It was a little over 4 hours to Belfast from Galway in our rental car, but the ride (filled with conversation, castle sightings, and sheep crossings) went by quickly. It was about 30 minutes before we reached Belfast that we realized for the first time that Northern Ireland is actually it's own country separate from "Ireland proper" (first it was the change in license plates and then the gas station refusing to take our Euros that finally made us realize this wasn't a Northern California/Southern California type differential).
Momma Himm and I would have some company at this stop as we happened to be hitting Belfast at the same time as our beloved So Cal cousins (Kaki, Greg, and their daughter Amber) who were doing a 10-day backpacking trip through Ireland with Greg's best friend and his family. Kaki and Momma Himm are like sisters and Amber is the ultimate blast in a glass so I couldn't wait to see how this reunion would unfold.
Since they hadn't arrived yet, Mom and I checked into the Hilton Belfast and helped ourselves to a drink and some more live music while we awaited their arrival. (Like far too many Americans who would grow to regret their decision, they had opted to upgrade their rental van to the largest size available - aka the size high school's book to transport their entire varsity baseball team to away games - and now were white knuckling the steering wheel and praying for their lives along the one lane roads of Ireland that are more fit for tuk-tuks than vehicles).
The van crew would arrive a few hours later, jarred from the drive and parking experience, but all around unscathed and in good spirits. Our spirits would only rise further when we discovered that we had serendipitously arrived on "Culture Night Belfast" - a one night event which attracts over 100,000 visitors to Belfast every year for 300 free events across 150 locations across Belfast.
Let's just put it this way, Culture Night Belfast meant PACKED STREETS and live music and laser shows everywhere you looked. It was awesome (made even more so because we got to spend it with our cousins who we don't get to see very often).
The next morning we hit the road once more and headed back to Dublin. After returning the rental car we packed away our rain coats and got ready for the sunny skies of Barcelona. Until next time Belfast!
Momma Himm and I would have some company at this stop as we happened to be hitting Belfast at the same time as our beloved So Cal cousins (Kaki, Greg, and their daughter Amber) who were doing a 10-day backpacking trip through Ireland with Greg's best friend and his family. Kaki and Momma Himm are like sisters and Amber is the ultimate blast in a glass so I couldn't wait to see how this reunion would unfold.
Since they hadn't arrived yet, Mom and I checked into the Hilton Belfast and helped ourselves to a drink and some more live music while we awaited their arrival. (Like far too many Americans who would grow to regret their decision, they had opted to upgrade their rental van to the largest size available - aka the size high school's book to transport their entire varsity baseball team to away games - and now were white knuckling the steering wheel and praying for their lives along the one lane roads of Ireland that are more fit for tuk-tuks than vehicles).
The van crew would arrive a few hours later, jarred from the drive and parking experience, but all around unscathed and in good spirits. Our spirits would only rise further when we discovered that we had serendipitously arrived on "Culture Night Belfast" - a one night event which attracts over 100,000 visitors to Belfast every year for 300 free events across 150 locations across Belfast.
Momma Himm and I - loving Belfast
Let's just put it this way, Culture Night Belfast meant PACKED STREETS and live music and laser shows everywhere you looked. It was awesome (made even more so because we got to spend it with our cousins who we don't get to see very often).
Momma Himm, Kaki (Mom's 2nd cousin/twin), myself, and Amber enjoying the sweet wonderfulness of Belfast
After some dinner and drinks with the "adults", I decided it was high time for Amber and I to hit the bars and find some young people. As we were both directionally challenged and sans Wi-Fi, I took to finding us a Belfast Sherpa and found just such a thing in Jeremy (a young Northern Irish lad who at one glance had already fallen in love with my beautiful blonde cousin. I couldn't tell if he was salivating more over her beauty or a potential Southern California green card, but regardless, I knew he wouldn't leave her side and I'd just stick to her like a barnacle).
Amber, our Sherpa, and me
We hit up The Sunflower and a few more spots until the bars closed and Jeremy provided us with two options - the gay bar or "da club". We opted for gay bar which ended up being one of the more hilarious moments of the trip (think giant drag queens in Irish accents, do it).
Amber and I having way too much fun at the Irish gay bar
Brilliant Irish safety measures ensuring drunkies can find their way home
After the club, our Sherpa walked us home in the hopes of consummating his love for Amber (err, I mean, because chivalry?). We sat in the hotel bar for a bit until Amber finally had to crush his spirit with the news that she as actually sharing a room with Kaks and Greg. If you've ever seen an Irish (British?) guy cry, it really is heartbreaking.
The next day we woke up refreshed and walked to St. George's Market for breakfast. If you ever make it to Belfast, St. George's Market is not a site to be missed (think fresh fish, live music, life changing scones, super cool art, and Pike's Market on a whole other level).
St. George's Market - pic doesn't do it justice
Delicious food at St. George's Market
I got in trouble for taking this photo...worth it
After eating 2-3 scones each at the market. we checked out of the Hilton (a great place to say while in Belfast by the way) and took a trip to see the infamous peace lines and Belfast murals (another site not to be missed).
If you're unfamiliar with the peace lines (or peace walls as they are sometimes referred to), they are literal 20 foot walls that were put up in 1969 following the outbreak of the Northern Ireland riots (aka the troubles"). Though built as temporary structures meant to last only 6 months to settle down the constant disputes between the Irish Catholics and English Protestants, they are still around to this day. In total, the walls stretch over 21 miles. There is planning underway to have the walls removed by 2023, however as of right now, they still stand.
The "Peace Walls"
Looking at some of the incredible art on the walls
The British Side
Many of the walls were covered in messages of hope for peace and unity
This part of the wall compared the division in Northern Ireland to that of Israel and Palestine
As someone who was fairly unaware of the history of Northern Ireland, the peace walls and the murals were a truly powerful experience.
Following the peace walls, KHimm and I bid our cousins farewell and hit the road for more site seeing. We didn't have time to see the Titanic Museum which was a bit of a bummer, but we did have enough hours in the day to visit Giant's Causeway and the Dark Hedges (which, as a true Game of Thrones fan, delighted me beyond belief!)
Giant's Causeway
The view from Giant's Causeway - windy AF, but gorgeous
Because the night is dark...and full of terrors
Posing in front of the dark hedges, my Game of Thrones dreams come true
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