More Belfast: Overdue

Sunday night after we picked up Sarah she was understandably just as tired as I was on my first night. We all decided to stay in with some pizza and movies with Meg.

The next afternoon Stacha took us to a quaint restaurant named Maggie Mays, by the looks of it you woulda thought we were in Denton. I got the fry plate. So. Good. Delicious.



After our tummies were full Stacha gave us a wee tour of Queen's University. I finally got to see the infamous CS Lewis Reading Room that she told me about over Skype when she first got there.

Our last stop before we made our way into the city was the Botanical Gardens. Unfortunately, the flowers hadn't fully bloomed just yet because it was still cold. Nonetheless, it was so beautiful-we spent quite some time there and left with a plethora of flower pictures.

Stacha had to go to work and so that left Sarah and I to Belfast. It was another chilly day. By this time I'm pretty much on expert level on Belfast and kind of show and tell Sarah of what I have come to know.

 After a warm-up break in a coffee shop named Café Nero (later personally renamed Café Nerd). We were so lucky to catch a free tour of City Hall! We learned much of Belfast...so much that trying to remember this today, it seems most of it has left me.

We got to sit in the meeting room where the swanky politians make serious decisions. Saw the beautiful, beautiful architecture. We heard some more of Belfast's pride in their building the Titanic.

And in perfect timing by the time we were done Stacha was done with work and we were all reunited. Tesco to get some groceries for dinner.

 

 

 

We busted out our domestic skills and had us a wonderful down home meal of fried chicken, garlic parmesan mashed potatoes, and lemon cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Perfect. It tasted just as good as you read it.   

 

 

 

 

After dinner we chatted for a wee bit. By this time Sarah is tuckered out and is anticipating our trip to London. Soon after Sarah decided to go to bed. Stacha and I opted for a pub- Filthy McNasty's to be exact. With this being my first pub it was nothing like I had imagined a pub to be. Filthy McNasty's had live music with multiple differently themed rooms. We made our stay in the eclectic all white country-esc room. The bartender was not sure about American concoctions so we took what he suggested instead. A while later we were in a cab on our way back home, eating left over dinner, and warm in bed.

 

That next morning Sarah and I flew to London.

For the Love of Snail Mail

What is it about checking the mail and low and behold-a hand-written letter? Pure joy, just pure joy! I do appreciate an occasional wall post on Facebook or a "Have a good day" text, but, I tell ya one of the ways to get a place in my heart is to send me something through the post!

Time and effort are of not cost to those who participate in the endeavor. Snail mail allows room for creativity. There's uniqueness of each one's stationary whether chevron striped, classic white, or lightly colored polka dots, as well as the way they dot their "i's" and cross their "t's". The sincerity of that person is hand-written in every word to me. Also, how about that fact that these could be historical mementos someone else could stumble upon. The love shared between two friends shown so clearly. Mementos of when someone got engaged, was having a hard time, or got a new job-just so much life in one envelope! Things to be remembered in the coming days of more joy and even sorrow.

Ahh, the benefits of snail mail are never ending. Need I say more about snail mail? Living in days of instant gratification and immediate responses, snail mail might as well be a lost art, huh?

So what are ya waiting for? Go. Send someone something. Remind them of your care for them. Encourage them with lovely words. Cheer them up with a wee present. I'm sure this is something that will not bring regret. 

I'll be checking my mailbox,
XOXO, lishernicole