This is kind of long, but it was a big trip so read if you want…
Belfast was amazing. I couldn’t have asked for a better large trip of the year.
I left on April 5 to stay at Gatwick airport for a night. I had booked a Yotel, which is supposed to be based off of Asian style hotels; they’re small and cheap for airports. I got to Gatwick early and had a coffee before checking in. After I checked in I went into the airport to find dinner, on my way back I was almost run over by some police officers with really big guns, they said something about waiting by the toilets for someone to come out, and I ran back to the Yotel. It was fun to stay there; I had a TV for the first time in a while.
I got up early the next morning to get my flight to Belfast, it took a little under two hours I think, and I was there by 9:45. I found Steve in the coffee shop (which I was afraid was going to be more complicated then it actually was). Everything that day went smoothly. We spend that day just walking around the city, trying to keep him awake, and familiarising ourselves with Belfast. We walked down by the river, along a path and then went through the botanical gardens.
The next day we went on a black cab tour of the murals in N. Ireland, it was a really cool tour, I really didn’t know that much about the conflict in N. Ireland so I learned a lot about it and it was fascinating, the tour guide was also very helpful and interesting. After the tour we got on a bus to find Belfast castle. We missed our stop and ended up a stop further near the zoo. We figured we could get to the castle from there so we started climbing. At one point I found a half path off of the normal one and we just climbed up it. I met Gorse for the first time, and didn’t like it. We climbed all the way to the top of cave hill it was beautiful up there. Then headed down to find a cave that we saw from the top. We kept going down till we hit cement road (and an Indian wedding being filmed). And realised we had gone past the castle so we headed back up and found it. Walked through, (it had been turned into a conference centre) and headed back to the city centre.
Then it was time for our drive up the N shore. It was a beautiful drive. That part of the country is gorgeous. We went first to A castle then onto Carrick-Fergus and crossed the “scary” rope bridge, I didn’t think it was that scary, but again it was a beautiful area. Then it was on to the Giants Causeway, which was amazing. Then on to Dunluce castle, which we barely made before closing. Then headed back, we were going to cut through cities but ended up kind of lost and got yelled at by a crazy N. Irish man who didn’t like his driving. That was, um, interesting.
The next day we went to the Folk museum which we both agreed was better then we thought it would be. And we managed to avoid almost all of the Titanic exhibition we decided not to “sink into history with the titanic” (actual slogan) That took most of the day, and we both were pretty tired so we took the night off and went to a movie (yes in Belfast, no shows were available or cheap)
Then for the final day we explored North of the city and saw some of the old pubs and churches and things. Some drunk guy told us we could take a picture of him for £1, we did. It was a nice relaxing walking day. Then we went to a nice restaurant for dinner. A relaxing end to a busy week.
The next day I ventured back to Lancaster, I took a 30 min flight to Edinburgh and then travelled for six and a half hours back to Lancaster. It was much smoother then I expected it to be, a flight, a bus, another bus, a train, another bus, and a walk. But I guess I am that used to this country.
It was an amazing trip I’m really glad it happened.
Tomorrow is Easter and my Birthday....
