The day began late for the take flight team as we were able to lie in. Luckily Travis got up at a near sensible hour (10 am) and accompanied me for an Ulster fry at an eatery two doors down from frayndshep hice (Friendship House). This was followed by a lazy morning, and a marginal amount of planning for the next few days. The afternoon posed two opportunities for outings Jenessa recruited part of the team to spend an hour in a book store and then further time looking at clothes in the city centre. This was obviously the inferior option as I posed a far superior alternative. Beth, Ashley and myself decided to venture into the heart of Catholic Belfast and take a walk up the storied Falls Road.
While the other three were waiting for Jenessa to sip some useless hot drink in a cafe, we were busy taking in all the culture that we could. It was really neat to see that crossing the highway totally changed all of the slogans and graffiti. Gone were the union jack flags, and mentions of loyalism, to be replaced by Irish tricolours and mentions of republicanism and being 'rebels'. The trip posed a hilarious moment when we settled down for lunch in a cafe that no doubt had more culture than the cookie cutter place Jenessa had forced upon the others downtown. The waitress had such a thick accent that none of us could really understand what we ordered. Beth was given a surprise dose of peanut sauce on her chicken sandwich, I received no greens, but lots of butter on my bacon sandwich, and Ashley was treated to a large breakfast rather than the french fries she had intended. As Ashley does not enjoy bacon my lunch ended up being a bacon sandwich with a side of bacon! We were all able to have a good laugh and luckily did not offend anyone. Hardly able to walk home we waddled back to Sandy Row and returned to the all too familiar mural of a man with an AK-47 greeting us to the home of the 'loyalist south Belfast Freedom fighters'.
For dinner we ate salami sandwiches, needless to say I feel as though I have consumed an entire pig today and am a bit turned off pork products at the moment. Regardless an excellent time was had by all as one group was able to soak up tons of local history, while the other was regaled with the history of Star Wars by Isaak! In the evening the group did a little more planning and watched secretariat. I went out for a walk and was struck by just how at home I feel in Sandy Row. It is hard to define how the area grows on you, but it does... and fast! I am sure none of us will forget our time here and many will return here again.
As a last note Jenessa is looking over my shoulder as I write this and I suppose I should say that she is not as... disinterested in the culture as I have made it appear. She was just 'jonesing' for some coffee I guess...
Salutations From 'The heartland of the South Belfast freedom fighters'!
Hi Team
ReplyDeleteReading your daily blog is an activity I really look forward to. After grabbing a hot flavoured coffee, Jenessa can relate, I settle in, fire up the ol' computer and Ta Da...instant relaxation.
It is great to read about how well things are skipping along. I very much enjoy the humour infused throughout your blogs.
A missions trip is such a wonderful time to grow in God as you pour yourself out in service to others. As a parent, I am so pleased that Eden offers this opportunity to our young people.
Keep up the great work everyone and kudos to the successful ones in scaring Jenessa. I'm sure it makes her feel right at home! As a side note, pleased be advised that Jenessa is a shopaholic. Books, clothing, movies and music, these stores just seem to create a vacuum that sucks her in. All the venture in with her are doomed to a time of.....hmm...are we done yet...hmmm. :-)
beautiful comment mom, haha.
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