So how do I get around with no rental car, no reservations, and no plan except to figure it out as I go? By solving one problem at a time. What is the first problem on my radar, after landing? Transportation right? No way!! I gotta grab some food after I part ways with Ted of course. Fortunately for me, Donegal airport has a tiny little cafe. I order my ham and cheese "Toastie" with a side of coleslaw and some potato crisps. Not exactly a gourmet meal, however, for the guy that has had a couple of hours sleep in the last 24 hours, a grilled cheese with ham more than hits the spot. Then things fell into place, almost like I planned it that way. As I sat in the vacant airport, I was unaware that solitude was so easy to find in Northern Ireland. 😊 I sat there quietly enjoying my "Toastie" when the Local Link bus arrived. The local link serves most of Donegal County linking people and communities together for only a few Euros.
For the small combined fee of 7.50 euros (about $7.89), I boarded the first of three buses. Each one getting progressively bigger as we headed for Letterkenny, Ireland. The first bus was the size of a large Mercedes adventure van. By the time I boarded the third, it was a regular tour bus. Fortunately, the roads by this time were one lane each way. The combined bus ride lasted about 2.5 hours, which sounds manageable until you realize we only traveled 57 km (35 mi) 😂 In case you are wondering, below is the route we took to Letterkenny, Ireland. Notice Dublin is in the bottom right corner of the image.
Riding public transportation reminds me of those magical moments when I was a young boy in Montreal, Quebec. My dear grandmother, since passed, introduced me to the ways of public transportation. I remember Grandma getting around Montreal and Longueuil navigating the urban ways via public transportation (i.e., buses, subways). She was a real pro and never relied on a car. Thanks to her, I've always felt at ease and enjoy the freedom that comes with public transportation.
I'm always amazed when I travel at how few accidents there are on the road compared to the "safe" streets in the U.S. The only difference between the roads in Ireland and Mexico is that drivers are EXTREMELY courteous in Ireland. Driver's never hesitate to pull off and allow opposing traffic through. Another reason not to rent a car, I undoubtedly would go at the wrong time and the whole driving on the left thing. Too many years, too many habits. I'd rather sit back and enjoy the ride, that's the best way to admire the scenery anyway. So although the picture below may look sketchy to some, John, our driver, never faltered. Like a zen master he always knew when to yield. John takes great care of his passengers!
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