#CJintheUK

As I prepare for my 40th birthday holiday through the British Isles, I remember that I never posted this entry about my September vacation.

I microblogged my trip through Europe using twitter and foursquare, even creating my own hashtag for the vacation, #CJintheUK, and tweeted happily along (usually when I could find abundant free wifi.) I think that it makes an amusing travelog to follow - complete with foursquare check ins, twitter conversations and selected uploaded pictures. (I am including the time and date stamp which came from the backlog in HootSuite, which is presented in Eastern Time.)

I didn't really edit the tweets, except for an occasional misspelling which I caught, a foreign word needing to be italicized or if a tweet needed a little clarification. I left in the hash tags, probably to the chagrin of some of you, though I thought that it could be interesting to see what topics or words I was tagging in order to make my tweets searchable.  For those of you who don't know why tweeters employ hash tags, a hash tag is a way for people to search for tweets that have a common topic. For example, if you search on #beer, you'll get a list of tweets related to the beer that tweeters have marked. 

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In 24 hours, to #Europe I will go. #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 04, 5:20pm via HootSuite)

heads 2 #Stockholm, then #Manchester, #Edinburgh, #Inverness, #Glasgow, #Llandudno, #Cardiff & #Dublin Suggestions? #travel (IrishWombat Sep 04, 5:50pm via HootSuite)

thanks @garrisod for the #Stockholm city hall tour tip: "Quite interesting given the #Nobel connection." (IrishWombat Sep 04, 8:40pm via txt)

@ChippyLyn Ydw! We leave Glasgow and head to Llandudno then, via Snowdonia, to Cardiff & lastly on to Manc for the flight home. (IrishWombat Sep 05, 12:17am via txt)

will be following this sage advice for mobile phone use in #Europe ow.ly/dtYOW #travel #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 05, 10:57am via HootSuite)

is checked in and ready for adventure. #travel #CJintheUK (@ Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) w/ 54 others) 4sq.com/OXY70T (IrishWombat Sep 05, 3:37pm via foursquare)

waits for the trip to #Stockholm. #CJintheUK (@ Gate B62) 4sq.com/NMQI7T (IrishWombat Sep 05, 4:13pm via foursquare)

touched the side of the plane before boarding - like always. That's for Liz! BTW, on SK0904 for all you flight tracker out there. (IrishWombat Sep 05, 4:55pm via HootSuite)

landed safely in #Sweden. #CJintheUK (@ Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (ARN) w/ 8 others) 4sq.com/OVy2Of (IrishWombat Sep 06, 1:12am via foursquare)

#Europe is so civilized. There's free #Wifi on the express airport train to #Stockholm. #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 06, 1:37am via HootSuite)

can't believe I'm here in Sweden. (@ Stockholms Centralstation w/ 6 others) 4sq.com/RbJNW1 (IrishWombat Sep 06, 2:00am via foursquare)

Um, #Stockholm smells like Acqua di Gio and cigarette smoke. #FirstImpressions (IrishWombat Sep 06, 2:02am via HootSuite)

made it to the world's smallest Summer Olympics stadium. #CJintheUK (@ Stockholms Stadion) 4sq.com/Tla3Om (IrishWombat Sep 06, 3:00am via foursquare)

What a ship! (@ Vasamuseet) 4sq.com/P2snt0 (IrishWombat Sep 06, 5:10am via foursquare)

landed safely in England - first accurate #CJintheUK tweet. (@ Manchester Airport (MAN) w/ 9 others) 4sq.com/QdJeeu (IrishWombat Sep 06, 1:10pm via foursquare)

Ugh! No #wifi. Must we discrete with the Internet. #CJintheUK. (@ Jurys Inn Manchester) 4sq.com/QoZCql (IrishWombat Sep 06, 3:00pm via foursquare)

walked into the lobby and #Madonna 's "Masterpiece" was playing. :) #CJintheUK (@ Jurys Inn Manchester) 4sq.com/QixGGT (IrishWombat Sep 07, 8:56am via foursquare)

has to come out to the station for good free #Wifi to use. #CJintheUK. (@ Manchester Piccadilly Railway Station (MAN)) 4sq.com/Ql7R3b (IrishWombat Sep 07, 9:21am via foursquare)

"All coffee is a £1. Lattes, americanos, etc." @ Carluccio's: 4sq.com/UxEQpp #foursquare (IrishWombat Sep 07, 9:27am via foursquare)

Greek façade, Banksy and West African Art, all in one. #CJintheUK (@ Manchester Art Gallery) 4sq.com/Q410PI (IrishWombat Sep 07, 10:19am via foursquare)

I just reached Level 5 of the "Warhol" badge on @foursquare. I’ve checked in at 20 different art galleries! 4sq.com/Q410PF (IrishWombat Sep 07, 10:19am via foursquare)

enjoys a brisk day. #CJintheUK (@ Manchester Town Hall) 4sq.com/NYUncK (IrishWombat Sep 07, 11:32am via foursquare)

found the bar and ordered a Beartown Ginger Beer. Quite good. (@ The Molly House) 4sq.com/OWHtOP (IrishWombat Sep 07, 4:07pm via foursquare)

"Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle... I'm sexy and I know it." #ILovMCR #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 07, 6:36pm via HootSuite)

wants a Strongbow! #ILovMCR #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 07, 6:52pm via HootSuite)

The bar is playing "Sexyback" and I just did Jenn and Lisa's *shackle* move. #ILovMCR #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 07, 7:20pm via HootSuite)

@kylieminogue abounds at Churchill's in Manchester! #ILovMCR #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 07, 7:35pm via HootSuite)

"How Will I Know" by Whitney is playing at the bar #ILoveMCR #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 07, 8:42pm via txt)

OMG Fish and Chips = Protein and Carbs + fat! #Yum! #ILoveMCR #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 07, 9:31pm via HootSuite)

hates to leave, but will be back in less than a fortnight. #ILoveMCR #CJintheUK (@ Jurys Inn Manchester) 4sq.com/PQHoeL (IrishWombat Sep 08, 2:40am via foursquare)

I'm at Angel Of The North (Gateshead, Tyne and Wear) 4sq.com/QtZkP4 (IrishWombat Sep 08, 7:58am via foursquare)

I'm at Scotland/England border - Coldstream (Coldstream, Scottish Borders) 4sq.com/U1HDF6 (IrishWombat Sep 08, 9:10am via foursquare)

finally made it to #Edinburgh. #CJintheUK (@ Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa) 4sq.com/O2gdMx (IrishWombat Sep 08, 11:56am via foursquare)

is grabbing a pint with the locals. #CJintheUK (@ Tiles) 4sq.com/PSaFG7 (IrishWombat Sep 08, 4:22pm via foursquare)

ordered a Caledonia Best #beer #CJintheUK (@ New Town Bar) 4sq.com/QpJ4Rf (IrishWombat Sep 08, 5:15pm via foursquare)

gets a little God in #Scotland. #CJintheUK (@ St. Mary's RC Cathedral) 4sq.com/RrC1Ye (IrishWombat Sep 09, 5:30am via foursquare)

finally got his hands on an IRN BRU #Scotland #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 09, 10:10am via txt)

waits for #Edinburgh Riding of the Marches on the Royal Mile. #Scotland #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 09, 10:32am via txt)

Taking in the sites in #Scotland with Dad. #CJintheUK. (@ Edinburgh Castle w/ 2 others) 4sq.com/RAme3J (IrishWombat Sep 09, 1:36pm via foursquare)

watches the @London2012 #Paralympics Closing Ceremonies in Festival Sq in #Edinburgh #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 09, 3:49pm via txt)

Fantastic. #Coldplay is playing at the @London2012 #Paralympics after a #steampunk themed spectacle + fire! #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 09, 4:25pm via HootSuite)

Now, #Rihanna joins #Coldplay at the #London2012 #Paralympics. Never liked the song til now! Great performance! #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 09, 4:47pm via HootSuite)

"Open Up Your Mind" The @London2012 #Paralympics have ended. So bittersweet! #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 09, 5:55pm via HootSuite)

#Edinburgh Castle on an overcast day #CJintheUK ow.ly/i/V5NU #travel #photography (IrishWombat Sep 09, 7:31pm via HootSuite)

was robbed! The Sheraton only served vegetarian #haggis this morn at breakfast. #CJintheUK #travel #food (IrishWombat Sep 10, 4:53am via HootSuite)

has limited #wifi up here, but going to Loch Ness tomorrow. #CJintheUK (@ The Kingsmills Hotel Inverness (Scotland)) 4sq.com/NWjlzB (IrishWombat Sep 10, 4:13pm via foursquare)

All Scottish eyes are on Murray at the US Open. #CJintheUK #tennis #travel. Go Andy! (IrishWombat Sep 10, 5:45pm via txt)

"Cause I don't want to be lonely I don't want to be scared And all our friends are waiting there Until you're safe and sound" #NeverForget (IrishWombat Sep 11, 12:01pm via HootSuite)

was here much earlier, but alas no #Wifi. #CJintheUK. (@ Loch Ness) 4sq.com/OnPRdR (IrishWombat Sep 11, 12:30pm via foursquare)

I just ousted @tuminds as the mayor of The Kingsmills Hotel and Kingsclub on @foursquare! 4sq.com/bPQv2f (IrishWombat Sep 11, 12:51pm via foursquare)

I just ousted @tuminds as the mayor of The Kingsmills Hotel Inverness (Scotland) on @foursquare! 4sq.com/cv40sZ (IrishWombat Sep 11, 12:51pm via foursquare)

was also here earlier but didn't have #Wifi. #CJintheUK (@ Urquhart Castle) 4sq.com/QLhPLB (IrishWombat Sep 11, 3:29pm via foursquare)

hopes someone can translate "humped pelican crossing" from #British to #American #English Cheers! #CJintheUK #travel (IrishWombat Sep 11, 4:29pm via txt)

