So Gang, remember my very first "field trip" two months ago to Howth?
While Howth is located at the Northern most stop of the DART, Bray is the equivalent to it in the south... and just a 25 minute ride from Blackrock.
The Monday after St. Paddy's Day, Pam and I decided that since it was a bank holiday and a gorgeous outside, we would explore the city.
Arrival to Bray:
After arriving by DART, Pam and I soon came across a huge carnival by the coast.We took the opportunity to marvel at the puppies and beautiful babies. Have I mentioned children are cuter in Ireland?
Bray has it all...especially puppies and babies
point proven
Exploring the Carnival:
We started walking through the carnival. Both of us took more pictures of the adorable children. In hindsight, taking pictures of stranger's children was probably extraordinarily creepy. Thankfully, because I am neither male nor was wearing a hoodie that day, people didn't seem to mind. Enjoy the fruits of my labor:
Town of Bray
Carnival
are you seeing all these strollers?
ridiculously cute
baby on a horse
babies on a bus
Mountain Climbing
After some lunch, Pam and I were feeling ambitious, so we decided to climb this: Bray Head.
Bray Head
Neither of were really dressed for mountain climbing, but based on the amount of people who were headed that way ( some of which had strollers) we assumed it would probably be paved most of the way and a relatively easy hike. Little did we know...
view of Bray as we began our journey upward
The Bay
Flower Child Pam
Coast line
How the trail started...
How the trail looked half-way...Pam isn't enthused
How the trail ended...wahh
Bray Head
After about 30 minutes, we made it to the top of Bray Head.
It was worth the hike...
The view from the summit was like being at the end of the world. On one side, the sun streamed through the clouds reflecting on tiny houses and illuminating the town below. On another, the sea crashed on the cliffs while sea birds climbed higher into the sky coasting on pockets of strong wind. On yet another, the brilliant green valley of the countryside was bursting with light. It's easier to show you than try to describe it:
Lion King Status
After the hike, Pam and I stopped to grab a pint. 1 pint turned into 2 and a half and we also had dinner. We caught the DART back to Blackrock and didn't get home until after 10:00. Spring break ended on a definite high note.
Setting one's alarm for 8AM for no other reason than to start drinking:
Yes- it's true. This is what dedication looks like on the most wonderful day of the year in the land of green- St. Paddy's Day.
Although I have come to enjoy my Guinness, I have to admit to something somewhat embarrassing: I started my St. Patrick's day with Blue Moon. However, I think I green pancakes compliments of Darren cancelled out this non-Irish activity:
Darren and his creation
After some beer and breakfast, we had a little pregame before heading into Dublin via the DART. There was also some Looney Tunes involved...
Lauren and her two friend from McGill: Maggie and Joan
Pammy and her boyfriend, Greg
Rory and me
Lauren and Zach
PARADE TIME!! ( and by "parade time" I mean arriving too late to see said parade, and resorting to drinking on the streets)
"Parade"
Getting Festive
War paint
Pam and me
Pam, Lauren and me
Lauren and Maggie
bros
related
we found an empty table- miracles do happen
Shamrocks + beer = success
MP stops by for the holiday
On the way home to Blackrock, we met a lovely young woman who was holding her blonde hair extensions in both hands and swearing at anything that moved. She almost fought Pam, but ended up punching a Garda in the face in the next car over. Classic St. Patrick's day...
Just so that all of you can say you have learned something from reading my adventures here you go: Irish word: Sláinte! ( pronounced SLAHN-chə) s literally translated to "health" but means "Cheers!" to Gaelic.
I wish I could say that I was out until dawn at a club in Dublin, but truth is I was in bed before 12:30. Must have been that damn Blue Moon...
Some of the details are blurry, but St Paddy's Day was filled with great friends, greasy food, and face paint.
Derry
Most of Thursday was spent hiking the Slieve League Cliffs, and our hotel was a few hundred kilometers northeast in Belfast. Derry , often called "Londonderry" is the second largest city in Northern Ireland. The city is walled and borders the River Foyle.
A little taste of the roads in Co Donegal. Couldn't get past 2nd gear
Derry from the Peace Walls
City Centre at night
One of the many murals depicting the "troubles"
Belfast
After two more hours of driving, we FINALLY made it to Belfast. It was after 9:30 when we finally arrived at the our hotel. As per the castlegroom's recommendation, we enjoyed a late dinner at a Japanese restaurant called Zen. The menu was at least a dozen pages long and included American/Japanese fusion sushi, Curry, and something called "Mad Cow Beef." ( Don't worry, it was clean). We sat up stairs in a semi-circle leather booth. The booths were situated down a long glass hall lit from below and separated from one another with long chains streaming down from the lights that lined the hall.
We also had a buzzer for our waitress... Livin' the life.
That night was Colin's last few hours in Ireland. It was really hard to see him go, but we had a perfect week. I'll see him again in May when we reunite in Paris, so I can't be too upset.
Giant's Causeway:
On Saturday Mom, Dave and myself ventured to Giant's Causeway. It's less than two hours north of Belfast and is a result of a violent volcanic eruption creating about 40,000 basalt columns. These hexagonal columns are incredibly uniform, it's hard to believe they aren't man-made.
Now here is the fun history:
Legend has it that the Irish warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill (or Finn McCool) built the causeway so that he could reach scotland by foot to fight the giant, Benandonner. One version of the legend tells that Fionn fell asleep before he got to Scotland. When he did not arrive, the much larger Benandonner crossed the bridge looking for him. To protect Fionn, his wife Oonagh laid a blanket over him so he could pretend that he was actually their baby son. When Benandonner saw the size of the 'infant', he assumed the alleged father, Fionn, must be gigantic indeed. Therefore, Benandonner fled home in terror, ripping up the Causeway in case he was followed by Fionn. Thoes Irish are clever, aren't they?
Unfortunately, my camera died so I'm waiting on their pictures... I took some on my phone but they don't really do it justice :
basalt columns
here's a video until I can get the remainder of the pics!
Belfast Nightlife:
After Giant's Causeway, we returned to Belfast in the early evening. That night, we went to a few different pubs but ended up at a Chinese Restaurant at 11:45pm drunk eating. There is nothing quite like drunk eating with your Mom and step-dad. I got unlimited ginger sauce with rice and spring rolls...
View of Belfast from our hotel room
Belfast
The next morning we took a Belfast Black Taxi Tour of the city. It was pretty heavy stuff, but it felt appropriate to learn a bit history about the place at which you are visiting. I didn't take pictures of the murals, but if you're curious you can check out Belfast Murals.
We didn't visit all of the murals on the map, but we saw quite a few during the two hour tour.
One of the most memorable murals for me was this one:
Famous Loyalist Sniper Mural in West Belfast
Our guide kept joking that no matter where you stood, the gun would follow you. He wasn't lying....
This next one was also pretty interesting because illustrates the origin of the Red Hand of Ulster:
Red Hand of Ulster Mural in West Belfast
The legend states that the kingdom of Ulster had at one time no rightful heir and so a boat race should take place to determine the heir. The rule was that "whosoever's hand is the first to touch the shore of Ulster, so shall he be made the king".
One potential king so desired the kingship that, upon seeing that he was losing the race, he cut off his hand and threw it to the shore — thus winning the kingship. The hand is most likely red to represent the fact that it would have been covered in blood.
Pretty cool, huh?
After the tour, we headed south to Blackrock. It was a lot harder saying good bye than I though it would be, but it was a great trip and I enjoyed every minute of it.
