Conference Opening

First, we walked from Schoolhouse to Roly's in Ballsbridge for a tasty potato-leek soup and onion tart - and coffee. Then a walk to UCD (oh, about 20 minutes on up that way) for the afternoon's opening sessions, and a special performance by the Garde Band (serious trombones, gentlemen!)









From UCD we caught a bus up to St. Stephen's Green, and spend a half hour wandering around with the president-elect of NASW trying to find Allison's hotel (Number 31) and to find some beer and burgers. (As I said to Rhonda, I don't mind the walking, but I don't want to be responsible for Jean Anastas getting lost in Dublin). We ended up at the Barge Inn along the Grand Canal - and I found myself drinking a surprisingly American pint of Guinness while watching Brazil trounce Chile in the World Cup. Despite its inappropriate chill, I was drinking a pint and watching footie in Ireland! Check!

From our walk to UCD and our walk around Dublin, we are realizing that the cliche is true - the Irish never tell the truth when they give directions. Everything is "just up the road" or "just about 10 minutes" or "oh, see those trees over there". Though we're not averse to walk, we're a wee bit tired!