Belfast (Northern Ireland) | Wandering City Center - Day 31

After breakfast, I head upstairs to load my pack. There is a train to Dublin at 1130 am that I would like to catch. “Where are you headed to next?” says Erika. Planning to catch the train to Dublin. “Have you already purchased your ticket? Erika says with a worried look. I laugh, uh no. Why? “Half of Belfast is leaving the city this weekend for Dublin to escape the celebration,” she adds. Oops. I gently smile at the predicament I am potentially facing.

One of the things I learned very early on in living moment by moment was some times I may have to zig when I am planning to zag. I ask if it would be possible to backtrack to the west before continuing onto Dublin? She shakes her head no. It appears everything runs through Derry or Belfast. “Let me see,” Erika says. She is already pulling up the train schedule on her iMac. I hear her say, “Soldout. Soldout. Soldout. Ha. The 405 pm train still has a few tickets.” Ok, I'm on it and I’ll buy my ticket right now. Thank you.

After buying my ticket and arranging to leave my pack with Erika for the next 3-4 hours, I head for City Center and St. George’s Market. I wanted to spend more time at City Center, and now I have the opportunity. Another gift. I will be in Dublin around 630 pm, later than I was planning. However, I always leave my agendas open on travel days. I never know when or where I may encounter delays. It is good to be flexible.

St. George’s Market reminds me of a cross between a farmer's market (i.e., fresh produce, vegetables, and fish) and an art and crafts boutique with food. I enjoy wandering around. Several vendors are selling a variety of foods prepared to order. The place smells so lovely! Hot sweet crêpes, fresh citrus fruit, and food on the griddle. The market opens every Friday through Sunday from 9-3. Wandering through, I see some beautiful photographs that remind me of places I visited over the last month. 

One of the booths is selling hand-drawn movie posters on linen. I see several iconic movies from the 80s and 90s - Back to the Future I-III, Star Wars, and The Big Lebowski, amongst others. I smile as I look and connect with the memories of those films.

A couple of gentlemen are playing music for the crowd. One has a foot base drum under his right foot and a tambourine under the other while he plays the guitar and sings. I wander the aisles and sing along to music from the 70s and 80s. Once I see them pack up, I head out the door towards city hall. A magnificent building. I love how the building has a beautiful patina. Once, the building was all white. It has aged beautifully. I love the now eerie and mysterious feel it now has from the dark areas under the eaves.

At the center of the city, in the middle of a crossroads of shopping areas, is a lovely sculpture. This is the main shopping area in Belfast. 

There are iconic American delights such as McDonald's, KFC, and Subway. There is even the Canadian favorite Tim Horton's. Haha! I pause to ponder how I really feel about this. I personally do not like to see them here. I came here to leave American culture behind, not to experience some weird and twisted version of it. The Irish, however, seem to like frequenting the fast food hubs.

Below is one of the iconic sites of Belfast City Center. The Albert Memorial Clock is Ireland's answer to the leaning tower of Pisa. It was erected between 1865 and 1869, to honor Prince Albert. The tower leans because it was built on reclaimed ground. In 2002, it underwent a multi-million-pound restoration project to restore the clock to its former glory. I love the picture below. Another Irish answer to an American trend is Doordash and UberEats. Just Eat is a bicycle food delivery service for takeaway restaurants. I like this version better! Why are we so dependent on cars?

The last thing I notice on my way back to the hostel is a red building with these words painted on the side. A somber reminder of the Troubles in Ireland and the work that has yet to be done.

I arrive at the train station in Lanyon Place near Belfast on time and join what looks like a 1/4 of the Belfast population, poised to make their escape for the weekend. This is hands down the most people I have encountered on public transportation.

I enjoy the nearly 3-hour train ride to Dublin. I spend most of it typing away on the laptop and listening to ZZ Top. While passing a pub the other day, I heard "Sharp Dressed Man" and felt this was a good time to enjoy some ZZ Top. This side of the countryside looks nearly all the same. I pause on occasion and look up to check the scenery and my progress via Google Maps. 

I disembark in Dublin on schedule. Oh my, the terminal is crowded today! I find my way out of the train station, switch my eSIM card off and return to my primary Vodaphone SIM card, now that I am back in the Republic of Ireland. I'll explain more about how to save money on phone bills when traveling in an upcoming post. 

Jacob's Inn, my hostel for the night, is only 400 m (1,200 ft). Nice going bud! Jacob's Inn is not like the quiet and little Botanic Backpackers Hostel I just left. I bet they have 100-200 guests staying here. I notice that all nationalities and age groups are represented. After checking in, I find my way to my "Pod" to relax before grabbing dinner. 

Below is my Pod, where I will sleep for the next few nights. There is enough room to sit up, lay down, and do anything else I want to do. Each pod has a curtain that can be drawn. Opposite the pods are lockers that can accommodate my pack with room to spare. The dorm-style room is co-ed with 8 pods per room. You see more of Jacob's Inn. The Saturday rate was double the other two nights, but my stay averaged $57 per night. A bargain for a downtown Dublin stay.

For dinner, I make my way to 101 Talbot. My body is craving vegetables. I have been in Ireland for one month and have eaten few vegetables compared to my diet back in the states. Irish vegetables consist of broccoli, potatoes, and carrots. So, I order the vegetable lasagna. The lasagna is cooked perfectly and tastes delicious with an awesome mix of veggies. Just what I needed. I drink a pitcher of water before heading back to the inn and calling it a night.