You better believe I've been walking through #Scotland listening to this. #CJintheUK youtube.com/watch?v=x6ugPs… (IrishWombat Sep 11, 4:38pm via YouTube on iOS)

tuminds: @irishwombat enjoy your stay at the @KingsmillsHotel Will return tomorrow morning to claim my Mayorship back! ;) #Rotarymeeting

@tuminds Can't we just share it? It was my first mayorship in the UK though. :( Enjoy your #Rotarymeeting tomorrow. (IrishWombat Sep 11, 4:41pm via Twitter for iPhone)

needed to get a pint here. #CJintheUK (@ Hootenanny) 4sq.com/UI49oB (IrishWombat Sep 11, 5:01pm via foursquare)

just got to watch Sir Tom Jones chug a pint on the Rob Brydon show on #BBC2. I love the UK. #CJintheUK #travel (IrishWombat Sep 11, 6:50pm via Twitter for iPhone)

safely made it to Glasgow. #CJintheUK (@ Millennium Hotel) 4sq.com/SEetAE (IrishWombat Sep 12, 10:25am via foursquare)

Yum! #Haggis for breakie. #CJintheUK #food #travel pic.twitter.com/3liszFmi (IrishWombat Sep 12, 11:36am via Photos on iOS)

You can take the boy out of Jersey, but you can't tell Jersey out of the boy. (@ St. Enoch Shopping Centre) 4sq.com/QjB6oE (IrishWombat Sep 12, 12:29pm via foursquare)

is having a lovely early dinner. #CJintheUK (@ Browns) 4sq.com/RS6TQD (IrishWombat Sep 12, 1:10pm via foursquare)

enjoyed an Innis & Gunn - a delish oak aged #beer. #CJintheUK pic.twitter.com/IpgJy6an (IrishWombat Sep 12, 2:40pm via Photos on iOS)

wanted to get some #Whisky in #Scotland. #CJIntheUK (@ The Underground Bar) 4sq.com/SFk1ej (IrishWombat Sep 12, 5:19pm via foursquare)

starts with a Caledonia's Best #Beer. It will be an early night. #CJintheUK #Scotland (IrishWombat Sep 12, 5:32pm via Twitter for iPhone)

drinks the peaty wonder that is Laphroaig! #Scotland #Whisky #CJintheUK A perfect nightcap #travel pic.twitter.com/5bw364gj (IrishWombat Sep 12, 6:42pm via Twitter for iPhone)

Laphroaig

didn't have #wifi there, but the view was amazing. #Scotland #CJintheUK (@ Stirling Castle) 4sq.com/TXHrtf (IrishWombat Sep 13, 11:36am via foursquare)

thought to give his place a gander. #CJintheUK (@ Merchant Pride (candle bar)) 4sq.com/ShuE0t (IrishWombat Sep 13, 3:29pm via foursquare)

had a pint here, too. #CJintheUK (@ Waterloo) 4sq.com/Q6eW8M (IrishWombat Sep 13, 4:22pm via foursquare)

I just ousted Chris Q. as the mayor of The Underground Bar on @foursquare! 4sq.com/bMSny5 (IrishWombat Sep 13, 5:01pm via foursquare)

Noticed a #Glaswegian wearing the same outfit as last night. I have my hols as excuse if I did that! Wot's his? #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 13, 6:05pm via Twitter for iPhone)

finally made it to "Old North" #Wales. The original is as charming as the newer one. #CJintheUK. (@ Llandudno) 4sq.com/PiwyiG (IrishWombat Sep 14, 12:04pm via foursquare)

Oi, Case! What's occurin'? I'm in #Wales, Ness. #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 14, 3:36pm via Twitter for iPhone)

All throughout my time in Wales, I was making referencing to the British show, "Gavin & Stacey," which unfortunately my parents have not heard of and they may have grown a bit weary of my quips, especially seen in one of my later tweets.

swears he just saw a blokey tween Rocco Ritchie at the hotel in Llandudno. #CJintheUK #Wales (IrishWombat Sep 14, 4:37pm via Twitter for iPhone)

garrisod: @IrishWombat you going to be near Snowdonia or Conwy Castle tomorrow? (5:12pm, Sep 14 from Twitter for BlackBerry)

@garrisod Uni of Bristol then off through Snowdonia for Cardiff. (IrishWombat Sep 14, 5:13pm via Twitter for iPhone)

garrisod: @IrishWombat Imma be in Snowdonia on the peak then at Conwy Castle (5:14pm, Sep 14 from Twitter for BlackBerry)

@garrisod I'll be in London next month for a Penn event. (IrishWombat Sep 14, 5:15pm via Twitter for iPhone)

garrisod: @IrishWombat I haven't been in London in 10 years :-) but will be there next month with my parents and Charles (5:16pm, Sep 14 from Twitter for BlackBerry)

@garrisod Wow. It's a small world, eh? Like ships passing through the night. (IrishWombat Sep 14, 5:17pm via Twitter for iPhone)

