Apple of my eye

This short story took me quite some time to write and is long. Hope you enjoy it. :)

Lincoln M. Lincoln was more than surprised and concerned when his daughter Suzan unexpectedly returned home. She should have been staying for another couple of months in Washington D.C., because the college year wasn't over yet.

Lincoln and Suzan had been always close. As a parent he was concerned about Suzan's well-being and more worried about her since she lost nearly all hearing on the left ear and around thirty percent on the right due to a very bad ear infection when Suzan was fourteen. Suzan had taken it in her stride, even though she had to change school and learn sign language and lip reading as a consequence. Lincoln was very proud of her and her achievements. Still he wanted to protect Suzan from the bad world outside. He was aware, of course, Suzan was an adult, but for him she would always be his little girl.

Suzan tried hard to keep up a happy front. She had fled home, because she had to find inner peace. She felt heartbroken and betrayed.

Suzan was pursuing a Master's degree in Library and Information Science. To support herself she worked as a waitress at a diner in a Washington D.C. suburb, where she fell in love with a regular customer. Antonio Pianas hadn't been exactly the type of man she would have gone for normally. Suzan was very tall with 5 ft. 11 in, had long, never ending legs, dirt blond hair and grey blue eyes. She preferred men, who were taller than her. Antonio was average height and about two inches shorter than Suzan. He had light brown hair, caramel colored skin, slanted black eyes and a lilting accent. He was exotic and charming. Suzan liked Antonio's manners and dress sense, so she thought it couldn't hurt to go on a date with him. It was a success and after going out a couple of more times Suzan plugged up her courage and told Antonio she was hard of hearing. She feared he wouldn't want anything to do with her because she was "damaged goods". Antonio wanted to know how it happened, if Suzan was in pain and what it was like to live with tinnitus and not hearing very well. He accepted her condition. Suzan was happy.
Inquiring what Antonio did for a living she was told he was a lawyer, but was working for his father. "In what business is your father active?" Suzan asked. "Drugs." She assumed he meant pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately it proved something entirely else.

Antonio and Suzan had been going steady for about a year, when one evening he visited her. Antonio seemed to be in a strange mood and hid his left hand. "Is something wrong?" "No." Antonio walked around Suzan's tiny flat like a caged tiger. "Do you want to talk about it?" Antonio gave Suzan a dark stare. He felt aggressive, guilty, angry with himself and his father and disgusted. Antonio realized he had made a mistake. He shouldn't have come. As an answer to Suzan's question Antonio showed her his hand. His knuckles were swollen, grazed and bruised. "What did you do? Did somebody try to rob you?" Suzan was worried. "No. I've taught someone a lesson today." Antonio replied tersely. "Taught a lesson? Whom and why?" Suzan was puzzled. She didn't associate a lawyer with violence. "Remember when I told you my Dad was into drugs? I meant it literally. My family belongs to the Colombian mafia. Besides drugs we are also dealing in extortion and blackmail. My father is responsible for the business in Washington D.C., Virginia and Maryland, but there are other family members. Our holdings stretch from Maine to South Carolina... No matter if I like it or not, I'm groomed to take over from my father at some stage. Tonight a few colleagues and I visited a reluctant customer, who wouldn't pay his due. My orders were to beat him up, if he wasn't forthcoming. Unfortunately for the man he didn't take my father's threat serious, so I was forced to go through with it. I didn't like it, but..." Suzan interrupted him. She was hurt and outraged Antonio hadn't told her from the beginning who he was. She screamed at him: "Out! You are a monster! I don't want to see you ever again!" Antonio looked wounded, but he left as Suzan asked him to do. When Antonio was gone, Suzan shook. She was scared and angry. Suzan felt unsafe in her own flat and decided to pack a few things and flee to Lincoln, Nebraska, where she originated from.

Antonio was hurt. He had guessed Suzan would be angry when he told her the truth, but had hoped she would forgive him for keeping an important secret from her and accept him for what he was. Antonio thought he would give her some time to cool down and approach her again. Two weeks later he realized Suzan was gone. Speaking with a fellow student and friend of Suzan's Antonio found out she had vanished. He was furious. Nobody seemed to know where she was. Antonio figured quickly out she must have left for Nebraska. Just to be on the safe side, he sent an associate to watch Suzan's parents' home, who confirmed she was there. Antonio was unsure what to do. Six days later he was on a flight to Lincoln.

Suzan had time to think. She was weighing up her feelings for Antonio. Was the lie really such a breach of trust she couldn't overcome? Could she imagine living with Antonio, knowing he was a criminal? Suzan thought she didn't mind Antonio being a criminal so much. Before she had known about it, Suzan had loved Antonio for his intelligence and kindness among other things. His character hadn't changed. What Suzan found very hard to deal with was the lie. Suzan valued honesty. If Antonio kept lying about his position for so long, what else was he lying about or would be in the future? There was also the risk of Antonio going to prison or being killed due to his job. Could Suzan live with that? So far she hadn't come to a conclusion yet.

