Sick in Belfast :(
We were in no hurry to get up after a late night out last night. Although we did have to get up and be out of the hostel by 10:30am. That was no problem as mine and Danny’s train to Belfast left at 11am so we would be out by that time anyways. We missed breakfast but oh well it was just toast. After showering and packing our bags we checked out of the hostel and Mike walked with us to the train station. Originally Danny and Mike were both leaving today as Mike has a tour of Scotland that leaves tomorrow and Danny wanted to get back the same night as his parents so that he could get a ride home. I decided to give Belfast a try as I had booked the Thursday and Friday off work and figured I might as well spend the whole weekend in Ireland if I was already over here.
It took us about 15 minutes or so to walk to Connolley train station. We had to go to one of those ticket machines to print our tickets out and we were supposed to be on the train 20 minutes early. Since we didn’t have time for breakfast we pooled what ever euros we had left over and bought some crisps, chocolate, and water bottles as our “breakfast.” We said good bye to Mike and then we got on the train. I feel really bad because we kicked two old people out of our seats.
The train was 2 and a half hours long and in that time I slept mostly and listened to my music. This is the part of the trip where I really started to feel sick and my nose would not stop running! It sucked. And then I guess because I was blowing my nose so often it started bleeding once we got to the station. Yuck! We got a cab to the hostel because we didn’t feel like walking or figuring out the buses and it only cost us 5 pounds. Our first impression of the hostel was not good. It looked like a dive and we couldn’t check into our room right away and we were just not impressed.
We came across a corner shop type thing I guess it was that also had another Tim Hortons stand in it! So that was exciting and we got a “Tim Hortons” latte and some chocolate and I got some whatever the UK equivalent of Tylenol is that I can’t remember the name of haha. We also came across a Dominos pizza and decided to get that for lunch. We got the “meal deal” which was an individual pizza, garlic cheese bread, and a pop each for only 6 pound and it was delicious.
After lunch we went back to the hostel and Danny got out his little computer and I read my magazine. We hung out in the common room for a while just surfing the web etc. After a while we decided we should go out and explore a little bit of Belfast as so far we didn’t have a good impression and figured we should give it a 2nd chance.
We headed towards the city centre just exploring etc. For some reason there was a TON of kids around. They were everywhere! I think maybe there was some sort of show because some of them had costumes on that were similar.
So we decided to check that out. At first we thought it was closed because the lady told some guy it was closed but it turns out she was telling the guy that the grounds of city hall were closed and the wheel “The Belfast Wheel” was still open. It was only 6 pounds to go on so we figured why not. It was so dead as well and no one on it so we got our own little compartment and everything. And the sun was shining and it was so beautiful and it was a really enjoyable ride. I liked it better than the London eye. It’s more comfortable and it goes faster and you get to go around 3 times.
We went to McDonalds and got some chips for “dinner” I guess. Oh and one thing I noticed about Belfast. There is TONS of emo kids around everywhere! It’s ridiculous. They are all dressed in black with crazy clothes and platform boots and piercings etc. Honestly why people want to dress like that is beyond me.
We were debating if we should go out partying in Belfast that night as that was our original plan but I was feeling too sick so we just decided to go back to the hostel and hang out there. We were hoping to buy some booze and just maybe play some drinking games with other people at the hostel but unfortunately when we stopped off at the little corner shop it turns out they don’t sell booze there. When we were in the store we met this American guy named Lee. He was really cool and we chatted to him for a while. He was travelling with some buddies and they had just come from Dublin as well. Later we wished we asked him to hang out but oh well. We got some crisps and drinks to bring back to the hostel. When we got back to the hostel we just sat in the common room and hung out with some people. We watched an episode of Friends and then two episodes of sex and the City. After that Mr. And Mrs. Smith came on with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie so we decided to watch that. There were two girls from Edinburgh who were in there who were pretty nice and we talked to them for a bit. We just hung out there all night watching the movie until we got rudely kicked out by the staff when the movie wasn’t even over! So then because there was nothing else to do we just went to sleep.
|
|
|||
|
|
Our first impression of the place was not good. When we got out of the taxi and walked to the front door there was a guy who was drinking a pint of beer and was like, "you want to check in? well it will be a minute still because we are cleaning." OK so thats fine that they are cleaning and we had to wait in the lounge room.
I think this hostel is part of the Paddywagon tours because the tour buses were outside a lot. But the place is so unproffesional! There were guys (about 8 of them in total) walking around holding beers and shouting at each other about random stuff to do with the tour. And they were swearing tons and it did not give off a friendly vibe.
When we got to check in the guy gave us our keys and told us where our room was but didn't tell us anything about check out time or anything about the hostel. We just gave him the money and that was that.
We paid for a single private room which was tiny and the bunkbeds didn't even fit in the room and overlapped the sink. The beds aren't that comfy either and the decour is this bright green and yellow which is sick.
They are very strict on rules and there is signs up everywhere saying what you CAN'T do! I mean rules is fine but it was just so in your face. The lounge closes at 11:30pm which is pretty early. There was 4 of us sitting in there watching a movie not making any noise at all and not drinking and they came and kicked us out and didn't even let us finish watching the movie. I could understand if it was a bunch of people drinking and being rowdy but honestly we were all just relaxing and then afte that there was nothing to do so we had to go to bed.
I guess the place isn't that bad but it's just no fun at all! Some good things though would have to be free internet, lounge room is good to chill out in (when you aren't being kicked out!) and there is kitchen facilites if you wish to cook.
Either then that it's not that fun and it's not that close to the city centre either. I would only book here if you can't find anything that appears to be more decent!
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
