The NZ factor

Everywhere I travel there is always a little bit of New Zealand to be found.

Those three little kiwis on Canterbury of New Zealand

                                N.Z.A  new to me, here a preppy spring outfit for boys.

                                          autographed All Blacks rugby shirt in an Irish pub

                                                                      NZ vino

a mention on a menu in Nass - they hosted a team from NZ

a poster seen in Dublin

a couple of mentions, in the Guinness Storehouse

And another All Blacks fan, seen outside the Rugby stadium...maybe he was looking for tickets too.

yum?

I can't brag about all the good meals we had in Ireland....we didn't choose well!

I should have just feasted on these and not wasted my efforts.

I did enjoy looking at all the fresh cuts of meats

the butcher shops reminded me of NZ, even with saw dust on the floor.

but some items were suspect, like this selection of black or white puddings.

Our most successful find was a small city organic market - picnic food for sure.

a baking demo

And then the discovery of some very delicious chocolates - on our pillows at night.

Traditional Fish and Chips was our first meal, crunchy and hot - our quest for a decent meal went down hill from there.

The kick off - Ireland V France

The city was just buzzing, the hotels and streets were crowded,  

and there were lots and lots of Frenchmen.

We wanted tickets to go where they were all going, our hotel concierge told us that sold out tickets are hard to find!

but we were told that some could be found, you just had to be at the right spot at the right time.

 Our spot was just outside the stadium, where thousands of ticket holding fans were arriving.
 We were told three things:
1. that there were not going to be any ticket scalpers holding up tickets for sale, and there weren't.
2. to ask the police if they had been given any they could give us - yes they would if they had any.
3. to ask people arriving if they had any for sale.

Frank and I split up - each armed with a little handmade sign "need two tickets".

 a little while later a nice quiet man walked up to Frank..his friends couldn't make it so he had two extra tickets!!! we would pay face value and sit next to him. She was from Tipperary and he from Limerick....a cute couple!!

 Our entrance was on another side, a bit of a tiki tour was required to get there.

                                                                  past front doors,

                                                            and along side small canals

                                                         through little tunnels,

                                                  and over little bridges,

                                           weaving in and around of some of the French fans

                                     and finally there.

                                                 Just in time for the official singing

                                                       and then the action on the field.

                                            half time....drinks, oh so very classy!!

                                                               and then the final score...
                         
                         and within a matter of hours the city was empty of the French, it was quite surreal.

This Is Rugby Country

                                 The Irish share a passion with New Zealanders -  they love Rugby.
                                 We were lucky enough to be there during The Six Nations.

Sitting in a pub while the locals watch the games was an experience in it's self.

There was a lot of cheering and then with strong Irish accents, it was either  "well done lads" or a lot of the F word....they used the F word a lot!

and then days later the rugby was still the main topic of conversation, I heard over and over the comments that rugby players were a different breed, being more classy - over Riff Raff soccer players.

                                                               
                                                              it was all very entertaining!!

                                     it was decided that we would watch the next game in person -
                               Dublin was hosting the French...and the French were arriving in droves.

                                     we were looking for tickets, not for clothing and gift ware

                              Some strength might be necessary to dull the disappointment of not finding any.
           

The last sign we saw as we walked into the stadium with tickets in hand!!

          was for the next big Rugby event - the World Cup in New Zealand...being advertised all over Ireland.

                                       
                                         Move over Guinness it is Heineken's time to shine.

A Keg or Two

The early morning sidewalks

                                                               all fill of the local ale.
.....

                   a keg of another type - hopefully these mud covered milk jugs were display only!!