@tuminds How was the #Rotarymeeting ? (IrishWombat Sep 14, 5:17pm via Twitter for iPhone)

found the cwrw, @ChippyLyn! (aka #beer) pic.twitter.com/WGnhMRk2 (IrishWombat Sep 15, 3:48am via Twitter for iPhone)

@ChippyLyn Llandudno now, off to the Uni of Bangor, through Snowdonia to Cardiff at night. (IrishWombat Sep 15, 4:40am via txt)

leaves for #Cardiff, he might see @garrisod en route! #CJintheUK #Wales. (@ Llandudno) 4sq.com/QNI3Au (IrishWombat Sep 15, 4:55am via foursquare)

has yet to learn the nuances of #Welsh vowels. Right now muddling through using schwas. #CJintheUK #Wales. (IrishWombat Sep 15, 8:10am via HootSuite)

I just reached Level 5 of the "Great Outdoors" badge on @foursquare. I’ve checked in at 20 different outdoor spots! 4sq.com/UWinCz (IrishWombat Sep 15, 8:12am via foursquare)

just missed Catherine and William! #CJintheUK #Wales (@ Anglesey Island) 4sq.com/UWiq13 (IrishWombat Sep 15, 8:12am via foursquare)

ChippyLyn @IrishWombat a beautiful language mate try saying llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch it's a small village in N Wales (ChippyLyn Sep 15, 8:13am via Twitter for iPhone)

@ChippyLyn We passed by that! I'm trying to manage the 'll' sound, too. Beautiful language, tough to learn. (IrishWombat Sep 15, 8:39am via Twitter for iPhone)

has made it to all 4 home nations' capitals now! Hylô, Caerdydd! #CJintheUK #Wales (@ Hilton Cardiff) 4sq.com/TXNMGD (IrishWombat Sep 15, 4:08pm via foursquare)

got caught up in a fog machine in a Cardiff bar. #CJintheUK #Wales (IrishWombat Sep 15, 6:56pm via Twitter for iPhone)

is getting to see the aftermath of several #hen and #stag parties in the streets of Cardiff, right now. #CJintheUK #Wales (IrishWombat Sep 15, 8:04pm via Twitter for iPhone)

will try to understand God in #Welsh. #CJintheUK #Wales (@ St David's Metropolitan Cathedral) 4sq.com/UZmHAR (IrishWombat Sep 16, 5:42am via foursquare)

lunches on a chicken sweetcorn sandwich & the rest of the #haggis flavoured chips. #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 16, 10:39am via Twitter for iPhone)

visited the Roman ramparts recreation at the castle and saw this: (@ Cardiff Castle) 4sq.com/QRCeSq (IrishWombat Sep 16, 3:35pm via foursquare)

Having some #haggis flavoured crisps. #CJintheUK pic.twitter.com/W3gCJyqN (IrishWombat Sep 16, 3:58pm via Photos on iOS)

What a beautifully tiled bar in and out. #CJintheUK #Wales (@ Golden Cross) 4sq.com/OuUEVi (IrishWombat Sep 16, 5:14pm via foursquare)

enjoyed a Brain's Black: Welsh Stout. Like choc milk with a sweet & bitter finish. Yum! #beer #CJintheUK #Wales (IrishWombat Sep 16, 5:39pm via Twitter for iPhone)

The "Gavin & Stacey" reference that I made too many times with my folks:

I just wanna shout "Smihffy!" while I'm in Cardiff. #CJintheUK #Wales (IrishWombat Sep 16, 5:50pm via Twitter for iPhone)

CollyFromWally: "@IrishWombat I just wanna shout "Smihffy!" while I'm in Cardiff. #CJintheUK #Wales"<---what i="" occurrin="" s="">(5:53pm, Sep 16 from Web)

.@CollyFromWally Oi, Sahrr, what's occurrin'? Cheers! #CJintheUK #Wales (IrishWombat Sep 16, 5:57pm via Twitter for iPhone)
starts winding down his trip throughout GB. Dubs, tomorrow. #CJintheUK #England (@ Hilton Manchester Airport) 4sq.com/Qg4rjq (IrishWombat Sep 17, 11:56am via foursquare)

heads in the city for one last beer with mates in GB. #CJintheUK #England (@ Manchester Airport Railway Station (MIA)) 4sq.com/QwVT8m (IrishWombat Sep 17, 2:29pm via foursquare)

enjoys his pint with Sean at a lovely bar. #CJintheUK #England (@ Via Fossa) 4sq.com/RkORCj (IrishWombat Sep 17, 4:36pm via foursquare)

OMG! The best late night snack ever. ow.ly/i/WwPS Jaffa cakes & choc milk. #CJintheUK #England (IrishWombat Sep 17, 6:39pm via HootSuite)

waits for his flight to Ireland. #CJintheUK. (@ Manchester Airport (MAN) w/ 5 others) 4sq.com/S1wH8C (IrishWombat Sep 18, 2:03am via foursquare)

queues and queues. #CJintheUK (@ Gate 9) 4sq.com/PmY9zv (IrishWombat Sep 18, 2:30am via foursquare)

made it to #Ireland. #CJintheUK (@ Dublin Airport (DUB) - Aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath w/ 4 others) 4sq.com/Pn7OWR (IrishWombat Sep 18, 4:18am via foursquare)

finally had a soup of the day in #Ireland that wasn't veggie! Bacon Chilli ( #CJintheUK ) (IrishWombat Sep 18, 8:03am via txt)

took pics! (@ The National Museum of Ireland - Natural History) 4sq.com/Rp7Xaw (IrishWombat Sep 18, 8:53am via foursquare)

