your man, from Belfast...

So I’ve been living in this amazing little city, which really feels like a town. I know I have been bad about keeping up with my blog so I figured tonight with the house to myself and an epic hangover (I’ll explain later) it is time to sit down with a glass of vino and do some writing. That and a lovely American couple seemed genuinely interested in my life and asked about our blog. Tompers, always one for spotlight, is stoked.

There are five things I now know to be true…

-The isles are emerald because it never stops raining

-It only takes four Guinness to get drunk (because that is the number before I switch to hard liquor, or stronger beer)

-The sun shines in the morning at about half seven for approximately long enough to get me out the door for a run before it starts raining

-The tiny hill by my house is “massive” and my running up it is insanity

-Belfast has the best accent, Donegal isn’t far behind, the people in Galway now sound normal

So much has happened here I’m not sure where to start, Tompers is SUPER excited about the sheep we saw at Father Ted’s house. (It’s a show, you should look it up because it’s class)

 So we’ve been to the Burren, Aran Islands, Connemara, and Belfast. I know Belfast is a different country, but it really shouldn’t be. The little trips I have started taking have really made a big difference on my mental state. Belfast was a game changer because I realized there is no reason why I can’t use my days off to travel somewhere everything is SOOO close… And in all honesty I went up to Belfast because I had Good Friday and Saturday off, and they do not serve or sell alcohol in the Republic of Ireland on Good Friday… and you see Belfast is in the United Kingdom. Why wouldn’t I go there?

Tompers is demanding I explain why Belfast enchanted me. Other than the fact this English bloke paid for pretty much everything, then when he saw I was into the barman (at the pub we were at for a pint because it was close to the bus station and I wanted to catch an earlier bus cause he was clearly going to be tagging along and was starting to annoy me a bit) told me he got hit by a car.. I wasn’t into him that way anyway and I did try to by rounds and he said he didn’t care. Why am I defending myself? Some English bloke paid for everything, cause I’m fucking fun to be around.. #winning. Period.

Tompers agrees…

Oh right, back to Ireland… So the Burren… Father Ted’s house (which was based on the Aran Islands (allegedly) but is actually in the Burren). We went down for the day to do this 6km hike. The tourist website said to pack food, water and a compass. Thank god I didn’t listen to it because at the turn around point of the hike I could still see the car… the faking car was still visible because we had to drive it to the actual start point because the road was flooded out. Sure wish I had a picture so, because it was unbelievable.  All in all it was a bit shite, but I got to cross ‘er off the ol’ bucket list. I should mention all we wanted after our freezing cold rainy hike was some soup and NOTHING was open. Ended up at some thatched roof pub, which wasn’t all that warm, eating sub-par soup that wasn’t even hot…

Aran Islands of which we did Inishmore, might be worth another trip out to do the other two, we had this fantastic day at the beach…

I had some friends from Canada who happen to be in Galway one night, which thankfully I was not working and we were able to meet up and I took them on a tour of my lovely little city (love that I can call this place home). Turns out this city is so much fun. Having them with me made me realize I actually do live in this crazy city which feels like a small town and there is always craic to be had.  

I guess we’re back to my epic hangover. Your man from Belfast came down, you know the bar man. Cause turns out I’m that pretty, and Tompers left quite the impression as well. You know what I love about this place, is I feel like I don’t know anybody, then I’m out with somebody and turns out I know everybody. I feel like that should be song lyrics. Maybe I’ll write a song, my housemate did buy a piano and she’s way better than she thinks she is.

This is all I have to sum up many months, but it has made me realize it is time to start living here. A
little bit of roots wouldn’t be so bad… would it? As for your man from Belfast only time will tell. Tompers is keen on GTFO-ing Ireland, but he loves the sunshine more than me. And there is none of that here. Have I mentioned for the first time in my ENTIRE LIFE (well at least the life I remember) I have NO tan lines… I reckon my parents were class enough to keep me out of the sun as a babe so.