Journey in Dublin buses...

They are throughout. Yellow with blue strips, the two storeys Dublin buses surround us. You will cross one at each street corner. For decades, the Ireland capital life couldn't go without them even if it changed a bit lately. As you know, Dublin has been for a long time poor and for a part of the population who had not the money to buy a car, it was usual to get this mean of transport to move into town cheaply. Now, they have been substituted by the immigrants settled here for a while, who represent most of customers.
If you have ever got the bus in Ireland, here is a preview of what you will meet (people) and encounter (issues). Prepare yourself for a long waiting at the bus stop, possibly in the rain, as the bus, dued fifteen minutes later, will be late something like an hour. Obviously, you are getting upset because you would like to be at home taking a rest after a long and busy day. Finally, the bus is coming. Several options ! Either it's full and despite the hand signal asking to the driver to stop, it's passing ahead and it's gone... Or the bus saw you and stopped but you forgot to get change from your unique 5 Euro note. And it's gone again !
Let's imagine today is our lucky day ! It's not raining, the bus is in time, it's not full and we have change. Really, a lucky day ! "Hey, one Euro sixty please...Thanks !". Here is the way. First, according to your journey length, you announce the rate and then you put the change in the appropriate box.
Once seated upstairs, you will enjoy the driver's driving ! No, you are not at a Form 1 race... and there is no seat belt. Just hold on ! As you are thinking about nothing, you don't know why but you turn around and at the bottom of the bus you bump into a guy totally drunk pissing (I remind you we are on a bus). The first time, you are a bit surprised but then you get used to. Actually, it's quite normal in Dublin to meet these wrecks nicknamed "Nackers". We talked about pissing but it could be as well of course drinking, smoking, vomiting or taking drugs ! Only one stop left before getting off. You enjoyed really your journey but right now it's time to go. So you press the "STOP" button, going down trying not to fall in stairs. Here we go. Last thing, do not to forget to thank the driver for this joyride. "Thank you very much" !

M. De Theache