The Europa Hotel, Belfast

This famous hotel was the location of the energy storage conference Luis was attending. (The hotel is famous for having been bombed more than 30 times during the troubles. Apparently it has been left in peace for a while now since then. Glad to know it.)

The Dinner

These Photos from the energy storage conference dinner in City Hall were taken by our new friend, Tobias who sent them to us today! I am glad he took pictures. It was a really neat experience! The food you see was Tobias' dinner, salad, and dessert, but Luis also ate the same thing. I ate the salad and dessert and a vegetarian meal. I had a mix of vegetables including artichokes and of course potatoes...with potatoes on the side! We were laughing because a meal in Ireland isn't a meal without potatoes! I am so grateful to the nice lady at the conference registration desk, named Thelma who made me a name tag so that I could attend the conference dinners with Luis and to the vegetarian scientist that never showed up whose meals I ate. We knew we were going to a conference, but we had no idea how much fun it was going to be or that the dinners were going to be in such special locations. Luis also drank wine and ate dinner with the other engineers and scientists at the Ulster Museum one night.

Energy Storage Conference Dinner at Belfast City Hall

Belfast Botanic Gardens and the Palm House

The Crown Bar, Belfast

We had a great time at the Crown Bar which is right across from the Europa Hotel where the conference was (most bombed hotel in Europe, bombed 30+ times during the troubles.) An acquaintance of ours in Dublin from Belfast had recommended we go there and the day we arrived on the train we looked around for some place to eat. We hadn't planned on eating bar food, but we were not disappointed at all by our choice to eat at the Crown. It too suffered damage during the troubles, but it has been restored to beautiful Victorian splendor and coziness by the National Trust. When we went inside we saw tables of people eating and drinking in little private nooks. I looked over at their tables assuming such a treat as a private table like that must have been reserved. But, when the waitress led us to our own table, table number 1, we were delighted to find a cozy table nook which would fit about 2 to 3 and a half/ 4 modern sized people comfortably, with its own wooden little door for privacy, leather seats and charming animal carvings all around made of dark wood. There were mirrors decorated with Victorian style roses in faded pinks and blues, and happy looking little fat birds singing on tree branches! I loved the place so much that I was sure I would be back every day during the conference and would definitely have a good time in Belfast if all I did was sit in the Crown Bar. However, after our tasty and enjoyable meal there (Luis' had a burger and I had fish cakes) we didn't end up coming back during the trip(which is why there are no pictures here of the inside of the Crown.) In any case we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and will always remember such a pleasant lunch!

A Video explaining the difference between the UK, Great Britain, England, and Ireland

http://www.wimp.com/differencebetween/

Black Taxi Tour of West Belfast

We went on a black taxi tour of west Belfast. I wouldn't describe it as a "fun" experience, but definitely a learning experience. Northern Ireland is a very unique part of the world. They have a troubled past and although things are a lot more peaceful, you can still feel a very real tension in the air. There are many murals in West Belfast, many of them are world renowned and the famous black taxi tour is the most recommended way to see this part of the city, which is still divided by an actual wall separating the Catholic and Protestant sides. The mural in one photo from the protestant side shows a gunman and his gun really does seem to follow you as you walk past. I didn't see many people around. I saw a woman unloading her baby from a car seat. I saw a cat scurry by while we were there,the first cat I can actually remember seeing while in Ireland. It was getting dark and I was holding Luis' hand tightly, and pretty much wanted to get out of there. I liked when the taxi stopped and we were able to sign the peace wall as you can see in another photo.