Belfast

Went to stay with my aunty in Belfast and had a personal 'Black Cab' tour with her. She drove us to an area where she encountered a bus being firebombed and in flames in the middle of the road, and also where she did her first teaching assignment at a high school to the sound of explosions and gunfire in the background. We drove along Falls and Shankill Roads and checked out the murals.

We then had lunch at an American Pub and then went to the Crown Liquor Saloon, a pub which has the somewhat dubious title of 'most bombed pub in Ireland during the Troubles'.
Absolutely amazing tangible history here, reminded me a little of Berlin with the wall...of course Belfast has their own version of that, the so called 'Peace Wall', which still has its graffitied check points and scorch marks from being firebombed. The areas between the roads are creepy, a kind of desolate no-mans land.

There are so many great cafes, pubs and restaurants to visit (they are very much into locally grown produce), and the bars and nightlife are amazing.

I loved Belfast, it was so gritty and defiant, yet at the same time such a welcoming and friendly city that I know will be flooded with tourists in years to come.

Paris Pt I

Day 1

Drove to Belfast Intl and said bye to our cute little rental car, we knew we would miss the complete freedom it allowed.  Met 2 lovely Aussie girls from Parkes/Orange and had a bit of a chat to them in the line for check in.

Came out of the arrivals area around 10.30pm and the thick, wet wall of humidity hit us. Struggled onto the Metro with mum and dad's suitcases, it was even packed at that time of the night, and were in quite bad, tired moods by the time we got to our hotel. We flopped into bed and fell promptly to sleep!

Day 2
We decided we would just go wandering around to get our bearings. Had coffee at a cafe overlooking an intersection in the Latin Quarter (it is quite amusing how all of the tables are positioned towards the intersection..there was actually nothing to see apart from cars, such is the national pasttime of France), and munched on a breakfast of baguettes as we strolled down to the Seine

We walked all the way from Place d'Italie, through the Latin Quarter to the Seine, the Notre Dame, then all the way to the Concorde and Tuileries, then back to Place d'Italie again!!! We estimated on the map we walked for 10km, I was so tired and literally flopped into bed again tonight with pins and needles in my legs from exhaustion!

Day 3

Mum's birthday was in June, but as I wasn't there, told her we would do something special for her birthday this year. I told her to get dressed up and I was taking her for a surprise day. We all got on the Metro and got off at the Champs Elysees stop. We had a nice wander down the street until we got to our destination, Laduree!! The most beautiful of the old Parisian tea shops, Laduree is world famous for their exquisite pastries and macarons. We walk in and secure a table for Morning Tea. Dad orders a coke, Mum orders a coffee, and I order one of their famous melted hot chocolates. We order a selection of cakes, pastries and a plate of macarons (2 x chocolate, 2 x salted caramel, violet, vanilla, mint, and red fruits)...heavenly!! Damage = AUD $98!!! An expensive morning tea indeed, but well worth it :)

After our time there, we head to the Eiffel Tower!

Day 4

Today we decided to do different things, Mum and Dad wanted to see the Louvre, and as I had seen it before, decide to visit the catacombes. After a leisurely sleep in, I arrive to the catacombes at 12pm and find the line stetching around the block. I line up and feel a tap on my shoulder...who could it be apart from the 2 Aussie girls we had met in Belfast a few days before, what a small world!! We walked through the catacombes together, and then went to McDonalds for lunch. Afterwards we bid farewell, they went to the Louvre, and I

went back home. Went out for pizza to a lovely place accross the road today. Dad was very impressed as it tasted just like pizza back home hehe! Have an early night as we are getting the early train to Tours tomorrow...

30 by 30

A 30th birthday is a huge milestone in someone's life, and when I was about 25 I decided I wanted to have a goal to work towards.  Something challenging that incorporated travel and my love of checking off lists. 

I decided I wanted to see 30 countries by the time I hit 30.  I have 6 months to go before my 30th birthday and am currently on 29 countries.  I do not include airports in my tally, as I do not feel I could really say I have been to that country. 

I'm so close...but I don't think I'm going to get there!!