For breakfast on our day is Belfast baps. I had seen package of baps in the window of the bakery in Holywood and asked what they were. “Just rolls, really,” Alison answered, “with a soft outside rather than a proper crust.” I don’t know when, but Alison had picked up two packates so I could experience a bap before we left. Maurice made us “Belafact baps” which is a bap roll filled with Irish bacon and fried tomatoes. By the time breakfast is over, we have about 30 minutes before we have to leave for Belfast’s Grand Central Station and our bus to Dublin airport. Adam carries our heavy suitcases down and gets them in the van. We talk about taking another cruise together, or Alison and Lucy coming to visit us, but we know we will have to leave with nothing certain.

         Hugs for Adam and Lucy and we are on our way. Grand Central is nearly empty. We find the gate for our bus in plenty of time. We stow the luggage and take our seats. In 90 minutes we are at Dublin airport.

         There is a hassle with the baggage at the airport. I had paid for overweight bags in advance, but the machine keeps wanting me to pay more because we were overweight. We keep taking stuff out of the bag until the machine accepts it, but there is no human being to deal with and we can’t seem to get around the “system” any other way. I am not happy. Aer Lingus has caused us one problem after another on this trip and I am fed up. I plan to ask for a refund but don’t guess there is much chance of success. I’ve got to try to let it go for now.

         Once we get our wheelchair assistance things goes smoother. We get right to the front of all the lines and to our gate in no time. We board a little late, but are almost first on. I watch Hamnet (excellent), then get caught up on my blog. We will touch down in Boston in about 45 minutes.

         And so it ends. Not with a bang, but with a whimper.