Belfast and Beyond

What a great city. Apparently among the safest in the world for travellers, and definitely among the friendliest and most helpful. People jumping into the street to give directions (not really, but just about). Hostel was okay, rickety beds and gross showers, and I left my shower stuff in there on Friday and it was gone by Saturday. Alas. We all grabbed £'s at an ATM - Northern Ireland is still part of the UK, and thus on the pound, although they issue their own 'Ulster Pounds' which are equal in value to British ones.

Dinner at a pub nearby, had AMAZING bangers and mash - I never want to not eat champ (mashed potatos with green onions) ever again. Walked a ways, and found a pub called Fibber Magees, great live music, good drinks, and a wacky bachelor party with the groom in a Baywatch outfit. Hany motorboated him. Sat in the bar next door, which connected by a door, and talked to a guy we met who is from Rockford. Small world!

Saturday was an EPIC one. We hopped on a bus at 9am and headed out. Stopped at Carrickfergus castle, where William of Orange landed, then a harbor for a restroom stop, then on the the Giant's Causeway. Lunch at the hotel, then we walked. Amazing, spectacular. Just wow. We ran into the Rockford guy and his friends, Keith and I started to climb a steep hill, then backed out, but he went back and did it after all. I'm jealous, but happy for him. Photos and such for a few hours, then some of us caught the tram back, took photos of those who walked, and hit the shop. Got a postcard and a t-shirt. Then back onto our (un-air conditioned) bus with the annoying women from Yorkshire who renamed Keith and were drunk and infuriating. Well, they got quiter as the day wore on. Next was the Bushmills distillery, disappointing since we didn't get to do the tour, just take some photos and walk the gift shop. After a quick stop on the roadside to see a ruined castle, it was on to the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. A looong walk through fields along cliffs, then a fantastic rope bridge to a tall island where was sat and enjoyed it. A long hike back, then the bus headed back to Belfast.

We talked pizza or BBQ for dinner, got locations of two places from the hostel desk, but they were more upscale than we had in mind so we ate at a large pub-type restaurant. Our server updated us on the soccer match when she could. Had the rib appetizer and a side of chips - perfect. Next we walked towards Fibber Magees again, with a stop at Filthy McNasty's, a bar/club with music from the US and quotes from rock stars on the walls. Had a Newcastle, then on the Fibber's. Great night with many pints.

Sunday, Keith went off to find an ancestral house, and the rest of the group took a Black Taxi tour, seeing murals in Protestant and Catholic neighborhoods, seeing the Bobby Sands mural on the Sinn Fein HQ, and seeing the Peace Wall, where people leave messages. Our driver gave us marker pens, and we left our marks on the wall. Really cool stuff. My ATM card wouldn't work, so Sam loaned me £3 to take the tour (£10 each). Hany broke my umbrella, which has been the source of much amusement. Discovered the bus back to Dublin was cheaper and just as fast as the train, so we bought tickets and headed towards the train station to get food and intercept Keith. We stopped at St. George's Market to see the stalls, and decided to eat. Hany offered to take out money for me, to pay him back later so I could eat. We found an ATM after a bit of an adventure, and I had a crepe filled with mozzarella, roasted peppers and pesto, as well as some caribbean fried dough things to share. Pretty good, though the crepe was served in a paper cone and when I unwrapped it to use as a plate juice went down my leg. Ah well. Matt and Diana went to find Keith, but he already had his ticket so we caught the bus (empty enough to all have our own seats, plus air conditioning!), met Keith at the statue of O'Connell. Kelsie called, and we went to her place then to the pub by DCU for a pint. Hannah met us, we had a pint, then got food at nearby 'Aberdeen Chinese Takeaway.' Ate on the green, and headed for bed. Up next: This Week, Featuring Keith!