Suzan and her mother A. A. were shopping together in town. They had agreed to meet with Lincoln at Green Gateau for lunch and afterwards father and daughter planned to go to the Sheldon Museum of Art. They wanted to see a water color exhibition.
Antonio had been following Suzan discreetly since he arrived in Lincoln. He didn't like the city very much. It was backwards against Washington D.C. Well, he didn't have to stay too long. Antonio liked the Sheldon Museum of Art, though. He wanted to have a look at the new exhibition.
Suzan's eyes were popping out, when she saw a familiar figure studying a large painting intently. "Mhm, Dad, would you mind if we go and see the sculptures?" "But we came to see the water colors..." "Dad, please, we can come back later." "Oh, alright." Lincoln was puzzled what had caused Suzan's change of heart. Suzan was absent minded and Lincoln thought spending time at the museum didn't make sense. "What's going on, Suzan?" He asked. "Nothing." Suzan didn't look him in the eyes and tensed. "Has somebody hurt you?" "Yes", Suzan replied, before quickly changing her mind and saying: "No... Maybe..." Lincoln took Suzan by the arm and led her to the nearest bench. "Tell me." Lincoln urged Suzan. "No, I don't want to talk about it." Lincoln frowned. "It's eating you up, so you might want to get it off your chest." Suzan sighed. She told her father with only the bare essentials what had happened. She didn't mention what Antonio had lied about. Lincoln didn't ask. He just wanted to know if Antonio had cheated on her. Lincoln thought it might have been what Antonio had been untruthful about. "No." Suzan shook her head. "He let me believe to be a different person than he was." Lincoln was angry with Antonio and would have told him clearly off, if he had been right in front of him. Suzan asked her father if they could go home and visit the museum at a later stage. Lincoln was okay with it.

Suzan felt herself compelled to make up her mind after she had seen Antonio at the museum. She thought he would show up at her home sooner or later. She was wrong. There were phone calls. When A.A. and Lincoln answered, the caller hung up. Suzan could guess it was Antonio, and she was getting upset and angry he didn't have the guts to reply to her parents and ask to speak to her. She picked up the phone when it rang again and bellowed her name aggressively into the receiver. It was the family's Reverend, who asked concerned, if Suzan's hearing was worse. Suzan was a bit embarrassed and said: "No, sorry, Reverend Maertens, I thought it was somebody else." "Well, remember, child, to be kind to other people, no matter how trying they are." "I will, Reverend." Reverend Maertens chatted for a while with Suzan before asking to talk to her father. There were no other calls for the rest of the day.

A.A. and Lincoln went to church. Suzan stayed at home. She was feeling depressed and tired, so she napped a bit. The shrill ringing of the phone woke her. A bit dazed she answered. "Meet me at the Standing Lincoln Sculpture at 3 PM." No matter how sleep drunk Suzan was, she recognized Antonio's voice and accent immediately. Before she could answer, he had hung up. Suzan was frustrated and angry. She dropped the receiver hard on the phone. Suzan was tempted not to show up. Knowing Antonio, though, she was sure he would go on her nerves until she was meeting him.

Suzan arrived punctual at the West Plaza of the Capitol, where the sculpture was located. It didn't take long and she saw Antonio approaching. He held a bunch of flowers in his hands. "Hello, Suzan." Antonio tried to kiss her, but she backed away. Antonio looked hurt. He recovered and handed the red roses to Suzan. "Can we talk, please, Suzan?" Antonio  begged. He was proud and it wasn't easy for him. Suzan asked, trying to keep her emotions in check: "What part of I don't want to see you again didn't you get?" "Suzan, please!" "Alright, what do you have to say for yourself?" Suzan barked. Antonio's face turned red. He was slowly losing his temper too. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to stay calm. "You don't make it easy, do you?" Suzan shook her head. Antonio sighed. "Would you care to go for a walk?" Suzan agreed. "I came to apologize. I know, there is no good reason why I didn't tell the truth immediately. I'm sorry I hurt you. It wasn't my intention and I admit freely I was a coward. I should have trusted you and told you at the very beginning. If you don't want me, tell me and I'm vanishing out of your life. I promise I won't bother you with visits or phone calls or by following you." Antonio turned away. He didn't want Suzan to see his anguish and how close he was to tears. They walked in silence for a while. Antonio had his hands buried deep in his pockets, because the air was still chilly. "Can't you look me in the eyes?!" Suzan asked quietly. Antonio felt crushed. He thought the blow was coming. Hiding his feelings by putting on a neutral expression, he faced Suzan. "I am hurt, but I also feel betrayed. You let me on to assume you were an upright citizen and it wasn't just a for a few days or weeks. I'm angry and I'm disappointed." After a short pause Suzan continued: "Have you lied about anything else? Now is the time to come clean." In all other regards Antonio had been honest. "No." "Okay, I'll give you another chance, but you have to regain my trust and if I should find out, you haven't told the truth now, it's over. Is that clear?" "Yes, of course, mi ser querida." "Good. Please leave me alone now, but I'll expect you tomorrow for dinner at my place and I want to finally meet your family. Alright?" Suzan's tone was stern. "Alright." Antonio confirmed. They agreed on a time.


When Suzan told her parents there was going to be a special guest expected for dinner, they were a bit surprised and excited. A. A. was going into hyper drive and planning a meal already. Consulting with Suzan she came up with a two course meal. Nebraska was famous for beef. It had always played a big role in the Lincoln's household. On Suzan's advice A. A. didn't make the usual meat and potato meal, though. When questioned by her parents Suzan was evasive who the dinner guest was. They didn't know if it was a him or a her. The excitement and tensions rose.

