So, my birthday was last Monday, but didn’t really do much. We had plans to go to Cave Hill and fly kites and take photos and such, but everyone ended up not feeling well, so that didn’t work out. They then proceeded to infect me also with the aforementioned illness, so I was sick all night, which was not ideal. Somehow we made the best of it, and it wasn’t too bad (I think this is largely due to the fact that we were all a bit loopy because of the fever…).
Anyway, we had a postponed Birthday day on Wednesday, where we went on a photo walk and ate burritos (yum!). Due to lack of wind, the kite flying didn’t happen, though. Instead we went to the charity book shop, bought some books, and went to Starbucks to read them for the evening, which I realize is monumentally geeky, but I quite enjoyed it, so I s’pose that’s all that matters, haha.
Alsooo! As part of a gift from my family, and money from grandparents and such, I’ve booked a trip around a bit of Eastern-ish Europe in a couple weeks! I quite spontaneously talked two friends to join me as well (Sophie + Kerilee, fellow photo-adventurers from the previous post). It’s quite a loop-like trip – we’ll be taking a bus to Dublin, flying to Stockholm where we’ll be for three days, then flying to Krakow for two days, taking a train to Prague for four days, a plane to Frankfurt for a day, and then back to Dublin! I’m pretty excited. I’ve made a simple-handy-map to show ya’!
I think I’m most excited about Prague, I’ve always wanted to go there! It (along with somewhere in Spain) were the two places I wanted to make sure I went while I was over here, so hooray for that!! Then again, it’s always the random places that I know nothing about that I end up liking the most, so we shall see. Sadly, we will be too early for Christmas markets in most towns, but we will catch it in Stockholm!
We’ll be leaving on the 14th of November, so it’s quite soon as well, hooray!
I have officially been informed that this season is not called Fall, and should henceforth be referred to as “Autumn”. Though, I still argue that “fall” is more appropriate considering that the season is pretty much recognized by the presence of leaves falling, and it being rainy, and slippy, and hence making people slip and fall (or is that just me)? We also discovered that because it also doubles as a verb (handy!), you can change the name throughout the year – so, before it’s “fall”, during it’s “falling”, and after it’s “fallen” – which makes it exceedingly more awesome. I rest my case.
Anyway, we decided to go on an adventure to enjoy the loveliness that is leaves (which we also happen to have a distinct lack of in Arizona… have to make up for it now!). There’s a beautiful place called Botanic Gardens here in Belfast. I believe I’ve posted pictures of it before, but basically it’s a massive garden, with various patches of grass, some pretty plants, a rose garden, greenhouse, and some other stuff. Needless to say, it is thoroughly sprinkled with trees, so that is where we went on our leaf-enjoying adventure!
That’s one thing I do quite love about Belfast, that there are rather distinct seasons (though they do all definitely share the commonality of rain). Even within the same park, the look can vary so drastically. I think the extent of our seasonal changes in Arizona was that our grass turned from green to brown during winter (or was it the other way around?)…
No exciting travels to report, just adventures in the every day!
I’m still in Belfast! Though, I’ve moved to a different house again, which is super lovely! I’m living in the attic (which is not nearly as dodgy as it sounds!), with some cool people (Sophie + Sarah + Matt), which is pretty awesome! While I can’t actually work here, I seem to be keeping my days busy with various things… I’m finding it quite nice to have time to learn the things I wish I’d learned in university, but didn’t. I seem to be doing lots of video-esque things, which is new, so we’ll see how long that lasts!
Sophie and Sarah and I went on a bit of a random excursion to Derry last week, just for a couple days. Derry is about an hour or so west of here, I had gone briefly when my family were here (I think it was our lunch stop haha), but ’twas nice to see it again. It’s a “walled city”, so we walked around the walls a bit, drank some tea, and had some random photo taking fun!
We found this super cute hidden street, which had lots of quaint shops and tea places, it was lovely! I was most excited about the bookstore – lots and lots of beautiful booooks! But, I was good and resisted, and did not buy any!
Even though it’s only October, we’ve been starting to feel Christmas-sy here! The weather was quite nice, then it kind of suddenly got cold (sad!!). We broke out the Christmas music today…. haha, I’m becoming one of those people I make fun of who celebrate holidays way too far in advance. Buuut, that’s okay.
I believe I’ll be in Belfast until sometime in December, at which point I will head home (to the warmth!). I’m enjoying Belfast, it feels like a super extended vacation, but I’m kind of excited to be heading back home soon!
