Pinder goes abroad - IPA member 'susses out' holiday homes
I’m a Brit by birth and typical of the race I had not visited Ireland in all the time I lived in the UK.
It was time to put that right and with the day set for my niece's wedding in Devon I began to plan my European holiday. I wanted to visit Italy also and Venice was high on the agenda of must do's. A day trip was also planned for Brugges in Belgium, the Venice of the North.
My travels are generally self guided and naturally time on the internet was needed to get things underway.
First stop was the IPA web site. I am a new member and hoped to find accommodation in both Ireland and Venice; family and friends provided my lodgings in England.
Starting with the Irish IPA web site I made contact easily enough and was fortunate that the days I had planned for my Ireland leg were available. It was a little difficult picturing what the accommodation would be like from the exterior photos of the IPA house but the price was right. The one thing that makes the IPA houses different from the Police Association Houses is that you do share the house and common areas with other members. This is not a bad thing as its great to meet new people and hear their stories.
With the dates agreed with IPA Ireland back in New Zealand I begin the exercise of figuring out how to get there.
A brief summary puts me in Devon one day, Wales the next and on the ferry to Ireland from Fishguard the day after.
Having my brother’s car as a loaner I needed to book a car ferry. The internet provided me the options for travel, fast or slow ferry. I chose the fast, selected the dates for travel in and out, pulled the visa card from my wallet and paid over the net for my ferry tickets. Out from Fishguard to Rosslaire, back from Dublin to Holyhead. It’s always a risk pre paying for this type of travel - anything can happen to upset your plans but the incentive was the savings you made by booking weeks in advance.
The booking made I printed out the e-ticket and that was it.
Weeks later I'm at Fishguard holding that same e-ticket and hoping all is well. It worked. A quick scan of the bar code and its Ireland next stop.
The drive to Dublin was uneventful and in no time we were pulling up outside 13 Iona Drive Glasnevin and the IPA House.
The house is typical red brick and two storey terrace house. As we arrived a group of very subdued people were leaving, fifteen in all. On the hall table we locate a week planner and find our names and room number. The room is a large double with a closet sized shower and toilet. The bed is comfortable and generally all is well. A quick tour of the house finds several other similar rooms, all vacant.
The kitchen is large, with communal tables and individual storage cabinets for guest’s food. There are fridges and kettles and everything else you could want to have a comfortable stay.
The subdued group were at the door and heading out to their taxi, the reason for their lassitude? an over indulgence of stag night fun in Dublin. "Look see this fellow had hair when he arrived" A very freshly shaven head nodded in misery at his friends dastardly deeds.
With the stag boys gone we had the house to ourselves, bar one, a very Irish John, driver to an MP and lots of fun and very helpful.
The house has a nice rear courtyard with picnic tables and bar b q. This is where the smokers find solace. The house was very comfortable to stay in, clean and warm.
To get to Dublin it’s a 30 minute walk on the flat or a ten minute walk to the bus.
I will spare you the minute detail here but if you are planning to visit the IPA house in Ireland call or email me for a few helpful tips.
By popular demand, I'm sure, I will spare you the travel log but next stop on the IPA itinerary is Venice, Italy.
Using the web I make a few attempts to get the IPA to return my emails. It may have been an internet thing but I was having no luck with getting a response. Finally I did make contact and confirmed dates. Four nights in Venice - great.
Once more to the internet and now, how to get there from England. After much time considering the options, eventually it came down to two airlines; once again I dragged out my visa and pre paid for our tickets on Ryan Air from Stanstead Airport, north London.
Tips for this segment, have the IPA meet you at the airport in Venice. It only costs 15 Euro for the pleasure of being collected and chauffeured to the apartment.
Thirty minutes of white knuckle driving by our driver - he spoke no English and us no Italian. Although in fairness he did try to communicate with us and if he felt he was not getting through would speak louder and faster. Hilarious.
We arrive at the apartment safely. And carry our bags up two flights of stairs. There are two apartments per level.
The apartment is clean but also quite plain. The floors are polished marble and cold to the touch. There are three bedrooms - all with firm single beds. Like Ireland it is a shared apartment. There are two bathrooms. The smaller has a toilet and shower and the bigger a bath with shower over, toilet and bidet.
The kitchen is of average size, it had a dining table and a few chairs, and this doubles as the lounge to so it would be a bit cosy if the apartment is full.
The fridge and oven are basic, probably most people dine out.
Again we were the only guests so this made life a little easier, especially as the hot water cylinder was tiny and a couple of showers would have emptied it.
The apartment is 30 minutes by bus from Venice. The bus stops about 300 metres down the road.
The restaurants in Spinea, where the apartment is, are fine although it is a middle/working class income neighbourhood and a bit run down. There is a large supermarket about 1.5 klm from the apartment. A gentle stroll in the mediterranean warmth.
As I said earlier I will spare you the detail but for this - both houses did not have washing machines so for a longer stay it is a bit of a disadvantage. Both IPA administrators were helpful but you needed to ask the questions.
The costs for both houses were very reasonable and if anything worth considering if just for this.
All things considered this was a great way to be accommodated and the IPA fellowship made it a friendly and welcoming option.
Please call me if for any specific questions you may have. Ciao Martin 04 474 9474.