Come Here To Me!

I was once on a Nitelink that just stopped on the way home from town because of snow. We hate the stuff, and don’t know how to deal with it. Waking up Saturday morning with a raging hangover (I’m 21 now, horray) I was off to the airport to catch a flight to Catalonia. Looking out the window, I knew I’d be spending more time in the airport than in the sky.

Below are a few things you can do to kill some time in the airport. It makes the whole thing a little more tolerable.

Go look at the angsty barstoolers: There I am, sitting on my own reading The Phoenix annual when along comes Branno who I’m flying out with. “Head down there, Man United fans are going mad at the Guards!” We pop down for a look, and indeed they are. Green and gold scarves shout at the Guardians of the Peace, demanding that they make the snow feck off and the plane take off. It doesn’t work that way. Entertaining stuff.

Go for a pint: Everyone else has. All over the airport, delayed flight equals scoops. You can’t walk for all the abandoned pint glasses. Pint isn’t bad either.

Head for T2: If you want to go somewhere quiet and have a nap, this is a good bet. Let’s be honest, there’s nobody else there. Worth a look anyway.

Walk straight past the Gardaí: While waiting in a line to have our passport checked, we notice a number of automatic doors all around passport control opening whenever somebody on the far side gets close enough. Jesus H. Christ, how Irish is that?

Get yanks to buy you booze: The Duty Free area is a spectacle. Like dealers, every now and then you witness a native approach someone who looks like they’re heading a bit further than them. Money changes hands, and one can pick up a bottle of rum for next to nothing. Result.