Lots more exploring

Same lovely breakfast, as yesterday, in the friendly Metro Cafe. Then we checked out of our budget hotel and went 4 stops on the bus to our somewhat posher hotel, where our organised holiday starts. Having arrived and left our stuff, we went exploring. A different neighbourhood, with small old terraced houses, now expensive and very desirable, and I met my first cat. We decided to use our travel passes to go on the tram, as far south as it goes. We ended up in a strange place where massive new office parks contain big IT and finance companies, and huge new housing developments are being built. As yet unfinished. We watched a pond where martins and lapwings were. It’s a kind of uneasy interface of city and countryside. Back in the city, more huge new buildings going up. Shown above. We went to Iveagh park - there is a beautiful ’rosarium’ . One busy bee was in that rose for ages, there was so much pollen to be had. We went back to our new hotel. Had a good evening meal and met some of the others on our trip - some from Bristol, some from US. All lovely so far. Up and away pretty early in the morning.