Madisons Hotel Belfast

... my favorite food groups. No honey mustard for dipping though! The girl working was the owner's daughter who had attended the training with her dad in Gap,PA. Had fun talking with her since our family has been involved in Auntie Anne's for more than 15 years!

... rd protestant area and were shown around by one of the protestant taxi drivers. it was just a quiet suburban area but it was quite scary listening to him talk. the uda (ulster defence army - pro uk) and ira (irish republican army - pro republic of ireland) have a cease fire now but aparently they're still active just not officially armed. when we first got in the taxi the driver asked us if we'd seen any ira members, we said no and he said how do you know? then he asked if we ...

... food and drink for such a low price!!! Things were going all good until I bit into my samosa - it was pure meat (I later found out it was lamb!!!!). The menu clearly said they were veggie samosas. Now that I have eaten cows blood it wasn't a huge deal, but the thing that got me was that Sean had already eaten his LAMB samosa and didn't even notice it had meat in it and therefore failed to warn me of what was coming. How could he not tell there was meat in it???? I think I need to ...

Hello,

We spent our final day going from "eleven o'clock" (Dunfanaghy) on the island to “three o’clock” (Dublin). This drive took us by the Giants’ Causeway, an amazing geological feature, and Belfast. The Giants Causeway is…well, just take a look at the pictures. We also ventured onto a rope bridge that looks a lot longer than it really is but was an experience when the wind hits you.

In Belfast, we took a ...

... all my photos. Caelan's hair miraculously stayed in place for the most part; I'm still not sure how she managed that. Yesterday (Tuesday), Caelan Chris and I spent walking around downtown Belfast, shopping, having lunch, and seeing sights. I accomplished one of my missions for this trip, which was to eat Irish stew in Ireland. When I travel, I always try to eat things in the places they're named for (i.e. Malpeque oysters in Malpeque, Edam cheese in Edam). Even ...

... having the craic with Baby Shouks was like being back home, and then seeing Zach again made my trip feel like it had come full circle. The Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco were images from the TV that finally became real. Thanks again to everyone who put a roof over my head the past few months, hopefully some day I can return the favour. Love you all.

... Jimmy was only 17 so we couldnt get into any big places, but seeing as me and Mal both looked like 17 years olds and could produce 22-year old identification, we where let into a loud and busy club. Axel (the Swede) bought a massive pitcher, and we divyed it up. Soon enough, Sarah pulled Jimmy on to the dance follow. I think those two may have had something for each other. It was hilarious to see Jimmys friend ...

... of the day was driving through northern Belfast, and the areas affected by "The Troubles" between Irish catholics and British protestants. We saw graffiti walls covered by political pictures, homes with either Irish or British flags in the windows to signify their allegiance, and the locations of previous bombings and violence. However, many of the homes had white lillies or white roses in the windows. I wondered if this was a sign that ...

... cab tour of the Catholic and Protestant areas of West Belfast. I had that down as the must-do for us here, having already done one nine months earlier with my friend Rebecca on a day trip from Dublin, but once we actually got into Belfast I thought I could find the major sights again myself, and thus take Amber and Nanna on our own little black cab tour.

We started up along the Falls Road, the Catholic hub and site of the head offices of Sinn Fein, the ...

... that some people take things so far but I suppose your nationality is who you are. Okay after a bit of seriousness we headed out of Belfast to the Carrick-a-rede Rope bridge and I paid my little fee for the right to walk over - oh very exciting especially when there is a guy in front of you jumping up and down and pushing the railing down but a good photo opportunity. From here it was off to the Gaints Causeway where as we are told that a Gaint stole some other Scottish ...