Everything was ready, but whoever was invited was fashionably late.
It frustrated A. A. and Lincoln. This person had no manners at all.
Nearly ten minutes after the agreed time Antonio arrived. He didn't apologize, but brought presents for his future parents in law.
For some reason - even though he had been living in the US for quite a long time - Antonio hadn't shaken off the habit of arriving late to private functions.
"Mom, Dad, this is Antonio Pianas, my boyfriend. Antonio, this is my mother Alexandria Amber Pilgrim Lincoln and my father Lincoln Martin Lincoln." "I am very pleased to meet you both. Suzan has told me so many positive things about you." Lincoln grumbled something in reply, knowing Antonio was the one, who had hurt his precious daughter and also not liking that Antonio was unpunctual. "Is there any specific reason why you are late, Mr. Pianas?" A. A. was blunt. "Oh, I beg your pardon." Antonio answered in his lilting accent. "I always forget your customs. It's considered impolite to be on time in Colombia and Spain, where I lived most of my childhood." He gave A. A. a disarming smile and she was charmed. She wanted to hear more about Antonio's upbringing.
Lincoln wasn't taken in at all. He was disappointed Suzan's partner was not from good American stock, but a foreigner. For some reason Lincoln felt also a stab of jealousy.
"Dinner is ready. Suzan, why don't you show Mr. Pianas to the dining room?" A. A. suggested. While Suzan and Antonio went there, A. A. placed the steaks on a plate and the couscous in a bowl. She gave the bowl to Lincoln, who was still deep in thought and took a while to register what was expected of him. "What is your impression, A. A.?" Lincoln asked. "Besides, being unpunctual he seems nice." "I think he's a liar, unreliable and too charming for his own good..." "Lincoln! You haven't spent more than five minutes in Antonio's presence, you can't judge him yet." "I know he's a liar!" Lincoln replied stubborn. "How?" A. A. was getting impatient with her husband. He hadn't been so jealous since Suzan had brought home her first boyfriend when she was fifteen. "Lincoln, let's get on with it." A. A. sighed. She hoped Lincoln wasn't going to be grumpy or making a scene. Reading A. A.'s mind Lincoln said: "Don't worry, I will behave." "Good."
At the dining room Suzan had seated Antonio beside Lincoln. She sat opposite Antonio and A. A. beside her. Suzan wondered how often this scene had played out. Antonio was the seventh man to be introduced to her parents. She had always believed the last guy was the one. Suzan hoped she had kissed enough frogs and Antonio was the person she was going to spend the rest of her life with. It was important to Suzan that her parents liked Antonio. He was the first foreigner, though, and Suzan also thought her parents wouldn't approve of Antonio's job. A. A. served Antonio first, followed by her husband, Suzan and herself. Antonio was charming and complimented the flavor of the steak. "It reminds me of the meals my family and I enjoyed during vacations in Morocco." A. A. was flattered. "You said you grew up in Colombia and Spain..." "Yes, I was born in Bogota. We left for Madrid when I was two. My sisters were born there and we stayed until I was seventeen." At A. A.'s request Antonio regaled them with stories about Spain. When he told them he was a lawyer Lincoln's prejudice Antonio must be a liar was confirmed. Lawyers couldn't be trusted. It didn't help either Antonio worked for his father. A. A. was a bit disappointed when she heard Antonio had graduated from Law School in Wyoming and not an Ivy League college. Suzan studied at Gallaudet University. It was the best a deaf or hard of hearing person could go to. A. A. was also concerned Antonio worked for his father and wondered how ambitious Antonio was. She needn't have worried. Even though Antonio was more or less forced to take over the family business, he later did everything in his power to stay at the helm of the enterprise.
Antonio learned Suzan was from a humble background. Lincoln was an electrician and A. A. worked for a dentist. It didn't matter for him. If his family hadn't chosen a criminal path, he would have grown up in the slums of Bogota and wouldn't have been given the opportunities he had had.
"Why did you start working for the family business immediately after you finished your studies?" A. A. asked. "As Colombians we value and respect our elders. They know due to age and experience what is best for us, so I obeyed my father's wish to join the company." "Would you have, if he hadn't asked you to?" Lincoln questioned Antonio. His future son in law shook his head. His dark eyes were focused on Lincoln and his answer seemed to be honest. "No, I personally would have preferred to join a law firm and gain some insights, before working for my father." A. A. frowned. It had never occurred to her to force Suzan to do anything she didn't want to do. "Are you unhappy?" "No, Mrs. Lincoln. I enjoy most aspects of the work." Antonio liked having power and being respected as second in command. He was good in delegating and liked making decisions. Antonio preferred solving his issues without resorting to violence, but sometimes he had to be hands on himself or had to order it. The decision was always difficult and Antonio had to wrangle with his conscience.
Lincoln inquired about Antonio's income. He wanted to make sure Suzan was financially secure, if she wanted to start a family with Antonio. His future son in law gave a number that sounded right what a junior lawyer was earning. Lincoln was glad Antonio's father didn't spoil Antonio. Lincoln was wrong. Antonio's earnings were much higher, but he thought he was making a better impression, if he gave the answer Lincoln was hoping for.
"Do you have any debts?" "No, thank goodness, not, Mrs. Lincoln." "Mom!" Suzan protested. Lincoln and A. A. communicated silently. They thought they had interrogated Antonio enough for the time being. They were glad to hear Antonio was financially stable.
Still it didn't mean Lincoln liked Antonio or was convinced Antonio was good enough for his daughter. On the other side A. A. saw how happy Suzan was and what kind of loving glances the couple gave each other. A. A. sighed. It was so romantic. In her mind she was already planning the wedding and dreaming about grandchildren.
The rest of the dinner was peaceful, even so Lincoln glared at Antonio a couple of times. If Antonio noticed, he gave no signs.
The dessert was Frgál, a Moravian pie, filled with pear jam. A. A.'s ancestor's had brought the recipe with them from the Czech Republic. Antonio praised it, but secretly would have preferred it slightly sweeter. His sweet tooth was extreme, though.