This #Dublin Starbucks is playing Sinéad O'Conner's "Emperor's New Clothes" #Ireland #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 18, 9:15am via HootSuite)

athtrasna: @IrishWombat ahem....Casey darling...did you just mention Dublin and being in the UK in the same tweet? Have you caught Lady Gaga-itis? (9:16am, Sep 18 from TweetDeck)

@athtrasna No, the hash tag for THIS holiday was #CJintheUK. I used it for the 8 hours is was even in Stockholm. Last year was #CJinIreland. (IrishWombat Sep 18, 9:18am via HootSuite)

athtrasna: @IrishWombat phew! Lady Gaga made a reference on Saturday night..didn't go down too well. Hope you're having fun in our cold city! (9:19am, Sep 18 from TweetDeck)

@athtrasna It was 30 C when I left the US. This is pleasant. I'm just glad to be able to visit Dubs when I can. :) Cheers! (Poor Gaga btw!) (IrishWombat Sep 18, 9:21am via HootSuite)

posted one last postcard and visited Cúchulainn. (@ General Post Office (GPO)) 4sq.com/OClqk1 (IrishWombat Sep 18, 9:46am via foursquare)

picks up some #Jaffa cakes for the trip home. #Ireland ( #CJintheUK ) (@ Dunnes Stores) 4sq.com/NzXFHZ (IrishWombat Sep 18, 11:37am via foursquare)

ordered #curry chicken & aloo methi. Heard it's the best place in Dubs for curry. (@ Madina Desi Curry Co.) 4sq.com/NAmsvx (IrishWombat Sep 18, 2:32pm via foursquare)

meets up with a friend for a drink. #Ireland ( #CJintheUK ) (@ The Front Lounge) 4sq.com/S2XcdG (IrishWombat Sep 18, 3:15pm via foursquare)

runs last minute shopping errands in City Centre #Ireland ( #CJintheUK ) (@ Mary Street) 4sq.com/Pz5fkd (IrishWombat Sep 19, 5:23am via foursquare)

plans to head home. :( #Ireland ( #CJintheUK ) (@ Dublin Airport (DUB) - Aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath w/ 10 others) 4sq.com/QBtE8z (IrishWombat Sep 19, 7:15am via foursquare)

Of course one can get a beer at a BK in IE. #travel (@ Burger King) 4sq.com/OEwqxy (IrishWombat Sep 19, 7:49am via foursquare)

Rest assured, Steve, #redheads are thriving in the British Isles. #Ireland #CJintheUK (well, over the pond now.) (IrishWombat Sep 19, 7:59am via HootSuite)

picked up a few of the Cooley collection. (@ The Irish Whiskey Collection) 4sq.com/S5Q2uJ (IrishWombat Sep 19, 8:09am via foursquare)

leaves #Ireland for good now this trip. (@ Usa Pre Clearance) 4sq.com/PzxwXT (IrishWombat Sep 19, 8:13am via foursquare)

Wanted to let you know, @thorntonmh, that it's #Donegal & #Mayo in the #GAA final this Sat! #Ireland ( #CJintheUK ) (IrishWombat Sep 19, 8:17am via HootSuite)

It's about 1:35 pm in #Ireland and everyone I know is in the same day! ow.ly/i/WOlB (IrishWombat Sep 19, 8:36am via HootSuite)

knows you've missed his postings. Now landed in the US. (@ Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) w/ 54 others) 4sq.com/QCIdbR (IrishWombat Sep 19, 5:48pm via Twitter for iPhone)

is home safe and sound... and nestled for bed #CJintheUK (@ Route 13 Outpost) 4sq.com/PBHhF3 (IrishWombat Sep 19, 9:41pm via foursquare)

naps to fend off the gripe of jetlag. #travel (@ Route 13 Outpost) 4sq.com/ROZj5l (IrishWombat Sep 22, 3:34pm via foursquare)

After my trip to the British Isles, I realised how much I appreciate those countries: the history, my ancestral connection, the people I met and how my interactions with them made my holiday different than just touring around with a group. I was longing for it. I started listening to "Soul Cages" to transition being back home and I would seek out British pop stars on the jukebox when I went out. Other songs just struck a chord about the trip and I tweeted some of the lyrics that resonated with me. Finally, I would just reach out to the twittersphere to make a connection back to that great British experience.  These following tweets are corollaries to my vacation; I've added them for fun.

