Tura-Lura-Lurla

This weekend I went back to the homeland. At 4 am Saturday morning, Melanie, Lisa and I started our journey to the green land of fairies and leprechauns.

After taking a taxi, a bus and a flight on RyanAir we finally made it to Dublin Ireland around 7:40 am.

As soon as I saw the beautiful Irish land I started looking for the 40 shades of green I had heard about since I was little. My Gaga used to always say... "If you find the 40 shades of green you’ll be lucky for the rest of your life."

Once we got through the airport my roommates and I split up. They went to a music festival and I headed for Connelly Train station where I would begin my solo journey to Belfast.

Dublin to Belfast Train Route

I’ll admit: I was scared as hell to travel all alone. The only thing that kept me going was the thought that my Gaga and my Aunt Nellie travel from America to Ireland by themselves, hundreds of times, and they always made it home. If they could do it...I could do it.

While waiting at the train station for my 9:30 am train I wondered around and definitely eased dropped on every conversation that I could. Okay time to get sappy: Since my Gaga passed away 2 years ago I’ve really missed hearing that sweet Irish accent... I missed hearing the way the Irish always twist a sentence around and put a little laughter in it. Honesty that was the best part of being in Ireland this weekend, I loved to hear the way the Irish talked.

Okay so back to the story: Once on the train everything was perfect. I sat in an almost empty train car so I was able to stretch out and get a nice long nap. The train ride was about 2 hours long but it went by quickly.

Enterprise took me from Dublin to Beflast and back.

I arrived at Belfast Central train station around 12 pm. My Aunt Cheryl, my Aunt Geraldine and their friend Angie graciously drove from Downpatrick to spend the day with me in the city.

They took me to a really nice little Irish pub called The Kitchen Bar... we ate and laughed for about an hour and then it was time to go around the city.

The Kitchen Bar

Belfast is a beautiful city. The area we were in is really modern, young, and super clean. The buildings are made out of that white stone material and all have a very old look to them. But once you go inside the buildings you’re greeted by something that looks like it belongs in LA or Times Square.

Belfast City Hall

We went to Castle Court which is a mall owned by Westfield (like the Westfield malls in the U.S), Victoria Square, Boots and Primark. I could easily spend hours shopping in Primark. It was like a cheaper version of TopShop. Heaven.

Castle Court

Victoria Square



Primark

Once we had shopped in all the best stores in Belfast it was time for me to go. After taking the train back to Dublin I checked into the Shelburne Hotel in the city centre. I have never stayed in a nicer hotel in my life. It was GLOURIOUS. Eloise and the plaza had nothing on me that night.

The Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin

My room at the Shelbourne.

Sunday morning was once again a super early morning; our flight was at 7:30 am. I met my roommates at the airport since they stayed at the festival until the wee hours of the morning.

I really wish I could have spent more time in Belfast but I know that I definitely be going back there. Not only do I have family there but I also owe it to my family from the past, present and future to always remember where I came from. I will never lose ties with the city or country that pushed my family to become what it is today.