Another early day, up at 5 to get ready to catch the train at 7:35. We were going to walk, but decided we just have to much luggage to make the easy. A very quick taxi to the train station. We had the first train out for the day, so it was already in the station. We boarded on time and first class on the Enterprise was 100 times the on the train to Holyhead. They had just recently started food service again, and while it was not inclusive of the ticket price it was prices fairly. Seats are reserved and include your name above your seat so there is no confusion.
The train of course left on schedule. It was a very beautiful journey; my pictures do not do it justice. Some of the trip was along the sea. There was four very annoying Californias also on the train. Lets just say they probably voted for the orange man. They were entitled and pretentious and that is all that I will say.
We both ordered a cheese omelet with toast and coffee. It was very good and a nice portion, totally spaced on the picture. The
coffee was actually served in small French Press Pots. I spent most of the time looking out the window, did check work but nothing pressing so it didnt stress me out.
Jerry spent much of the time rearranging our full day in Belfast, so that we could sleep in and get some rest. When we arrived, it was raining but it was a short walk to the hotel. I could have been shorter if we would have realized there was a bridge that took us almost directly from the station to the hotel.
The plan for our half day in Belfast was the HoHo and Grumlin Road Gaol (jail). Unfortunately, I miss read the stop schedules and we could not get on where we wanted (right next to the hotel). That stop is only open on weekends with the St. George market is open. The next stop was near City Hall, but we just missed the bus, so took a cab instead.
A note on taxis. Belfast has a very strange law. You cannot hail a cab, you either go to a Tax Rank (which only certain type of cabs can even use) or you
book them in advance. If a driver picks you up with out being the driver can be fined 300 GBP. Three such fines and they lose their license. They actually have government officials that try to get drivers to just pull over and pick them up. So, if youre going to be taking a taxi, you need to have your hotel call for one. There are very few taxi ranks in the center of city. One by City Hall, one by the Europa Hotel.
We did not know about this rule of no hailing of a taxi, until we spent 20 minutes trying to do it. We may have never known but for a very sweet little old lady. She walked up to Jerry and said, they are never going to stop for you, this isnt New York. She then pointed us to the nearest taxi rank. On the way there a second, person asked if we needed help and again pointed us in the right direction of the taxi rank. I have to say, I was a bit skeptical and immediately went for my wallet. Living in New York for seven and half years, makes you very
untrusting. Anyone walking up to you in New York, is either going to mug you, or try to sell you drugs. It turns out that people in Belfast are just that friendly. We did finally get our taxi. When he pulled over, he was letting people out and they were laughing and just having a great time, one of the women said she just wanted to ride around with him all day. As he helped me in the cab, I asked the driver, if he was serving cocktails, that is how happy they were.
Drivers in both Dublin and Belfast love to talk. Talk about the city, the country, the refugee situation. Every time we get in a cab, we learn something. Yes, we are taking more cabs then normal. With Covid, our backs, we are just taking some extra steps to be safe.
Grumlin Road Gaol has a long history and not a positive one. If you read the description in Fodors travel guide it makes it sounds like it was just another Alcatraz. Fodors also tends to make it sound as if everyone there deserved to be there. Well, that is pretty far from the truth.