Bring down the angels
Cast them from my sight
I never want to see
A million suns at midnight
(IrishWombat Sep 22, 6:32pm via HootSuite)

pre-games with the peaty Connemara #whiskey by Cooley - an Irish whiskey with a hint of a good Scotch. 4sq.com/PVbi1p (IrishWombat Sep 22, 9:14pm via foursquare)

shares pictures from #Sweden and #Stockholm ow.ly/dWPAn from the epic #CJintheUK vacation. #travel #photography (IrishWombat Sep 24, 11:57am via HootSuite)

wonders why he always has expensive tastes: ow.ly/dYxND #Edinburgh is the 2nd most expensive city in Europe. #travel (IrishWombat Sep 25, 10:23am via HootSuite)

was convinced after vacation the Scots *were* the beer-drinkingest folks on the planet. ow.ly/dYE8w #travel #beer (IrishWombat Sep 25, 12:36pm via HootSuite)

So while you're here in my arms
Let's make the most of the night
Like we're gonna die young.
(IrishWombat Sep 26, 12:42pm via HootSuite)

just devoured the last of the shortbread fingers from #Scotland :( Le sad. (IrishWombat Sep 26, 9:20pm via HootSuite)

It's been a month since I've blogged, but I hope this picture of #Scotland makes up for it ow.ly/e2lQu #travel #blog #photography (IrishWombat Sep 27, 10:35am via HootSuite)

The priest has said my soul's salvation
Is in the balance of the angels
And underneath the wheels of passion
I keep the faith in my fashion
(IrishWombat Sep 27, 12:31pm via HootSuite)

shares a @Penn-centric travelogue of his trip to #Wales and #Scotland (& beyond) ow.ly/e2yUm #blog #CJintheUK (IrishWombat Sep 27, 1:16pm via HootSuite)

US Anglophiles, can anyone recommend a good place for a fry-up in #Philadelphia? #food #travel (IrishWombat Sep 29, 9:16am via HootSuite)

When you're in unfamiliar places
Count on me through life's changes
Crash into me
We can collide, we can collide
(IrishWombat Sep 29, 12:00pm via HootSuite)

And I am a weapon of massive consumption
And it’s not my fault it's how I'm programmed to function…
(IrishWombat Sep 29, 10:30pm via HootSuite)

I'll look at the Sun and I'll look in the Mirror
I'm on the right track, yeah we're on to a winner
(IrishWombat Sep 29, 10:31pm via HootSuite)

It's official. I'm heading back to the UK. This time, #London, from October 19-23, then on to #Paris. (IrishWombat Oct 01, 1:05pm via HootSuite)

misses the #UK. (@ Pret A Manger) 4sq.com/PBowjh (IrishWombat Oct 04, 4:29pm via foursquare)

Thank you for the indulgence. 

Đuveč

The đuveč from the Wikipedia
article on Serbia

Welcome to my non sequitur life. As you may know, my folks are planning to go to Scotland and Wales this year, and due to the success of our trip to Ireland, I’m invited to go.  This explains why I was looking up cawl a few weeks back. In doing my research on our future trip, I spent Saturday afternoon googling the Celtic Nations, because I only remembered 4 of the 6 of them off the top of my head. (Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Cornwall. I forgot Brittany and the Isle of Man.) Then too, I only knew 4 of their 6 patron saints (Patrick, Andrew, David and Piran. St Anne is Brittany’s and St. Maughold – I never hear of him either – is Mann’s.)  While I was trying to learn about his story – he was an Irish thief converted to the priesthood by St. Patrick’s nephew and found refuge on Mann – I saw that Irish writers called the Manx island Eubonia. I had thought I saw that word before the night prior when I was reading Wikipedia articles on the Vampire Chronicles.  So I double checked, but it was the name, Eudoxia. I looked up that name in Wikipedia and surfed from Eudoxia to Eudoxia of Heliopolis to Baba Dochia to Baba Marta to Serbia. The Wikipedia article on Serbia was quite long and I got down to the cuisine section of the page. This was at dinner time and I thought that the picture of đuveč [ɟuˈvɛtʃ] (or djuveč or djuvech) looked delicious, all the while I was planning to finish off last week’s bredie.

Layering the ingredients

Đuveč is a Balkan oven-baked meat and vegetable stew similar to ratatouille. This dish is one of the national dishes of many former Yugoslav countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia) as well as of Bulgaria.  The name of the dish comes from the dish in which this delicacy is traditionally prepared.  The Slavic word comes from the Turkish güveç for earthernware pot. With the temperature of this April and May, I think this sounds like a great treat for this week for dinner.

Seared pork

Đuveč, adapted from a djuvec recipe by Vesna, a freelance writer living in Madison, WI, which she in turn adapted from a recipe found in Yugoslav Cookbook (1963, Izdavacki Zavod Jugoslavija).

