where have i been part II

today was a tragically sad day as my sisters had to return home to the states. The arrived last Tuesday morning and we had a magical adventure together. I'm hoping they have/will make it home safe. They're plane has yet to land I believe.




And now a brief recap:




I arrived at Belfast International airport about 40 mins early. I had two cups of over priced tea and a scone. I looked in the gift shop and I bought some gum. They finally arrived and hour and half late. Hooray!!





After getting them back to the house they almost immediately passed out and slept for most of the day. We then ventured out to town and had dinner at Cafe Renoir. It was quite yummy. Melissa had a pizza, Delia had a chicken sandwich, and I had a burger. I know tantalizing. We then proceeded to head into the city center where I bought a dress. yay for me.





Thursday morning we departed bright and early for London. We were quite exhausted I booked us a 6am flight thinking we'd get to bed early however i had a paper to finish and Delia also had homework to do. So we didn't get to bed until about 2:30 and up at 4:15. whoops.





we couldn't check into our hotel until 2pm so we got ourselves a delicious English breakfast and then wandered around kensington gardens and palace. Inside the palace amidst old furniture, paintings, and costumes we learned to waltz and how to balance a book on our head in a very interesting exhibit about English debutantes.



Then almost to the point of delirium we walked through more of the gardens. We tried to sit in some lawn chairs but a quiet man with a box around his neck expected us to pay to enjoy them. Even half asleep we knew better than to pay for chairs that should be free. So instead of sitting we pretended to put our feet in the water of the pond and chased the swans around the perimeter.



Making it to 2pm proved much more difficult than could have been anticipated. When we found ourselves laughing uproariously over nothing we knew we needed to check ourselves in....to the hotel.



London House Hotel. Finally in our very own snugly room with our very own little snuggle beds we all lay our heads upon our downy white pillows just as the construction workers outside our first floor window began jack hammering some tile. Silence. Oh perhaps they are done we wondered aloud. No now it was time to nail something to the wall. Our giggling quickly picked back up again as our luck seemed to be against us. Finally after the fire alarm went off for no good reason the place quieted down and we had ourselves a lovely nap.



Refreshed and almost raring to go we dragged ourselves back out for a little exploring and some dinner. We ended up in a decent pub on the south bank of the Thames. I was super cranky by the time we got around to dinner and started to believe that the barmen and the waiters were all working against me. In the end after eating my pie and drinking my beer I came to realize that this was in fact not the case.



Next day: We ate breakfast at our hotel as it was included in the price. It was rather bland and lacked imagination to say the least. We had sliced white cheese, a mild cheddar we shall say. A choice of white bread or white bread toasted. There were some disappointing croissants but slab on some butter and jam and they would suit just fine. We also had a cold cereals to choose from four to be exact. Rice Crispies. Cocoa Crispies. Corn Flakes. Frosted Flakes. Yes the choices were really just too much for us that morning.



Friday: roamed around a bit as I tried to get my barrings. We bought tickets to Wicked and had a coffee in Leicester Square and then looped and zig zagged until arriving at Covent Garden. Places seemed to have moved slightly since the last time I was in London. We did a bit of shopping and saw some more sights including Tate Modern. We then fought about where to eat dinner but were able to rekindled our sisterly love over giant coca colas and poor Italian food before having a fabulous time at Wicked.



Saturday: After eating the exact same breakfast we had the day before we went to the Natural History Museum and played with butterflies then we learned about Eco systems and rocks until we got hungry. We had lunch in another pub and Bri of Irish Arts Center fame joined us. It was so nice to catch up. Saturday turned into the day of old friends as we had drinks with Rob, Iris, and Chris in Angel later that evening. A few drinks in Chris and Rob were able to lure us back to Chris's with the promise of a big breakfast the next morning. Little did we know that mother nature had other plans.



Sunday we woke up to the biggest storm I have seen in ages. Poor Chris and Rob determined to follow through with the promise of breakfast were planning to go out into the misery that beat down on the wee apartment to acquire all the items we needed but we were able to convince them that we were not in fact hungry. it was just too ridiculous. ah well. We went back to our hotel assuming that our plans to see Romeo And Juliet at the Globe that afternoon would now be ruined. However that would not be the case as the sun prevailed in the end. We had a nice time and learned some very important lessons:



1. tall men for some reason like to stand in front of us

2. people do not like to listen to ushers and it makes us mad because we are very good at following directions.

3. If we ever see another show at the Globe we must have seats.

After the show we went and saw London Bridge and the Tower of London. Then back to the hotel to get our things and something to eat before making our way to the airport to return the Belfast.

After purchasing our homemade noodle soup and wantons we attempted to eat our lunch in the Kensington Gardens. Our picnic was short lived as Mother Nature once again turned the tables on us. Quickly packing our lunches we decided we'd eat them on the train.

Three noodle soups. One train ride. One flight across the sea and one taxi ride later we were back in Belfast.

Monday: The most beautiful day of the trip. We did a day tour up to the Giants Causeway. The drive up the coast was just melt your heart gorgeous. We could not have had better weather. On a normal day you might be able to catch glimpses of Scotland as you weave around the bends. Our driver said that it was so clear that day that he was seeing parts of Scotland that he had never seen before.

Our first big stop was at Carrik a rede rope bridge. You walk across a rope bridge to a small island in the sea. This day once again supports my theory that Ireland is in fact a tropical island without the humidity. The water was sooo blue the sun was warm. We spent about 10 or 15 minutes sprawled in the grasses of that wee island.

Back in the bus we were off to the Giants Causeway. Arriving we ate our packed lunches at a picnic table overlooking a long stretch of farmland and the sea.

Climbing along the mountain's edge we slowly made our way around to the beaches below and the rock formations built by the giant known as Finn McCool.

Wrecked we made our way back to the shop at the top of the mountain where I indulged my sweet tooth with an ice cream.

Back in Belfast we made some dinner and were off to bed.

Tuesday was a restful day. I had an assessment interview and Delia and Melissa needed to catch up on their sleep. We had drinks in the evening. Nice quiet.

Wednesday: We were up early again for a trip down to Dublin. We saw all the major attractions. Delia got to have some Guinness and we were back in Belfast.

Thursday: I had class. Melissa and Delia attempted a trip to the Black Mountains but the bus systems of Belfast and Northern Ireland proved tricky for mere mortals. Next time maybe. We had a nice dinner and instead of having bye bye drinks at a bar. We opted to stay in do each other's hair and have cookies and milk. Way more fun than a smelly bar for sure.

Friday: Bright and early (a theme if you will) we were up. The girls all packed. We had a small breakfast. I made them some sandwiches to bring along with them in case they had to wait for a long time at the airport (please recall their tardy arrival)

They left on the 7:45a bus to Belfast International Airport. At several points throughout the day my classmates or tutors would mention the time and I would think, okay they should be on the plane now, or they're somewhere over the Atlantic, just a few more hours to go and they will be home.

My room which had grown quite full with all of their things is now strikingly empty.

I suppose they could not have stayed forever and it's only a few more weeks before I will make that same journey home.

meow kitties!!