Time went by Belfast- reflections of the trip to the island of Ireland
One of my favourite Irish words is craic- I love how it can be used to describe a variety of things in a positive way- and it epitomises how the trip was good craic.
There was some irony in the fact that I had visited 24 countries in my lifetime, but had failed to go to one of the geographically nearest ones- Ireland. I've been subjected to numerous tourism adverts over the years, highlighting what the island has to offer, and after experiencing what I would describe as having quite a rough patch following my trip last Summer, I wasn't looking to push the boat out too far when it came to travelling this year, but knew that I still wanted to contribute towards my ambition to visit 30 countries before I turn 30. Therefore, going to Ireland seemed to be a viable way to ease myself back into things.
One of the things I'd learned from my big European trip last year, is that I need to do things on a step-by-step basis, hence why I decided that it would be good to experience the trip with others, to provide a bit of a safety network, if you like. As soppy as it sounds, one of most reliable safety networks I have in my life are my parents, even if we drive each other up the wall at times, so, now that we're on terra firma, I can now unmask them as the people who I went on the trip with, given that we're now at home to potentially allay any burglars from scoping out our belongings. One of the main reasons for asking them was that the last time we went on holiday together was pre-COVID, and I perhaps felt a slight sense of guilt for not doing something holiday-wise with them for such a duration. They'd never been to the North of Ireland, but had some places in mind that they wanted to see, which chimed with some of the things I wanted to do. They also wanted to see what life was like travelling about in a campervan, a reminder that they're not spring chickens any more, and are.now thinking more about their plans once they retire. My parents know what pushes my buttons, but also are outdoorsy folks, which, conversely, I am not. On the first proper day in the North, we went walking up the Mourne Mountains, which I'd never elect to do typically. I only chose to do this, because my first accommodation Accommodation #1 was not particularly near public transportation by foot, so I wanted to make the most of seeing the area- hence why I joined them. This didn't give me much flexibility, but I was working on a budget in terms of my accommodation, and all of the places I went to ticked the boxes financially, and in terms of my expectations. By going on this walk, this meant that I was pushing myself by doing something I'm less than enthusiastic about, which ultimately, is the best way to get over any mental woes/doubts.
I wouldn't let the trip pass by, without doing something cultural, hence the visits to Belfast, Derry, and Dublin. Derry was one of the standouts of the trip for me, seeing the Derry Girls exhibition, and learning more about The Troubles. Going somewhere where I can fulfil my history quota is always high on the agenda, and Derry was able to do this. Like Sarajevo, you can feel the impact that the past has had on the city, and it was good to see that progress has been made since a more turbulent era for the locals.
I was admittedly pretty burnt out by the end of Day 3, to the extent that part of me wanted to go home. My stubbornness would always mean that I would stick things out, but I was questioning whether I had the mettle to do this travel-malarkey, even when I had a support network with myself. A bit of reading, and what I like to call exposure therapy, helped me get into the mindset that I could complete the trip, and find it more enjoyable, after what had been a bit of a full-on day in Belfast. To add to this, as mentioned in my first post on this trip, I've been taking some medication to readdress some personal imbalances, which was playing a part, because I was advised to try out different doses to see how I coped with it. By the end of Day 2, I'd noticed a more positive difference, but felt that it made me feel a bit flat, which made me a bit downbeat. Towards the end of last week, I'd found a dosage that worked better for me, and come the end of the trip, when my medication had run out, I was still able to go about the trip whilst feeling better than what I felt like at the end of Day 3.
The majority of the trip was spent in the countryside, which affirms how beneficial I find it being out in the peace and quiet. I always love the culture and bustle of a city, but ultimately, I seek sanctuary in the calming tones of the countryside. I wanted this trip to help address some questions about where I am going in life, and I'm thankful that it has given me an opportunity to do so. I now feel more clear mentally, and ultimately more energised- and of course for the sake of this blog, the zeal to travel has been reinvigorated once more.
'Til next time,
Tom :)
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