Ingredients:
1 – 1½ lbs. onions, roughly chopped
1 large eggplant, cubed
1 bell pepper, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
¼ - ½ cp. of parsley, chopped
1 Tbsp. salt
1 Tbsp. paprika
½ Tbsp. black pepper
½ cp. + 2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 lbs. country-style pork ribs, cut in 1" cubes
28 oz. crushed tomatoes
½ cup uncooked white rice
1 lbs. fresh tomatoes, sliced

Looks like my bredie

Directions:
1.    In a mixing bowl, toss together well onions, eggplant, bell pepper, celery, parsley, salt, paprika, black pepper and ¾ cp. of olive oil; set aside.
2.    In a heavy skillet on high, heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil to sear the pork in batches, until browned; set aside.
3.    In the slow cooker, layer the ingredients in this order:

       ½ can crushed tomatoes
       ½ of the vegetable mixture
       Rice
       Browned pork
       Remaining vegetable mixture
       Remaining crushed tomatoes
       Sliced tomatoes

4.    Set the slow cooker on Low and cook for 6-8 hours.

The final product

One thing to note is that I don't think that I salted the đuveč enough when I made it.  I thought that I compensated for the slow cooking time (and I have also edited and up the amounts of seasoning since making.)  Yet, a grinding or two of my pink Himalayan salt was just the trick to make the flavors pop. It has a heavy mouth feel – thick with tomatoes and delicate eggplant – and the herbal notes of celery and the floral notes of tender onion rang through.  The pork just melted in my mouth.  Now, I'm waiting on a co-worker to confirm the relative authenticity of the taste. Before eating, she did let me know that since I used pork as the meat that it was probably more Serbian, which would make the đuveč, ђувеч, since the Serbs use the Cyrillic alphabet.

myPics: Lent

Though I wasn't in Ireland for Lent, I thought that this Celtic cross in a cemetery would an ideal shot for my blog today in honor of Quadragesima.

I was struck by the white and golden lichens growing on the granite tombstones throughout this church graveyard in Shrule (Sruthair).

Trimlestown Roast Sirloin

About 10 Saint Patrick Days ago, I stumbled across this recipe when I was looking for some non corned beef and cabbage meal to make.  I goggled Irish recipes and dug a few links deep to find a hearty recipe.  I didn’t want to land on the usual shepherd’s pie. Lo and behold, I found the Trimlestown Roast Sirloin recipe. 

I couldn’t find any story behind the roast. I looked to see if it was an active city or a town or a village; it’s a road in the Dublin area by the Co. Dublin/Co. Meath boarder (in the Co. Fingal area.)  I searched for any historic figures.  There is a Baron Trimlestown, of Trimlestown in the County of Meath (maybe that’s why the road is named what it’s named since it’s a stone’s throw from Co. Meath.) This title was created in 1461 probably by Edward IV (if not by Henry VI) for Sir Robert Barnewall. Today, the title is held by Raymond Charles Barnewall, 21st Baron Trimlestown. As of now, there is no known heir to the barony so on Barnewall’s death, it will become dormant.

I’d like to think that this was a meal that the early barons would enjoy from the cattle of their land. In addition to adding simply wine the chef wanted to add some local flavor and spirit to the pot and added a shot of whiskey while cooking.  This wine and whiskey braised beef must have become so identified with the barony that barony eponymously game its name to the dish.  I have no proof of this at all, though.

Without any history to back it up, I assumed that this recipe was Irish enough to be a tasty dish for the holiday.  I found it simple to make and the results were outstanding.  I figure that it would make a great slow cooker recipe; take a roast and braise in wine and whiskey then hours later there would be a tasty meal.
It was an appetizing meal but not as good as the original recipe. One major disappointment was the lack of the sauce, the pièce de résistance of the entire dish. I looked up ways to make gravy with the slow-cooker but they weren’t successful.   When I conceived this trail, I asserted the stipulation only to use a slow cooker when I cook. Perhaps, I will break down and use addition pots as this experiment continues since the roux-thicken sauce is just that good.

The roast needed to be served with the braising liquid, since there was no sauce, to remain tender; without it the roast felt a little dry on the palate. Also the delicious burnt crust of meat didn’t form on the top of the roast since it was in the slow cooker covered.  However, this was a good meal but not as good as the original.  I would recommend this as good pot roast recipe with a little kick; good for a lazy wintry day.
However for a “special occasion” I would spend the time and energy on the original.

Trimlestown Roast Sirloin, adapted from the traditional recipe. (Use this recipe for "special occasions" )

Ingredients:
4 lb. Sirloin roast
salt and pepper, to taste
1 garlic clove, minced or ½ tsp garlic powder (optional)
1 shot whiskey
1 cp. & 1 shot red wine
more salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:
1.    Wipe meat, season with salt, pepper and garlic, cover the beef with the seasonings and refrigerate overnight to flavor.
2.    Place roast in slow cooker; pour whiskey and wine over roast.
3.    Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours.
4.    Remove roast to rest on platter.
5.    Serve with the braising liquid.

Note: feel free to add potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms and other vegetables in the beginning of the cooking for a one pot meal.

myPics: Old and New

I was reading a Budget Travel article, 25 Most Photographed Places on Earth, that sites the work of Cornell researchers who "analyzed 35 million Flickr photos and discovered that we all shoot the same places—from the same angles."