After dinner the ladies cleared the table and went to the kitchen. It gave Lincoln the chance to talk with Antonio alone. He said he knew Antonio had lied to Suzan and that he was very disappointed Antonio had hurt his daughter. Lincoln grappled with his Spanish, he had learned at school and sometimes had to use it when dealing with a work colleague, who's English wasn't good, and managed to say: "Ella es la niña de mis ojos!" Antonio was surprised. He replied: "Sir, she is the apple of my eyes, too. I didn't hurt her on purpose, but I admit it was out of self-interest. I feared I would lose her if I told her the truth. We have cleared the air and I promise I will cherish Suzan for the rest of my life." "That sounds serious." Lincoln grumbled. "I am very serious about your daughter, Mr. Lincoln. We have been going steady for some time now and I will propose at some stage." Lincoln was taken aback. He didn't like the idea of this stranger marrying Suzan. When Lincoln was honest with himself, he thought it wouldn't have mattered whom Suzan introduced. Lincoln would have always disapproved. He felt like Antonio was taking away his daughter and was very jealous.
"We will see." Lincoln replied. The conversation petered out. Antonio sensed Lincoln disliked him and wondered if it had to do with his personality or because he disturbed the relationship between Lincoln and Suzan. He was glad when mother and daughter returned. The rest of the evening was pleasant enough.

Before returning to Washington D.C. Antonio and Suzan spent some quality time together. The Lincoln's got a chance to get to know Antonio better. Grudgingly Lincoln admitted Antonio wasn't half as bad, but he had still issues with his jealousy.

Over the following months and years Antonio tried to win over Lincoln. He had managed to wrap A. A. around his finger from the beginning.

Lincoln saw his daughter was very much in love and Antonio worshipped her. Suzan's father struggled with the acceptance she had grown up and was leading her own life. He finally dropped his stroppy behavior when Antonio helped him with a problem. A neighbor threatened with a lawsuit, because she claimed he had poisoned her cat. Lincoln hadn't done it. He couldn't afford an expensive lawyer or going to court. When Antonio heard about it he offered to talk with the lady in question. To Lincoln's surprise it worked. The neighbor was even friendliness personified afterwards. Lincoln wondered what Antonio had said to her. At first Antonio tried to mediate. When it didn't work he advised her it would be better for her own and her family's security to better drop the case and behave civilized to his parents in law or else! If Antonio should hear anything negative, something bad would happen. At first Linda Ramos didn't take Antonio serious. She realized very soon Antonio hadn't been joking. Linda noticed a very bulky man followed her every move. It got scary when somebody broke into her house and left her dead cat clearly visible for her. Under pressure Linda caved in and withdrew.

Lincoln and Antonio were very close until Antonio untimely death at the age of forty five. It was devastating for all of the family.

©2015

Titanic, Belfast, Northern Ireland

During our long weekend in Belfast in October 2014 we visited the Titanic.

We walked from the Holiday Inn (see also review) to the City Hall and took Bus 26 to the Titanic Quarter.

The building is visible from afar and the stop easy to locate.

On the site of the Titanic is the SS Nomadic, which delivered 1st class passengers to the Titanic from Cherbourg. She was also a restaurant on the Seine in Paris for a while, before being returned to her birth place. The SS Nomadic is the only surviving ship built for White Star Line at Harland & Wolff. She can be also visited against an entrance fee.

The building, where the Titanic Belfast is housed, is majestic.

It is made of glass and the same height and shape as Titanic's hull. It looks amazing and shimmers when the sun is shining.

Surrounding it are Rowan Gillespie's sculpture "Titanica", a brief history of Belfast and it's harbor, huge columns, marking where the Arrol Gantry was located, the former head quarter of Harland & Wolff and much more.

We bought our tickets online and paid around 15.50 GBP per person, ca. 20 Euro or 25 USD. They can be picked up at the counter or printed off from a ticketing machine on the ground floor, where some of the restaurants are located.

There was a compass rose incooperated in the floor and a beautiful atrium completed the design.

The exhibition started on the first floor. We were introduced to the history of Belfast. It was interesting with old photographs and a silent movie, old advertising and much more. It showed Belfast had a vibrant business scene, which included brewers, linen makers and sweet factories at the time. At some stage in the 19th century Belfast had more inhabitants than Dublin.

Next the White Star Line and Harland & Wolff were introduced.

Another exhibit concerned itself with the building of the Titanic. There was a ride, which showed how the rivets were added. The noise was ear deafening. It was also fascinating to see what the Arrol Gantry looked like and how immense it must have been.

It showed also the splendor of the finished product.

The first class was very luxurious, second class upscale, while third class was basic, but clean and a big step forward against other steerage classes.

At the exhibition we found out more about the route the RMS Titanic took, the collision with the iceberg and the aftermath. It dealt with the employees and passengers on board. Some turned into heroes, others into villains.

Positive figures were the ship's doctor William Francis Norman O'Loughlin, the musicians Theodore Ronald Brailey, Roger Marie Bricoux, John Frederick Preston Clarke, Wallace Hartley, John Law Hume, Georges Alexandre Krins, Percy Cornelius Taylor and John Wesley Woodward, Harland & Wolff's naval architect Thomas Andrews, Margaret "Molly" Brown and J.J. Astor amongst many more.

