Buses, Trains, Taxis and Feet
- bevclyde45
- Sep 28, 2025
- 5 min read
28-09-2025
Several means of transportation were in use this week.
I began my class at Trinity College in Dublin, titled “U.S. History, Power Politics, and People.”
The course runs for nine weeks and concludes on December 1st. I chose to enroll in this class for several reasons: it fit my schedule perfectly, as I needed a midday class that would allow me to catch the bus in the morning from Waterford and return in the afternoon. The class takes place every Monday from noon to one.
Initially, I had planned to take a class on a subject I knew little about, but none of those fit my schedule. I thought a U.S. history class might still be interesting, especially considering it would be taught from a European/Irish perspective.
However, things didn’t turn out as I had anticipated. I expected the class to consist of learners like me—old people. Instead, I'm in a college class filled with many Trinity College undergraduates. Additionally, I assumed my professor would be Irish, but the professor is actually from Virginia, so much for gaining a European viewpoint. We will switch professors mid-Michaelmas term (I’m learning the local lingo), and I have no idea where the second professor is from.
Despite these surprises, I believe this experience can still be valuable; there is genuine interaction between the professor and students, and I remain hopeful that I will still pick up on the European sensibilities.
Another in the list of things not being as easy as they should be: A couple of weeks ago I made a trip to Dublin specifically to find my lecture hall and where to catch the bus back to Waterford. On the Friday before my class started on Monday, I received an email from Trinity College. After reading it, I still knew where to catch the bus back to Waterford, but was unsure about the location my lecture hall, as they had changed it due to the high number of students enrolled in the class. Fortunately, I found the lecture hall without any issues; unfortunately, there is no coffee shop in the building. So much for my original plan to grab a cup of coffee, relax for a few minutes, and then head to class. I’ll need to find a coffee shop near my new building.
I hadn’t expected Mondays to be as tiring as they have turned out to be. I have to wake up about 6:30 to catch the bus to Dublin at 8:30. I arrive in Dublin about 11:15 and walk 10 minutes to class. I spend an hour in class, followed by a two-hour wait before I catch the bus back to Waterford at 3:00 PM. I get back to Waterford around 5:30 and walk to my apartment. By the time I arrive at my apartment, I’m exhausted. Out of the nine and a half hours I am away from my apartment, I’m sitting down for six. I’m not sure why I’m so tired, but I am. Hopefully, this week I’ll find a place to have lunch, probably in Temple Bar, which is a popular pub area in Dublin. Maybe that will help solve my problem.
My granddaughter, Rachel, who is attending University College Dublin (UCD), came to visit me this weekend. She is studying Urban Planning and seems to be settling in well, though her weekends can be dull since her Irish friends often go home during that time. She arrived by train on Saturday morning, and I was a bit late to meet her due to misreading her email and having difficulty getting a taxi. Fortunately, the day improved from that miscue.
Back at my apartment, I had prepared the bedroom and bathroom with new pillows, towels, including washcloths and a top sheet. In Ireland, hotels typically do not provide top sheets and washcloths, but Chez Beverly does. We went out for lunch at a second-story restaurant where we managed to get the table by the window—the only one in the restaurant. There, we caught up on family gossip while watching the activity in the city centre.
Rachel ordered a BLT sandwich and enjoyed it. Bacon in Ireland differs from what we know in the U.S.; it’s more like a small slice of ham. I opted for a Waterford specialty, the "Blaa," which is a sandwich made with very soft white bread—I definitely prefer a more textured option. My Blaa was filled with bacon (ham), sausage, and a fried egg topped with tomato relish. I can say that I've tried a Blaa, and one is more than enough for me!
Last Christmas, my granddaughter Rebekah gave me a walking tour of Waterford and today
seemed like the perfect day to put it to use. Rachel and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the city's early history, particularly its Viking roots. Founded in 914, Waterford is the oldest city in Ireland. Reginald’s Tower, as it stands today, replaced an earlier wooden Viking tower, and a structure has occupied this site since around 914.
We also explored medieval Waterford and the impressive city walls that are still visible. I find it remarkable to walk around the city and see buildings that are 500 to 700 years old. Outside of some Indian mounds, I’ve rarely encountered construction this ancient in the U.S.
After a rest back at the apartment, we decided to take a taxi to a restaurant with a view of a
beach. While you might not typically associate beaches with Ireland, it is an island, and islands do have beaches. The high temperature on Saturday was around 60 degrees, so I didn’t expect to see anyone swimming. I was mistaken; we spotted several people braving the chilly waters. This may say something about the sanity of the Irish or perhaps their affection for Guinness!
On Sunday morning, we walked to church, and my ladies welcomed Rachel warmly, as I knew they would. The service was, as always, very good. After church, we went out for lunch, during which Rachel had a few questions. She specifically asked if the church is against education. It was a challenging question to answer, and I hope to have the opportunity to discuss it with her further.
Unfortunately, Rachel's weekend in Waterford had come to an end. After a taxi ride, I bid her farewell at the train station as she headed back to Dublin. It was wonderful to see her, and we're considering getting together again in another city in Ireland.
As I write this, I'm watching the first regular-season NFL game to be played in Ireland. It’s nice to have a bit of American football on the television!
Waterford Weather: Partly Cloudy
High 64 F (18 C), Low 45 F (7 C)
Sunrise: 7::24 Sunset: 7:12 (19:12 EU time)
Hours of sunlight: 11 hours and 48 minutes
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