Ferry to Holyhead, train to London, stay at Golders Green

Early start, 6:45am quick breakfast then walk the 5 minutes or so to the bus station. The Dublin Bus 7:15am  service directly to the ferry port never showed at the correct gate, it went elsewhere. Luckily a sensible taxi driver alerted us to the fact that the bus had gone, so five of us shared his taxi. Then one kind lady paid the whole fare as she was getting rid of her Euros. Nice one.

Writing this bit on board the Jonathan Swift fast catamaran ferry out at sea somewhere, nothing to see outside, raining, grey, misty horizons all 'round.

Got to Holyhead safe and sound, then through the gate the officials had a quick look to see if the passport matched the person, grab the bags and away on the train. Easy, too easy. A little two car diesel train took us to Chester and then a larger diesel Virgin train took us to  Euston station in London. Bought Oyster cards and used them to get the Northern line underground to Golders Green. Sorted out our banking at the NatWest then a short walk to the Central Hotel.

Golders Green was my home for 9 months in 1965 and I must say in 50 years it has changed, a lot. Faces from all nations of the earth here, hard to find an English accent. Streets generally filthy with rubbish blowing everywhere, traffic very heavy and very relentlessly continuous, lots of inappropriately large cars for such narrow roads. Not sure that I'd ever like to spend 9 months here again.

At least the sun is shining and it is warmer than it was in Ireland, now at 8:45pm the sun is ts still up but very low in the sky and the sky seems 99% blue. Hope it stays a bit like that for a few more days while we are in London.


Tomorrow, off to explore London.