Captain Edward Smith seemed to be too shocked and stunned to react appropriately. It would have been his last voyage before retiring.

J. Bruce Ismay managed to climb into one of the few life boats and survived. A lot of people thought he should have stayed on board and that he was at least partly responsible for the sinking, by urging Captain Smith to try and break the time record.

The majority of passengers died. Only 25 % of third class, but 97 % of first class survived.

Some of the bodies were never recovered. Most of the dead are interned at a cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Identifying the bodies was sometimes impossible, so those graves are nameless.

You could hear the SOS signal the telegraphers sent out and voices of real survivors, describing their experiences.

The sinking of the Titanic sent shock waves throughout the world.

There were two trials, one in the United States and one in the UK. It found there were too few life boats amongst other things.

The reason why the Titanic sank and so fast is still not completely clear. Some claim it was the inferior steel used to build the ship or the rivets used had been wrongly treated before being used.

The next section was dedicated to popular culture and how creative minds depicted the persons involved and the sinking.

The experience concluded with showing how deep sea excavation is working, where the wreck of Titanic is located and what was found in and around it.

Of course an attraction wouldn't be complete with a gift shop.

We went to Bistro 401 (named after the yard Titanic was built at, yard 402 was the sister ship Olympic's),but unfortunately the experience there wasn't as high caliber as the exhibit. It was self-service, but there were no plates for the cakes, so when we asked friendly we were ogled at odd by the staff and then without saying a word handed two. We also ordered two hot chocolates from the same lady. The cake was dried out and the hot chocolate too sweet to drink. It was the only thing we didn't like about Titanic Belfast. Catering should be changed immediately.

When you visit, please bring a lot of time with you, we needed around 3 hours to take it all in.

We will return at some stage, but we won't be eating at Bistro 401, as long the concept / offerings / service doesn't change.

©2015

Sophie's Restaurant @ The Dean Hotel Dublin, Ireland

Sophie’s Restaurant is located on the rooftop of The Dean Hotel, Dublin, Ireland.

We had heard only good things about it from Hotel Chatter and after checking the menus online, we decided to reserve a table for brunch, dinner and breakfast during our stay at The Dean. Please see also our review.

Arriving at the landing on the 5th floor we were intrigued by the swings.

When entering the restaurant the rest rooms are to the right and the open kitchen to the left.

The interior design was modern. The bar was the center piece with some bar stools to sit around it, booths to the left and tables at every floor to ceiling window, which covered three sides. 

The views were stunning. 

There is also a heated rooftop terrace, where cocktails are served for those, who don’t want to have a meal.

Our brunch

The Maître d’ welcomed us, but had at first problems finding our reservation. We learned it had been booked under my fiancé’s name. As soon as it was cleared we were brought to our table.

It was buzzing on the Sunday afternoon. There were families with small children, a birthday party and couples. The noise level was amazing, but conversations could be still had.

Sometimes it was difficult to get the attention of the waiters, because they were so extremely busy. When we got hold of them they were friendly and accurate.

We ordered two carrot, ginger, apple and kale juices, two cappuccinos, two Eggs Benedict, one homemade granola with Glenilen natural yogurt and honey and one French Toast with Canadian Buckwud maple syrup.

The syrup came in a squirt bottle – a good idea, because customers can decide how much they need.
The coffee and tea are from Clement & Pekoe. The cappuccinos were smooth and milky, just as we like it.

All was very delicious. 

We also liked that the Eggs Benedict came with a grilled tomato and herbs. 

The cost for our brunch was 49.15 Euro (ca. 51.95 USD).

Our dinner

The atmosphere was different when we arrived in the evening. The music was upbeat and the lightning reduced. It might looked like you wouldn’t be able to see what was on your plate. The lightning was cleverly placed, for example over the bar, creating a bright island and over the tables too.

This time around the guests were couples and a small group, celebrating a birthday. 

A waiter soon arrived and took our order.

We had a large bottle of water, a Capone cocktail, an orange juice, the corn fed chicken with charred leeks, potatoes and chorizo foam, the baked hake with kale, brown shrimps, potatoes and tomato dressing, an avocado salad to share, the pana cotta with blueberry jelly and the frangipane with rum raisin ice cream and prunes. 

The cocktail was refreshing and similar to the one I had at the Merrion’s Cellar Bar during brunch there earlier in the year (See also our review).

The chicken and the fish melted in the mouth. The flavors of each dish were very balanced, light and healthy. 

Of course the highlight was the dessert. The pana cotta wasn’t sweet at all, but tasty. The frangipane was fragrant and the contrast between hot cake and cold ice cream was nice.

The staff was attentive and always there when needed. Somehow dinner seemed slightly better organized than brunch. 

We enjoyed our experience and thought the meal was a good value at 82 Euro (ca. 87 USD).
The meal had very high standards and was comparable to our dining experiences at other hotels in Dublin, like The Merrion or the Westbury.

We believe Sophie’s management team has higher ambitions and there is maybe a Bib Gourmand on the horizon in the future.

Our breakfast

After a good night’s rest we arrived for breakfast. Originally we had reserved a table for 08.00 hours, but were running late. It wasn’t a problem. We were the only ones at this early hour on a Monday morning.

In room dining was also in high demand, though, and by the time we left the restaurant had filled up a bit, but wasn’t that busy.

