UK TRIP 2022 – PART IX

 May 16, 2022

Belfast

When we checked in, we were informed that we had been upgraded to the executive level—to a beautiful room on the tenth floor. We had a real king-size bed! [The most comfortable bed we had experienced so far.]

When we had arrived, Philip welcomed us to the “most bombed hotel in the UK.” During “The Troubles,” the Europa was bombed thirty-three times. No damage to the interior, but the front was frequently covered with plywood to conceal shattered windows.

This was a beautiful facility. Without fail, everyone on the staff was kind, pleasant, and most willing to assist us. They were obviously understaffed, but they managed well, including with the large groups we observed coming and going while there.

The breakfast buffet at the Europa was similar to the offerings at the Jury’s Inn in Glasgow.

After breakfast, we went to our room where I wrote some blog posts and washed some underwear.

Later on, we decided to go down to the Piano Lounge for something to eat. I loved this place! Larry ordered an open-face salmon sandwich, and I had a chicken Caesar salad—the best salad I have had in the UK. We enjoyed our meal and took our time eating while appreciating the view out the window.

Back in the room, we packed everything we wouldn’t need in the morning. I continued writing, and Larry looked at Google Maps for directions on how to get to Coleraine, where we would spend the next day and night with my cousin, Jean, and her husband, Owen. Then, he wrote the turn-by-turn directions. He also showed me the map and had me follow the directions so I would know the route since he would be driving.

We watched a little TV until it was time for sleep.

Mary 17, 2022

Belfast to Coleraine

After breakfast, we finished packing and prepared to drive to Coleraine to see Jean and Owen. Jean is my second cousin once removed. [Our great-grandfathers were brothers.] We saw them when we were last in Ireland. Our visit was the highlight of our first trip, so I really looked forward to seeing them again.

Just before our first visit, she had been awarded the MBE (Member of the British Empire), which she proudly showed off to everyone in our group. When we arrived this time, we discovered that it 2017, she had been named the High Sherriff of Londonderry. This is a one-year appointment. My cousin is a bit of a local celebrity!

We followed Larry’s directions, except we missed one turn. We found our way and got back on the route. However, we thought we had driven too far. I decided to call Jean to get more precise directions.

She laughed. “Just keep coming, and I’ll come out and wave to you.”

Sure enough, about two blocks later, we saw her on the porch waving.

We were so glad to get there. Jean and Owen were as much fun as we remembered.

We settled into the “snug,” the cozy sitting room with a great view of the bay, and caught up. And we laughed and laughed. Jean is a hoot, and she kept us in stitches.

After a chat, she showed us to our room—a lovely homey one with its own attached bath. Jean ran a guest house for many years not far away in Castlerock. When they built this house, she designed it much like the guest house with several guest rooms with en suite baths. Our room was lovely with another comfortable queen-size bed.

We gave her a copy of Dominic Drive because I thought she might be interested in our childhood story.

After a while, she suggested we take a tour of the area.

She and Owen showed us the little two-room cottage where her mother and father settled when they left Scotland. No electricity or indoor plumbing, just a bedroom and kitchen. (Jean’s mother was Scottish, and her father was Irish. Jean was born in Scotland, but the family moved to Ireland when she was six.) [This is a painting in Jean’s home of the cottage. It is now just a storage building.]

We saw all the places where the family had lived during her childhood and the schools she’d attended. The weather held as we drove from place to place. In fact, the only time we had any real rain on the whole trip was coming home from dinner with Amanda. The next day in Beith, it drizzled, but we didn’t need our umbrellas.

We drove down to Castlerock. As we took the path to the viewpoint, a light drizzle began. Larry got some photos, and then we headed back to the car.

We drove back to the house. It was raining lightly as we got out of the car, but we just ran into the house between the drops.

We had wanted to take them to dinner, but Jean insisted on cooking so we could spend more time together. She disappeared into the kitchen from time to time, but she didn’t want any help.

Her elder son, Gary, lives nearby, so he was going to join us. I am a friend of her younger son, Stuart, on Facebook. He lives in New Zealand, so Facebook is great for staying in touch.

Stuart Caulfield

Gary isn’t on social media, so I didn’t know much about him. But that was about to change.

Jean and Gary

When he arrived, we introduced ourselves. Owen poured wine for the others and offered me nonalcoholic elderflower tonic water. Delicious.

Finally, our meal was ready. Jean had fixed a lovely salad served with delicious bread, including her homemade Guinness bread. She followed with a stir fry and rice. She is a great cook, with the experience of all her years of cooking for her guests in her guest house.

Gary proved to have his mother’s sense of humor. He kept us laughing, and I liked him a lot. His friend, Monica, arrived while we were eating. She’d been delayed, but she finally made it. I liked her as well.

Gary and Monica

Dinner was delightful with lots of laughter.

We retired to the snug and talked some more. I told them about my Ancestry tree and said I would give them access to add details for their family.

Gary left but said he’d be back in the morning. We continued to chat until after eleven. It stayed light for so long, I didn’t realize how late it was.

We said good-night and went to bed.