as usual". Its not. There will eventually be a shakedown; places will close, jobs will be lost and those greedy so and sos who started it all will walk away with large payoffs while the staff who work to keep a roof over their heads and feed the family will be ones who suffer.