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From Dublin, I took a quick bus ride up to Belfast where I met Carmel at the bus station. Can you believe that we haIreland en each other since we were eight years old, and she still offered to let me stay at her place! Such a sweettheart!
I must say that I quite liked Belfast! My first day out on the town alone, I wandered around, found a visitors Centre, and signed up for a historical walking tour of city Centre. Show up for my tour, and I'm the only one on it! The cute little old man tour guide advised me that I was lucky, and some people pay big money for a private tour!
Would you believe that Carmel and I share a love of baking!? So for the second time already on my Europe trip, we did a little baking. It was fun to exchange recipes, and learn a little technique from each other! She even introduced me to making crepes, which is certainly a skill i'll continue to use!
If only you lived closer Carmel, we could be frequent baking buddies!
The following day was Sunday, and we took a quick visit to see all the art and handmade crafts at St George's Market. After that, Carmel went home to study, and I went on an adventure to the titanic quarter!
Did you know that the Titanic was built in Belfast?! Not only did I learn all about how it was built in the brand new Titanic learning Centre, but the next day I also checked out the pumphouse and dry dock. Let me tell you, you just can't imagine just how big Titanic was, until you step foot into the dry d*** (down four storeys of stairs), the last place the titanic ever stood on dry land. It was pretty incredible!
I also took a day tour out of Belfast. Met a Canadian girl, and we saw the sights together.First we saw Carrickfergus castle, the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, and drove through the beautiful (northern) Irish countryside. The main attraction was the stop at the Giant's Causeway (pictured above, not my photo), a geological wonder, recently labelled the Eighth wonder of the world! A quick photo stop at the iconic Dunluce Castle ruins, and a little visit to the biggest distillery in Ireland, the Old Bushmills Whiskey distillery.
A fun little tidbit of info, passed on from my tour guide, is that the three most widely used images for tourism in irelandis the Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-rede bridge, and the Dunluce ruins. Which is funny, because none of those places are in Ireland... they're all in Northern Ireland (legally two different countries!)
Anyways... I absolutely adored Belfast! Lits to say about it!
I'll leave you with some words from my Titanic pumphouse tour guide... "Just remember, it was the Irish who built the Titanic, but it was an Englishman who sank it!" ;)
- comments
Mom I am loving your updates! Should I be concerned about the many references to alcohol related activities ;-) It is so cool that you reconnected with Carmel after all these years! Thanks Carmel for letting Elisha hang out with you - she sure enjoyed her stay and the fact that you enjoy baking was definitely a bonus for Elisha!
Kaleigh Sounds like your having an amazing time !! I can't wait to hear all about it!! Tons of love xoxo