We were given the best table in one of the corners of the restaurant, allowing an at least 180 degree view over Dublin including Dame Street, the Central Bank, St. Patrick’s and Christchurch Cathedral amongst others.

We had also “spies” during brunch and breakfast. Curious seagulls flew by, looking what we humans were up to.

The breakfast and brunch menu were identical. They offered enough choice to try something new.
In this case we had two cappuccinos, carrot, ginger, apple and kale juices, two bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon, two bowls of fruit salad and a pancake stack with orange butter. Originally we had intended to have a portion of porridge each, but felt this would stuff as too much, so we shared the pancakes. There were three and they were big. The orange butter was melting and all smelled delicious. Buckwud, which means maple syrup in native Canadian, was supplied again.

The juice this time around contained more carrot and ginger than the day before. 

The bagels were delicious and easy to eat. The amount of salmon was just right and the presentation was creative.

The bowls, where the fruit salad came in, were vintage looking with chipped enamel. The other plates, cups and saucers were by Ras Al Kheimah Porcelain. The crockery fit well with the ambience.

Our waitress was one of the members of staff we had the previous afternoon. She recognized us immediately, which was a surprise and pleasure, considering how many guests she had encountered. She was very attentive and took good care of us.

Breakfast came in at 45.45 Euro (ca. 50 USD).

Our take: We liked the contemporary interior, the friendly staff and the different atmospheres during our meals, plus the wonderful views over Dublin from the rooftop.

Brunch, dinner and breakfast were of a very high standard.

The value was good.

We will return later in the year.

©2015

The Dean Hotel Dublin, Ireland

When we first heard The Dean Hotel was going to open here in Dublin, we were looking forward to stay there.

Originally we planned to stay at the Intercontinental Hotel Dublin, the former Four Seasons, but thought the Intercontinental still had the old rooms of the Four Seasons, in which we stayed already twice, while the Dean was new and design driven. Following the reviews on Tripadvisor we heard only positive feedback beside the noise levels.

After booking The Dean, we also made reservations for their restaurant for Brunch, Dinner and Breakfast.

We were in email contact with the hotel, asking for an early check in, if possible, and a quiet room.

The email replies were all very quick and friendly. We were advised that the early check in couldn't be guaranteed, but they would store our luggage, should it not be available.

The Dean Hotel is located in Harcourt Street, just a ca. 10 minute stroll from Grafton Street along St. Stephen's Green Park in the heart of Dublin.

When we entered The Dean we found the Dean Bar to the left and the reception/gift shop to the right. The gift shop sold own branded items and other clothing and accessories from a shop located in Temple Bar, called Indigo & Cloth.

It had a sultry atmosphere. We liked the presentation. There were shelves with old cameras and a globe, dim lightning, booths and communal tables.

The elevators were hidden behind the shelf.

The Rotisserie kitchen was also visible from the bar.

On the day of check in we arrived at around 12.30 hours. Our room wasn't ready, though we could do the check in formalities already. Unfortunately we had some issues with the credit card issuer and were allowed to use the phone at reception to solve the problem. A flight we had booked the previous week had been flagged as suspicious and I had to confirm it was really me, who was trying to use the credit card at the Dean. We were happy we could call without being charged and without quibbles. A sign of good service, we felt already at home at the Dean.

Since we were travelling light and we had already a reservation at Sophie's, we didn't need the luggage storage facility, but it is a nice touch.

A more detailed review is going to follow about Sophie's restaurant.

After our brunch the official check in time of 3 PM had passed. We were handed our keys immediately.

At first we were a bit concerned about security. It was unfounded. Even if the elevators can be used by anyone the floors are only accessible at the landing via key card.

The floor to our room was as moody as the reception area. There was artwork on the floors and colorful carpets kept noise to a minimum. Our room was located on the third floor. There are five floors in total, so we were located in the middle. We had to use a flight of stairs to reach our room. The property might not be suitable for wheelchair users or people with reduced mobility.

We had booked a HiFi Room, the category just below a suite. We thought it would suit us best and was the essence of the hotel. Our room overlooked the backside, not Harcourt Street. We could look into other office buildings and a residential area. The Dean is housed in a former office building and has a classic Georgian facade.

The room was contemporary with orange splashes, dark brown wooden flooring, a colorful carpet, a large bed (two beds pushed together, very comfortable) and aqua blue walls with a photograph of a concert and two paintings.

The sitting area in front of the bed was comfortable too and included an octagonal table with a marble top.

We enjoyed sitting there, having drinks and watching Netflix (included in the room rate and can be watched as much as you like without any extra charge) or CNN. There were also regional channels available, but no Business Channel like Bloomberg.

A lot of thought went into the interior design.

Where it mattered the comfort and lightning was good, be it at Sophie’s Restaurant or elsewhere.

Our room had lots of natural day light due to a corner location and panorama windows. The sun heated up the room, but the air conditioning was working fast and cooled the room quickly. There was also a fan, adding some romance.

The storage units were open, so nothing could be overlooked or forgotten. It looked like a large vintage commode. The top could have been a drawing desk or part of a work bench. There were even water rings on it. In one compartment were LPs including one from Sinead O’Connor, called “I’m not bossy – I’m the boss”. A LP player and amplifier were also available, so you could throw your own parties and play the DJ.

Reading material was provided too, a coffee book called American Artifacts, Finnegan’s Wake by James Joyce and a book combining the poem/lyrics of Leonard Cohen’s “Dance me to the end of love” and paintings of Henri Matisse. I love Leonard Cohen’s music and “Dance me to the end of love” is one of my favorite songs, especially the cover by Madeleine Peyroux.

