Concerts
I had a very eventful week this week. I kicked it off with a concert on Wednesday followed by two more on Friday and Saturday. I first saw Stevie Nicks. She was so good and sang all the songs I wanted to hear. After her concert, we went to Temple Bar area and celebrated Cat’s birthday. We all got a cool picture under the umbrellas in the city center. Friday night, I saw Hozier, which was a huge bucket list item for me. I think I recorded a little bit of every song. It felt unreal to hear him sing the songs live that I listen to almost every day. Finally, after exhausting ourselves at the past two concerts we got to Kings of Leon on Saturday. Again, I had been wanting to see them in concert for a while, so actually doing it, in Dublin too, was an amazing experience. I had the best time and got some cool band T-shirts too!
Belfast
After nearly five weeks, we finally made our way to Northern Ireland. We drove a few hours to get to the city of Belfast, which is known for its ship building and ports. While we were there, we went to the Titanic Museum and went on a black taxi tour. While on the tour, I got to sign my name on the Peace Wall, which separated the Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods. Even though it was Sunday and not much was open, we went to explore the nightlife in the city center. We went to an area called Cathedral’s Corner, which was recommended by the taxi driver, and checked out some bars there. I did not particularly like Belfast. It was very industrial and not very tourist friendly. I also got the idea that there were still some tensions between the Catholic and Protestant communities there. I am very happy I got to experience the area though.
Titanic Belfast
I think my favorite part about Belfast was the Titanic Museum. I did not know this prior, but Belfast was actually the building sight of the Titanic. It left for its maiden voyage from the port there. To preserve this history, Belfast established the world’s largest Titanic Museum, and it did not disappoint. There were so many great exhibits, and I learned so much about the story behind Titanic and its discovery. Most of what I know about Titanic comes from the movie, so it was nice to look at the facts from a more historical and scientific perspective. I particularly liked the exhibit showcasing the violin that one of the band members played while the ship was sinking to calm the passengers. This is where the expression, “and the band played on,” comes from. I also liked reading about the events leading up to the sinking and the discovery of the ship in 1985.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and Giant’s Causeway
Some of the most beautiful places I’ve been to in my life were the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the Giant’s Causeway that I visited this past Monday. Both these sights were so breathtaking, especially in the sunny, warm weather. Both attractions are located on the coast of Northern Ireland. The rope bridge was great because it was about a twenty-minute walk up the coast to the bridge before crossing it onto a little island. The bridge itself was stunning and swayed in the wind a bit. The water was crystal clear, and birds were flying along the cliffs. The Giant’s Causeway was interesting because the hexagonal rocks were formed years ago from a series of volcanic eruptions. It really should be one of the wonders of the world. That sight was also a nice, scenic walk. I got to see so much in just a two-day trip to Northern Ireland.
Madelyn, I am so LUCKY to be your roommate. Thank you for being so cool! 😎🍀🌈