The Unprecedented Exploits of A Canadian Whovian in Scotland: The Red Hand of Ulster

That being Northern Ireland where I went for five days at the end of October with Claire Vickery. What to say about the Northern part of the Emerald Island. Hmmm...well it is quite green, so ya know, it's got that going for it. Belfast was okay, but really just a city like any other, however the Causeway coast was stunning and I'm probably going to have problems deciding which pictures to put up! I suppose I shall just give you a day by day account and we'll see how it goes...

Day 1:

Get up at stupid o'clock in the morning (4:00...or on my case 3:30. . .stupid brain). Catch the 4:50 am bus in Castle Douglas to the ferry in Stranraer. Doze on said bus. Get off the bus in darkness. Watch a guy get stopped by the security people at the ferry. Board the ferry and sit and listen to music with Claire and drink a latte.

Arrive in Belfast at about 10, take the bus into the center of town. Look for hostel. Find out that the hostel we booked basically doesn't exist any more and go to the hostel that used to run it. Manage to get two beds. Drop off bags and head into town for a wee bit of shopping/exploration. Go to Victoria Square and wander through the shops. Spend a half hour or so in Starbucks. Watch Thor 2. Fangirl over Loki.

Five o'clock or so, look for the Titanic Pub to go for dinner, but fail to find it. Head to the fanciest Tescos ever, to buy a sandwich and some fruit for dinner. Return to hostel. Eat dinner, and find out that the pub was only a couple of blocks away from the hostel. . . (Mom, you can kindly skip to the next paragraph...you don't want to read the next bit....seriously....) Sit on the internet for a wee bit looking at what to do the next day. Get slightly concerned when four policemen show up at the hostel. Look for new hostel. Police leave. Remain confused, and decide to see how the night goes.

Eight o'clock, head to our room to get ready for bed. Shower. Crawl into bed. Fall asleep around nine.

Day 2:

Get up about eight. Read for a bit. Eventually put glasses on and look towards Claire's bed on the other side of the room. Accept Birthday congratulations with an "oh yeah! it's my birthday!"

Go back to fancy Tescos and get breakfast. Walk around town for a wee bit. Head to the Titanic Experience. Experience Titanic. Go to Pizza Hut for lunch. Experience bad service. Head back to the center of town. Go to Costa's for a warm drink. Decide to stay at hostel.

Go and find the Titanic Pub. Order an appetizer as your main meal.. Order glass of wine since it's your birthday. Complain about tiredness.

Return to Hostel. Check facebook. Check bus times for Ballycastle. Decide it's too much hassle to go to Carrickfergus Castle with heavy bags.

Eight (it was actually probably 7:30...) o'clock, head to our room to get ready for bed. Shower. Crawl into bed. Fall asleep before nine.

Day 3:

Get up about eight. Pack. Head to the bus. Sit on comfy leather seats till bus change in Ballymoney. Buy crisps, and JellyTots at train/bus station store. Catch bus to Ballycastle. Sit on more comfy leather bus seats. Stare out at the lovely scenery.

Arrive in Ballycastle at about 11:30. Walk down road to the waterfront and new hostel. Become excited about how pretty everything is. Have chips and coffee in small cafe while waiting for Hostel owner to come back to open the doors for us. Return to hostel. Call owner and find out she is on her way. Meet owner's husband and chat to him for a few moments before she arrives. Meet nicest hostel owner ever, Anne-Marie. Be shown around the nicest hostel ever, and go to our fantastic room.

Take a long walk on beach. Take a million pictures of the waves. Return to hostel to get money. Walk into town. Go to Drugstore. Go to confectionery. Return to hostel to read for a while. Go to pub for dinner. Order yankee style fried chicken burger with skinny chips. Get much, much more than you bargained for. Eat as much as you can and then give up. Split a cheesecake with Claire. Head back to the hostel. Look at the now ebony waves in the dark for a bit. Take a shower in the lovely warm shower. Read a bit in bed. Go to sleep at nine. Consider it a late night.

Day 4:

Get up about 8:30. Read for a bit. Catch the bus to the Giant's Causeway. Go to The Nook pub at the Giant's Causeway for breakfast. Consume a delicious scone with jam and cream and drink a lovely Bailey's coffee. Text Anne Marie and ask if we can stay another night. Be happy when we are told we can.

Head to the causeway. Marvel at the beauty of creation. Take loads of pictures. Attempt to get a perfect picture of a wave crashing up against the rocks. Get super soggy in the rain. Hang out at The Nook and drink a half pint of Magners. Head out to the bus stop. Stand for awhile. Recheck the bus times and discover that the bus you wanted to catch only runs from May to September. Abuse the Giant Causeway bus timetables. Return to The Nook to wait for three hours for the 6:20 bus. Order a pint of Magners. Drink it slowly over the course of two hours. Order some chips and a piece of bread. Have a chip piece. Eat the rest of the chips normally. Complain about how long it is. Listen to the wind howl. Wish you had a vehicle to drive. Roll eyes at the American who didn't know what Poppies are for. . .finally leave for the bus.

Almost be blown over by the wind. Be picked up by the nicest female bus driver on the face of the planet. Head back to the hostel. Shower. Read in bed.Go to sleep at eight....again...

Day 5:

Wake up around 8. Get up and dressed. Get a cappuccino at Costa's and walk on the beach while Claire gets up. Take a whole bunch more pictures of the waves. Meet Claire by the outdoor exercise equipment (it's pretty epic). Go to breakfast at a nice little cafe. Eat a delicious breakfast of a fried egg, two pieces of bacon, two slices of seedy wholemeal toast, and a small little cup of beans. Drink tasty orange juice.

Head back to the hostel to pay Anne-Marie and to gather our bags. Catch the bus. Stare out the window at the stunning Causeway Coast. Catch the train from Coleraine to Belfast. Wander about waiting for the bus. Stop by Primark. Get chips at MacDonalds. Go to the bus stop. Sit and wait. Wonder which bus is ours. Ask someone, realize we could have almost missed our bus. Laugh nervously.

Board the ferry. Sit on the opposite side of the boat. Read a bit. Wander around a bit. Read some more. Get back to Stranraer. Catch the bus to Castle Douglas. Notice frost on the cars as you arrive in Castle Douglas. Be pickd up by Ben Williams. Arrive back at Barcaple close to midnight. Say goodnight to Claire, and head to bed. Realise that this is the latest you've been up all week.

Sleep till nine the next morning and be greeted by lots of people who missed you! :) Be told by people that they're glad your back, not only because you're you, but also because you were missed in the kitchen. Feel loved and happy, even though you are still slightly missing Ballycastle.

Picture time! :)