There was also a writing desk with a makeup mirror.

A full length mirror was located near the entrance.

The WiFi was free, reliable and fast throughout the hotel.

Other unusual items were a modern telephone, designed like it came straight out of the fifties or sixties and a Smeg mini fridge or a hot water bottle.

The iconic Smeg was stocked with the usual suspects, i.e. Coca Cola, but had a lot of interesting items, like Irish Pale Ale, Irish lemonade, coconut and vitamin water. The Munchie Box was very tempting with Broderick Brothers bars (Rocky Road with marshmellows), Nic’s & Ali’s Sours or Cola Bottle gummies and much more. We took a few items. The mini bar is reasonable priced, for example water costs 1.50 Euro (ca. 1.60 USD). We were a bit surprised, though, because we didn’t have to pay for the three bottles we took. It’s own branded water, organic and sourced in Ireland. We love the idea of going global and local at the same time, it's more tempting than an average "chain hotel" mini bar.

Beside the Munchie Box were cups, Barry’s Tea Gold Blend and a Nespresso Coffee Machine with four capsules.

The kettle, hot water bottle and iron were kept in one wooden box underneath the Munchie Box and the hair dryer in another one. It was a professional Remington.

When entering the room the bath room was off to the left.

There was one large white sink with a black tap, a shelf to place our own beauty products, toilet, a heated towel rack and a power shower with a large rainfall showerhead, white and black tiles and a glass divider with The Dean logo printed on it.

Some of the tiles were dark, honey comb shaped which created a nice contrast to the white ones.

The floor in the shower was slightly sloped, so when taking a shower, it didn’t flood the bath room.

There was another shelf for personal items and a mirror, convenient if someone wants to shave.

All amenities were by Grafton Barber. The shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and soap came in metal dispensers. The size was large. We liked the products, but missed the body lotion.

The power shower worked well – the pressure was fantastic - and the water came constantly hot without any problems.

The bed room was quiet as requested and we weren’t disturbed by any noise from surrounding night clubs.

There were ear plugs on the night stands, just in case.

Unfortunately check out approached too fast.

Our take? This is one of the best hotels in Dublin and the 4 Star Superior is rating well deserved.

It’s a beautiful design boutique hotel with 52 rooms, where the design doesn’t go over substance. Our stay was friendly and flawless.

The location is perfect to explore Dublin or stay in, depending what room type you have booked (Punk Bunks are on the smaller side.), binge watching your favorite Netflix show and enjoy a cocktail or a meal and grandiose views over Dublin from the rooftop restaurant and bar. We would highly recommend the HiFi rooms at the Dean.

The food is excellent and the staff is exemplary – friendly, very anticipating, helpful and good looking.

We are missing the hotel already and plan to stay there again in our future.

©2015

Crowne Plaza Northwood Dublin, Ireland

We have stayed before at the Crowne Plaza Northwood, but preferred the neighboring Holiday Inn Express, because the property offered 1000 Bonus Points per stay. Now the bonus points were not available at our favorite property, but at the Crowne Plaza. We were collecting points at IHG's loyalty program, so we booked a night at the property during a weekend in November 2014.

We took the Airlink bus 747 from the city center to Dublin Airport and changed to the Crowne Plaza/Holiday Inn Express free shuttle bus. We had heard there was a new bus, but unfortunately we had on each occasion the older one, which wasn't that comfortable.

Check in was pleasant and we were recognized by a member of staff from previous stays at the Holiday Inn Express. She was delighted to see us and it made us happy too. Since we had achieved gold status within the IHG Rewards Club we were upgraded to an Executive Room with club lounge access, which we appreciated.    The lounge has a Happy Hour during the week, but serves only non-alcoholic drinks and hot beverages during the weekend. Unfortunately it wasn't regularly re-stocked, so when we wanted still water it was already gone on Sunday morning.

Our room was on the 4th floor.

It was large and held mostly in red, brown, white and black with some Asian touches. There was a chair and ottoman. It was comfortable, but didn't face the TV, a slight inconvenience. Even though the room was large, it felt a bit cramped.

The bed allowed for a great night's sleep.

The bathroom was inspired by the Burren.

The amenities were from Temple Spa London, Gilchrist & Soames, a first for us. We liked these upscale products.

The bath tub and shower were separate. The water pressure was very good.

During our stay we also went to Touzai on the ground floor for dinner. There was a special offer available, which we used. We had one two course meal and one three course and a bottle of water for 50.15 Euro (ca. 62.65 USD). The cuisine is Asian (For example fish mouoli and chicken assado were our main courses.) and was good quality and delicious, but the portions were way too large.

The staff was attentive.

Afterwards we went to the bar for hot chocolate, because we received a voucher, which could be only used at the Cinnabar, for a free drink. The bar was extremely busy and under staffed. Our waitress was stressed out and for some reason thought we believed we were entitled to two free drinks. Having cleared we were aware of the voucher was only valid for one drink, she took our order. The hot chocolate was slightly too sweet for our flavor, but otherwise good.


Breakfast was the worst we had in a longer time. There was somebody at the front, but the person only asked for the room number and left us to our own devices. The restaurant was full; there were some uncleared tables and it wasn't obvious which ones were in use and which ones weren't.

The restaurant manager advised us a table would be available soon, so we had to wait, disturbing other guests on the way to and from the buffet.

Finally we received our table and from there it went okay. Again the quality of the breakfast buffet and how it had been treated by other diners, was a letdown.

