Day 8- August 9th

 This was the day I was waiting for, and mom was waiting for. Finally getting to see where she grew up. She never knew if any of us would make it back home with her, let alone some grandkids as well. With everything we saw and did, this was my favorite day because it was stories coming to life. We ran into a few people who knew people from when mom lived there. While they didn't remember the Nickel's they knew others my mom did. It was fun to hear her reminisce with random strangers. 

As we were getting ready to leave we heard music. Went outside and saw this. We don't know why or what it was for, but it was the best way to start the day. 

First we went to St. George Market. It is a huge flea market in Belfast. There were so many cool stands selling things. I found a few cool things for Beck while here. 

Next was Graymount Parade. We all knew mom lived on this road, I've heard this name my whole life. The house I mainly grew up in on Taylor, we could go to the street behind our house and see where my dad lived for a bit when he was younger. Then Grandma and Grandpa Arrington built a house and lived in that for as long as I could remember. Seeing mom's house was so surreal. 

The street was so wide for a street here. It was interesting that everyone just parked on the sidewalk to make room on the street. 

Here is it. 44 Graymount Parade. It did not have any of the plants in front of it and the inside is changed a lot from when she lived there. In this house 7 people lived. Compared to American houses that are open floor plans and huge rooms all to yourself, I don't see how this was possible. Mom did knock on the door to see if the owners were home, but they weren't. The neighbors got home just as we were going to walk away and they let us in their backyard so we could see what her's looked like. We started to walk down the street and saw a man named Billy standing outside his house. His mother in law owned the house and had lived there for years. While he didn't remember mom's family, he did remember others who lived on the street. Mom can strike up a conversation with anyone and talked a bit with him. She said, I have a huge favor to ask and just as she said that he asked if we wanted to come in and look around. A big group of 13 walking through your house is crazy, but he was so nice to let us in. He was renovating it, so thankfully we weren't really in anyone's way. 

Billy's house was set up how my mom's was, only difference was she had a bath where this one only had a shower. These were the only 2 rooms in the house. At times the three girls, Grandma Nickels included in that, were in one room and the 4 boys, Grandpa included, in the other. At one time, Grandpa put up a divider walls to make one room kind of into two. 

Compared to kitchens here, this one is pretty small. It held all the kitchen things and maybe a table too. 

This is the view from the back door into the kitchen. The doorway is to the stairs. 

Mom's backyard. It was set up pretty much the same. It had an extra shed where mom only had one growing up. She said that a guy would come by and deliver coal which they used to heat the house. 

The bathroom. Mom's had a bath where the shower is. When she was very young Grandma started a bath and walked out of the room. The water got really hot, which being there I could understand. If you turned all the way to hot, I could not touch the water. One of her brothers was in the bathroom with her and he somehow dropped her into the tub and it burnt her. She still has a scar on her right arm, but they said she was very luck to not be scared all over. 

The stairway, I don't know how you get anything up this. 

Another view of the backyard. The shed closest to the house was the one she had too. The clothes line is what every house had. You didn't have a washer and dryer like we have now. You had to hang all the clothes to dry. 

She showed us allies she went down to get to school or to the store or friends houses. Since we went on a Saturday her old school was closed. It wasn't a long walk but still a walk. The fence was here too when she went. She went to an all girls school called Greymount secondary school.

There used to also be a back entrance to this graveyard that they used to go to quite often. The back way was closed so we had to go around. In most plots families were buried, one on top of another. Seven was the most names I saw on a headstone. 

The empty spot used to hold a small church.

Here we met Anthony. I'm not sure why he was there, but he was a little suspicious why a big group was walking around the graveyard. Another person mom struck up a conversation with. He remember others on the street as well. 

We walked around where shops used to be. It used to be busy with people, now a lot are closed and all have changed. She remember a lady who owned a shop here, while called something different the worker in this store again remembered how it used to be set us, knew the old owner and remembered people my mom did. 

This is what this corner looks like now. The cream building used to be a very popular/busy bar. The side on the street we are on used to be a field with a bench. 

The same corner when my mom was little. This Grandpa Nickels, Mom and Gerry.

We were going to go to church on Sunday but due to time we were unable to go. I know it would have been fun because last time mom and dad went. they met people who also remembered the Nickels and had been in the ward since mom lived there. 

Next we went to Belfast Castle. Mom used to walk to this and roll on the hills. At Easter they would bring their eggs and roll them down the hill. The castle was closed for a private event but we could walk the ground, which were beautiful and we also ate lunch here. 

I got Barbeque Beef Dirty Fries (loading fries) and they were so good. One of my favorite things I ate.

A sign leaving the restaurant.  

