Flying in over Ireland is definitely one of the most impressive and awe-inspiring things that you will see. If you thought flying over Vegas at night was impressive, wait for this!
Picture this… it’s the end of a 30+ hour plane trip. You’re tired. You’re sooo tired. Your iPod is out of batteries, you can’t text people because the plane will crash and it will cost about a million dollars per message, and…the phenomenon which you never thought possible has occurred: You don’t want to watch another Disney movie!
It’s true. But then, the sun is coming up as you’re making that last flight from Heathrow to Northern Ireland.
And you look out the window, and I swear, you have never seen anything more green in your entire life. The fields literally look like emeralds, and when they reflect the sun, you forget how tired you are, and you forget that you don’t have music to back up this pivotal moment in your life.
So you land and life is back to normal…BUT IT’S NOT!
Oh my gosh! I love travelling so much, and the fact that you’re in a new and different country is always exciting!
So what are my favourite things or memories about Northern Ireland?
- Well, obviously, Jaffa Cakes! Those of you who have never, ever, in your entire life had a Jaffa Cake are really missing out! A Jaffa Cake is basically a biscuit-y, cake-y base, with orange flavoured jelly hidden underneath chocolate. It. is. heaven.
- Then, of course, I have to mention Jammie Dodgers. Two pieces of biscuit with jam in the middle, with a cut out heart in one of the biscuits that the jam squeezes through. Great concept right! Hehe!
- But Ireland isn’t all about the food! Carrickfergus Castle was a great place to visit when I was a kid! I don’t really remember what we did inside, but I can still picture it from the outside. And about 5 minutes away, we bought Pasties from a Fish & Chip Shop, which are only in Ireland! Maybe I am all about food after all? I also remember discovering that my Aunt’s car had automatic windows, which I had never seen before in my life! Luckily for her, they had a lock button, so my sister and I stopped letting cold air into her car (it was the middle of Winter!).
- The Giant’s Causeway! It’s basically heaps of columns of all different shapes and sizes, and the legend goes that one giant built it to connect himself to another giant, or something like that! The legends and myths surrounding the Giant’s Causeway are so interesting, and this is definitely my favourite place to visit in Ireland! It’s really amazing, and in that same area there is also a masssssive rope bridge over to Carrick Island. It’s such an amazing area and so gorgeous! I was carried over this bridge by my dad because I was too afraid to walk when I was about 6!
- Portmuck! It’s a tiny bay in Northern Ireland, and along the rocky beach there are massive old Limestone mines (?) in the cliffs! It’s the most gorgeous area and has managed to somehow escape most of the impacts of tourists. Whenever we went to Portmuck as a kid, we would always search for shells along the beach to collect.
- Bangor! Aaaaaah this was the most awesome part of Ireland when I was little! What more could you ask for than massive, swan-shaped boats! And a train! Life was totally complete!