BACK TO LONDON...

ACTUALLY IT WAS BELFAST IN NORTHERN IRELAND! It was a very very cool place. Really cheap to get to, and stay as well. Everything was very interesting, 'The Troubles' wasn't much trouble at all. We saw some murals with girls with machine guns, but they were all Loyalist and Unionist sided ones. In fact from our hostel window we could see a British pub with loads of flags flying and someone beat a Republican up. Crazy. Also the bus station where we arrived at was right next to the Europa Hotel, which has the record for the place most blown up: a total of 43 times!

There was some cool similarities to both 'The South' as they called it (or 'The Republic' they proudly call it down here) and to the UK. The accents we a lot different, closer to Scottish if anything. There were Black Cabs. They used Pounds, not Euros. But they were proudly Irish, regardless of being part of the UK or not. Interesting, regarding the money, each bank has it's own set of notes! I withdrew some money from our bank in ROI at a branch up north and it had the banks logo on it! We bought lunch and got a note bank with different pictures and another banks logo on it! but they were both £10 notes! It was cool.




We wandered the streets that night (against the people at works advice) and it was totally safe. Aside from the usual drunks. And we found a giant entertainment complex in the equivalent of SouthBank; called 'The Odessey'. There was a movie theatre, theatre for plays, 5 bars, resturants, bowling alley, Ice Hockey rink (home of the Belfast Giants) and lots of cool lights and stuff. It was totally cool, and in the middle of a big field. It was a lot like the Crowne Casino if you've been there. But without the casino bit. We has a delicious Spanish meal (no, no bloody Irish stew. YUCK!) Tapas instead; the fresh anchovies we so good.







We didn't just stay in the city, but also explored the north coast going to a volcanic rock formation called 'The Giants Causeway'. The legends are that it was built by an Irish hero; Finn MacCool, but I'm a bit sceptical. Anyway it was great to get out of Dublin, and out of cities in general and get some fresh air. It was great! We walked 5km's on the cliffs of the coast. The air wasn't very cold though, which I was looking forward too. We could see Scotland though! SEE IT!

IESSO


PS. Here's a poor map of where we've been in Ireland. Not much huh? But not a little either. We plan on seeing more of the country soon. And more of Europe too! Including CONTINENTAL Europe!