Belfast bound

Irish way of life gets under your skin. We’ve been here all of 3 days and already I feel comfortable and at home. The people are warm and inviting and so so helpful and ready for a chat no matter when, where or who you are. It has to be said though, that sometimes you just can NOT understand a bloody thing they’re saying. A ticket collector at the station today was ‘assisting’ me with directions but for the life of me, I had no idea what he was saying. I assumed he was telling me to go to the next man along the platform who would help me, I assumed that this is what he was saying based souly on the way he was gesturing and the random words I was able to make sense of were “man over there” (only it wasn’t THere it was Tear) Chris and I had become momentarily separated (both of us being given different directions by the man we could not understand) and regrouped 5 mins later to attempt to find our train, which stated it would be waiting by platform 2, only we found that platform 2 was experiencing some renovations… Hmmm… I then asked an official looking man if the train we saw waiting patiently at platform 3 was headed to Belfast, to which I was given the reply “that it is” I thanked him and moved on.

Now, anyone who may have caught a train in the past will know that the outside of the carriages are marked A, B, C, D etc, in order of the carriages. Well, they don’t do that here in Ireland. Your left to wander up and down the platform looking perplexed and eventually, irritated as you back track X amount of times in search of your carriage. Giving up and assuming that I must just be having a blind moment, I asked the next official ‘train man’ I saw for directions to carriage D, this man looked at me quizzically before stating “well, you see where that queue of people are boarding?” (I looked up the platform to only see an elderly nun and an older gentleman who carried her bags venturing aboard, but nodded assuming this was the Irish equivalent to a ‘queue’) “Well” the trainman continued “that’s carriage D… see…” He turned and pointed to his right “Carriage A, B, C… D” He counted these down as he went, as if I didn’t know the fricking alphabet. Helpful, if I didn’t, but slightly patronizing being that I do. I know he meant no harm, perhaps he truly thought that I didn’t know the alphabet and that he was performing not only a good level of customer service but also a dose of education? Thankfully, we weren’t the only ones who didn’t seem to know or understand our alphabet. I must just have that ‘look’ about me as many people came on board looking confused and perplexed asking “Is this carriage D?” to which I would smile, non patronizingly and say “Yes it is” like I said, I have that look about me… that or I just dress like a conductor.

The trip to Belfast was non eventful. Our travel companions for the trip Allan and Evely didn’t make the train, thankfully, which meant that we could stretch out on our seats. We know that our missing companions names were Allan and Evely as each seat was personalized with your name tag… they probably went to platform 2… or couldn’t figure out where carriage D was…

Our accommodation in Belfast is standard so far as hostels go. A small room, a bunk, a shared bathroom and shower facility, a largish kitchen and common rooms you share with every man, woman and child who also call the place “home” It’s alright, but I think after our very pleasant accommodation in Dublin the past few nights has heightened our expectations on places like this once more. Our accommodation in Dublin was pretty good, though we shared a 16 room dorm; it was cozy and comfortable and had a real air of acceptance, friendship and respect. Here, no one looks at you or talks to you. Oh well, it’s a cheap bed.

Belfast itself is not much to write home about. It’s another dreary, drab, dirty looking city that has no ‘feel’ to it all, apart from depression. We wandered into the city centre when we went in search of WIFI (we were being defiant, you can pay for it here at the hostel, but we refuse to do that, so instead subjected ourselves to a 20 minute walk in the rain to a spot that has free WIFI… the things you do to save a pound!) It wasn’t so bad though I guess. Like I said, we got to see the city centre and while there check out the “spring market” that was happening in a courtyard. It had many many food stalls and many many knick knack stalls, all selling exactly the same knick knacks as the others… We brought a few little treats for later on and head to the beer tent, the only spot that was out of the rain, so it was brimming with people and, bringing in much business for the bar. So much so that they had actually run out of most beers, the only ones left were ‘raspberry’ or ‘cherry’ flavored beer. We went for raspberry and I have to say, it was GOOOOOOD! It’s my new favorite beer I’ve decided. Sadly however I think that it’ll be hard to find on the Australian market. Chris has kindly offered to make it for me though, he claims it’s purely raspberry cordial and larger. Kind of takes the magic out of it when he puts it like that. None the less, I shall be happy to drink it; it would be rude to refuse it, seeing as he’s gone to all that effort you know?

A break in the clouds saw us make a run back to the hostel (sorry, don’t take that literally, it’s a figure of speech… we in no way ran back, that would have been a tad energetic… and besides, I haven’t run since leaving high school when they use to force ‘sports days’ upon reluctant and often sullen teenage students) We arrived back at the hostel to find we have a male room mate sound asleep in the bunk opposite us, he wasn’t snoring so he’s alright by me thus far.

A relaxing arvo of reading, updating IPODS and exploring our options for tomorrow’s itinerary before a shower so hot it left you reeling and glorious, inviting and well deserved bed.

written by  Chris and Emily on May 25, 2009 from Belfast, United Kingdom
from the travel blog: Europe 2009
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