Travel, 50+, United Kingdom & pals

There are many hints hanging in the air that Northern bit of Ireland is not a particularly touristy place and that it's sort of a "forgotten" place of Airstrip One. While the troubles have been mostly over, that's also not the case. This, obviously, makes it a perfect place to have as the first ever location to see under the drapes of the UK.

As I was exchanging other currency to pounds, the lady at the (Heathrow) exchange told me "Now, you can exchange this back against the receipt... Although, I don't know if they have a currency exchange in Belfast..." which was somewhat of a curious thing to say. Not too much later, the hotel reception inquired "What are you here for? Business?" To which I replied: Tourism. She went "Oh..." with a confused expression. To have a popular third strike, I met up with a Londoner downtown (the only formal program outside touristing around). Explaining that Belfast was the first place I had chosen to explore under the so called United Kingdom of this and that title. He could not believe it and asked repeatedly: Really? Really!? Reaaaallllyyyy?

Because, obviously, everyone goes to London first. At least Glasgow or Edinburgh. Or, even (oh my goodness! pass me the smelling salts!), Manchester.

The locals went on spitting their gibberish (one of the more difficult English accents to decipher, so much so that a local explained it with an Irish gleam in the corner of the eye: "I don't understand myself sometimes.") in agreement. Apparently there is nothing, really, to do or see, and people just do day trips from Dublin. Some of them for the black taxi tour of murals and whatnot. Some of them roll through on their way to Giant's Causeway with the compulsory whiskey distillery stop to survive all the way back.

There are curious things to see and do, however. In particular, if you're interested in history, people and areas still strongly divided by ideological and religious differences or other general tragedies. If you've had your fill, you can always see geriatrics play rock and or roll.

Once you get depressed of all the doom and gĺoom of the big city, you can go to an upbeat Derry where nothing bad ever happened. Their hospitality will allow you to enjoy the whiff of free Derry from the inn windows that do not close, day or night (the paper taped on it said: Do not touch, it's broken.). The modern luxuries, also, include separate "press for water" taps for hot and cold on opposite sides of the sink/basin, which you have to constantly press to get any water out. With nothing to plug the sink/basin to boot. Some could call it the "Irish Rubik's cube" that you can only solve by having at least three hands. In the classiest joint in town, no less. Their streets will show Irish traveller hospitality which culminates in a pack of feral kids grabbing your beard like it's their business. At breakfast, you will be served fried blood (and other things) ... either in a sausage ("black pudding") or a pancake. Which, I cannot lie, is not too bad. Wolfing it down impressed the Derry girl, who just came from the table full of, per accent: Americans, wailing about it. She gave me a meaningful wink, whispering a remark on their "sissiness". ...and that's how you draw a positive reaction from the locals.

There is no safer way to see Africa than from Gibraltar. It's right there across the puddle and you only risk being pick-pocketed by a local monkey. Besides this, the great sights include the local version of British currency, a large rock and an airport that you can walk across.

I do not know if people expect something more, but quite seriously, that's about it. Gibraltar is one of those places you have to visit "just because" aka to check if off the list. There is very little to do and a day or two is more than enough to see everything. On my list of "independent" places been, it's the most tedious of all visited. But the rewards paid by currency hunters can compensate the efforts quite well. And there are the wild monkeys. Who doesn't like monkeys?

The Judgment:
I had a good time in Northern Ireland. For the most part, I "click" with the people. It's a good place for anyone into anthropology, sociology, history, tragedy, folk tales and dark edged humor, to mention a couple of things. The food scene was pretty decent and I was informed "we're on the way" (whatever that means). The drink scene is, well, Irish. You will have live music and even the big bands visiting will probably have some tickets left from the booth as not all that many people go specifically to Belfast for a concert. The Titanic place was not a bang for the buck, for me, but the movie fans in there seemed over the moon. Weather-wise, it's probably going to rain. Dress accordingly, especially, if you're going to the coast for any reason. A lot of people in the establishments and accommodation I visited were ill or became so (sniffles and fever). In the middle of summer.

Gibraltar is small, with a traffic akin to Maltese and a set up like you're in Monaco, but without all the truly rich people. Most folks seem to be Spanish, but they treat you like the British (if you catch my drift). The place does not leave you many stories to tell, but at least you've been there.

Would I go again? NI, yes. G, no.