Next we went to Carrickfergus Castle. Mom had talked about this casted forever. I got a music box from Grandma Nickels and though it was this castle. I knew it wasn't, I just named it that in my head. Aunt Gerry called her property Carrickfergus too. Finally seeing it was a dream. 

Another Murder Hole. This one was large and I don't get how people didn't just move to the side to avoid whatever was coming down on them. 

This castle did have things set up to show how a few rooms were set up. 

Also had amazing views. 

This was one of my favorite days of the whole trip. It was the main reason I wanted to make the trip. 

Day 7 August 8th

 This day we drove to Belfast. We stopped at the Belleek factory on the way. My mom's family has always liked this pottery and so I was excited to see how it was made. We did a tour, but this one you really couldn't take pictures and most of the company was on their 2 week holiday, so not a lot was going on while we were there. It was super impressive how it was all done. Like Waterford, you  could see people working as you toured. Also it takes years to master your craft, while not as long, each department is 2-5 years of training. 

On the way to here we stopped for gas. There wasn't a card reader on the outside so I went inside to pay for gas, like we would have to here. The attendant looked at me weird and asked if I even filled it up. Well here you pump the gas then pay. It's been forever since we did that here. 

Also on the way we stopped at a cool coastline. Super windy but beautiful. Mom did not like the 'sucks' on my shirt. 

There was even a real sundial.

The Belleek factory. 

Weird bike before the tour started. 

Each piece has a mark on the bottom. It's cool to see how it changes and how far back they go. 

Belleek was right on the boards of Ireland and Northern Ireland. What was interesting is once we hit Northern Ireland it went back to miles per hour vs kilometers per hour. We saw that but the speedometer was still showing Paul Km/h which made him go much slower than he should. He was going about 50 Km/h which is about 30 ish miles and hour but it was 50 mph. 

Our house here was awesome. It was such a good location and was nice. 

That evening we went downtown Belfast and walked a little. One thing we noticed is most stores close early, like 6 or 7. We rode a double-decker, but it wasn't a red one. When we were on our way back this group of girls was getting off the bus and one said 'you look like a bunch of American's' Kiara said that's because we are. She was so shocked and happy and asked if we have tried Raising Canes and if it was good. I love that that's the restaurant she wanted to know about. 

Day 6- August 7th

 Today was touring around Galway. I loved Galway. There was so much to see within walking distance, the shops were so much fun and the food was amazing. 

We stated the day by just walking the streets. We set up a boat tour and were killing time before that. There we so many street performers and it seemed like they had a set time they could be there, then new ones came. This guy was playing the violin with a dummy. It was so impressive. 

You know I'll say it again. the buildings!

Next was our boat tour. It was about an hour and half and was pretty cool... and cold. This was a castle that was burnt down. There were so many random old castle and houses along the roads. 

This was the weather on the tour. It cold pretty cold, so once the main part of the tour was done we went under to a warmer section. 

It was fun to look at Life 360 to see where it showed me. We just went up and down this channel. I love it shows us going on land and then water. 

Once under we were shown how to make real Irish Coffee and traditional Irish dancing. Also with wanting to move to Ireland to get a cool accent, I wanted to learn to Irish dance. Found out on this trip they practice 2-3 hours a day, 5 to 6 days a week and pay 300+ pound for their shoes that only last about 6 months. I guess it's good I didn't have rhythm to dance. 

After we went back to where we were earlier in the morning and did some shopping. One place I wanted to go to was the first ever Claddagh store. This one opened in 1750 was the first maker of the ring. My mom got me one forever ago when she went and I wanted to get one for Emery and I wanted it to be from this store. I'm not super tall, and the door I almost had to duck to get in. 

Had my first (and last) fish and chips here. While it was good, it wasn't my favorite. I have a short tolerance for fish. 

One this Ireland can make so well is pastries. We got some a few different places the time we were there. This was in Galway and so good. These were tarts we all shared. 

Then walking back to our Airbnb I stopped and got this raspberry croissant.

We also toured an old Catholic Cathedral. It felt a little weird taking pictures, but they said you could. It used to be a jail. There was a building across the street where they were judged, then once found guilty, they crossed the street and taken to jail. Now the jail is a church. The wood in the church was brought over from America. 

I have never seen a confessional, I thought it was cool looking. 

The courthouse of sorts. 

The old jail, now Church.

We ended the day early because we had to get up early and take off the next day. The first night Paul and Michelle didn't sleep well due to what sounded like a party outside their window. The second night we had the party. It was not as loud or close as theirs was thought. I love that the music is Irish music and not loud crazy rap or rock. It may be hard to hear due to the street.