After breakfast we went for a walk in the park opposite the hotel, it's called Santry Demesne. We do that always, when staying either at the Crowne Plaza or Holiday Inn Express, weather and time permitting.

Check out was done quickly and efficient.

Would we stay here again? Maybe if we need points or have a purpose driven stay before or after a flight.


©2014 

Sunday Brunch @ The Cellar Bar, The Merrion Hotel, Dublin, Ireland

In early February my fiancé and I went to the Sunday Brunch at the Cellar Bar, located at the Merrion Hotel. We had planned it for about two months and reserved a table.

We arrived on time and were warmly greeted by the Maître d'.

Our table was held back for us and just opposite the one we had around one and a half months ago during our lunch. The "Reserved" sign was discreetly removed before we took our seats. The difference between our two tables was the size and shape. Our most recent table was squared and larger, while the other had been round. It was a bit wobbly, though. When we mentioned it, a solution was found immediately. The member of staff was grateful we told her. It shows it's better to communicate when something isn't working before leaving dissatisfied.

The Sunday Brunch is well branded with a sign (proclaiming it's the most stylish) at the top of the stairs leading down to the Cellar Bar & Restaurant and branded "Brunch" coasters, especially created for it.

The brunch menu is published online, so we already knew what we would order and the estimated costs.

There were special brunch cocktails and mocktails available. He had an Orange Crush and myself enjoyed the Brunch Refresher. My better half likes coffee liquor, so he was pleasantly surprised, when the waitress confirmed they offered both Tia Maria and Kahlua. He had a Tia Maria. The measure was generous. My cocktail was refreshing and less sweet than his mocktail. The combination of cucumber and gin worked well.

As starter he had the Charentais Melon with Parma ham and mandarin mustard, while I had the Super Salad with pomegranate, baby spinach, feve and feta cheese. Both were delicious and light. A good beginning to our meal.

Our main courses were Brioche French Toast with berries and scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, bagel and butter.

The French Toast came without maple syrup, but it didn't hurt the dish. It allowed to focus on the berries and the eggy bread. The dish was very light and enjoyable.

The eggs were creamy and hidden under the smoked salmon. The bagel was the best I've ever had so far.

Our desserts were a Banana Caramel Sundae and Choux Buns filled with vanilla ice cream. Both looked stylish and were scrumptious, but light. We chose cafe latte and a cappuccino to accompany our desserts. They came in specifically made glasses. They were well designed, unusual shaped and prevented burning our hands by being made with two layers of glass. They are maybe better suitable for larger hands. I had to hold mine with two to get a better grip. The content was creamy and strong, just as we like it.

Our overall impressions are excellent. The food was delicious and healthy, the staff very attentive and always there when we needed them. They managed the right balance between being warm and professional.

The background music was to our liking - mostly jazz. The volume was right and didn't disturb conversations.

Other guests were a family and couples. The older children were very well behaved and the atmosphere was good, but it wasn't loud.

Having had two good experiences we can only recommend a visit to the Merrion Hotel's Cellar Restaurant and Bar, now we're looking forward to experience this venue again in our future.


©2014

Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown Dublin, Ireland

 Sorry for not updating my blog for a long time. Unfortunately I was extremely busy due to a new job. Hope the wait was worth it. :)

During November 2014 we stayed twice at the Crowne Plaza Dublin-Blanchardstown. A few years earlier we had stayed there already, but while the rooms are nice, the food quality had been low in our opinion at the time, so we didn't return until now, having read a positive review in a local newspaper about their Forchetta Italian Restaurant.

The location is good for shopping at Blanchardstown Shopping Center and upscale dining options. We recommend beside the Forchetta Restaurant in the hotel, Wagamama for Asian casual lunch or dinner.

Access is easy from the airport with the Urbus or from the city center with a number of Buses, for example 39a.The bus stops are located opposite the hotel.


The Crowne Plaza is unusual. It is inspired by nature. Two parrots are kept in a cage in the lobby and called Bubble & Squeak. It is an attraction for old and young. We enjoyed watching them for a while.

The lobby is large with the Sanctuary Bar and Forchetta Restaurant to the right and the reception to the left.

Even though we hadn't stayed for a longer time there, we were recognized on both occassions as returning guests, which was positive.

We booked an entrance category room and received the same on both occassions. The first time there was a bottle of red wine, free water and a fruit basket waiting for us, because we were just one stay away from achieving Gold status at the IHG Priority Club Rewards program and also a voucher for a free dessert at Forchetta Restaurant. The next time we only received a bottle of water. By then we were already gold members It was inconsistent and disappointing to be treated that way, especially after we've achieved Gold with IHG.

The flower theme continued in all the rooms. The silver tapestry was especially beautiful. Each room was comfortable and had different color schemes, lay outs and views.

One room was held in red, had views over the motorway and a seating area at the window. The other was kept in blue tones and had a seating area in front of the bed and views over the shopping mall.

We preferred the layout of the first room which might have been an Deluxe room on a higher floor.

On both occasions we also had dinner. Forchetta serves Italian cuisine. We enjoyed the meals including toasted bread with cod, gnocci and Panna Cotta. It was delicious and the value good.

Breakfast was a different matter and unfortunately not so high quality as the dinner was, so we had it only once.
There was a dish I liked. The breakfast potatoes are delicious.

All staff were warm and efficient.

Would we return? Maybe. If we need some additional points or take part at a promotion.

 ©2014