In reading the piece, I quickly learned that Dublin was on the list, but surprisingly I had a new - and not clichéd - angle for Ireland's most photographed place.

The GPO and the Spire, Dublin, Ireland

Budget Travel counts down the top 25 locations and give tips from the magazine's photo editors for ways to shake up things in taking the world's most photodocumented sites.

myPics: Lion, Westport House

This lion guards the entrance to Westport House, stately home of the Marquess of Sligo in Westport, Co. Mayo.

Founded on one of the residences of pirate chieftain Gráinne Ní Mháille (Grace O'Malley), the manor house was built under the auspices of her great-great grandson-in-law.

myPics: Caisleán na Blarnan

Irish for Blarney Castle, Caisleán na Blarnan is the partial ruin attraction in Co. Cork. 

With some accessible rooms and battlements, this building houses the noted Blarney Stone found among the machicolations of the castle. (Machicolations are floor openings in the upper levels of a battlement, through which objects are dropped on attackers at the base of a defensive wall.) This is why prior to the safeguards at the castle, kissing the Blarney Stone was performed with real risk to life and limb, as those wanting to make the kiss were held by the ankles and dangled upside down from the height to reach the stone.

Not yet named food entry: Irish Stout Porters (Ireland)

I’m back from Ireland and I am pleased to report that I was able to sample my Irish Food Trinity.  I started on day two at Abrakebabra with my chips and curry and went until my second to last day to get the brown bread ice cream at Gogarty’s.  In the middle, I enjoy many pints of Guinness, Smithwick’s, Bulmers (Cider) and the odd European beer.  The majority of my drinks were one of the three well-known Irish Stout Porters – Guinness, Murphy’s and Beamish.

I lauded Guinness before leaving for Ireland and I finally got to visit the Guinness Storehouse in St. James’s Gate to learn more about the brew.  First, it is truly red.  The malted barley is roasted a deep brown to bring out the flavor through the burnt sugars.  This roasting is responsible for the deep ruby red color that Guinness actually is.  If you don’t believe, take a glassful of Guinness (or some of you will just take mine) and hold it up to the light and see that it’s a very deep red.

Getting schooled on Guinness draught  pouring

Then, I learned how to pour a legitimate pint of Guinness.  Nitrogen gas gives us the cream-like head and it takes 119.5 seconds at minimum to pour the perfect draught.  You pour the beer into a pint glass ¾ of the way full, and then wait for the Guinness surge to finish.  This tumbling of nitrogen and carbon dioxide takes a tan looking pour and settles into the start of the iconic black beer with creamy head that we all know.  After the surge has settled, you top off the pint to make the head.

The Irish stout porter tasted even more surprisingly light in my mouth than I remembered.  The mouth feel was light and airy for a liquid, not abrasive like a carbonated soft drink. In Ireland, Guinness had more sweet favors like malt, chocolate and caramel without the usual peaty, bitter aftertaste that I recall from Stateside Guinness. The more pungent flavors of molasses and burnt sugar are lacking, too.

Said Murphy's in honor of my friend, Murph

I didn’t seek out any tours of remaining 2 famous stouts’ facilities, but I’m going to assume that the creation and the pouring of the beers are similar to Guinness. Therefore in honor of my friend, Murph, I made sure that I had a Murphy’s Irish Stout, the main competitor of Guinness.  The drink has a similar mouth feel to Guinness; it was a rolling liquid with a hint of thickness.   This beer has more of a nutty flavor with a slight hint of mocha. Unlike Guinness, there is no bitter aftertaste.

Finishing out the troika of Irish Stout, I made sure that I had a Beamish in Courtney’s in Killarney. Beamish is the pride and joy of Cork. (Ironically, though, the Beamish & Crawford brewery, the originator of the beer, closed in 2009 and now Beamish is brewed at the nearby Heineken Brewery, which was previously a Murphy's Brewery.) Do not go to Ireland’s largest county and expect Guinness. Meanwhile, this beer is the lightest stout in mouth feel and taste.  While Beamish is malty, dark and chocolaty, it is not as intense as the other two brews.  The beer’s consistency still rolls yet it’s light and covers the palate rather than fill the mouth.

The Quays, a site of many Murphy's and Guinness downed

When in Cork, I will always order a Beamish! On the rest of the island, it will be a tough decision between Murphy’s and Guinness.

myPics: From the Ring of Kerry

I wanted to post a picture of my trip so far. Somewhere on the Ring of Kelly, which trails around the Iveragh Peninsula, we pulled over to snap this picture of the visit. I can't remember where we were, but this Co. Kerry to me.

Wish List: Giant’s Causeway

I’m not going to the North this trip which is why I feel perfectly fine with putting Giant’s Causeway on today’s Wish List.


First, I know that my schedule is off.  Long weekends always mess up with my calendar. Though I know it’s Monday but it feels like Sunday, I never get over that it’s Tuesday and it feels like a Monday.  When Saturday comes around, I tend to think I’m late for work. This is a long introduction to say that I know I’ve scheduled Wish List on Mondays, but it’s late this week.  I’m not planning on trying to stick to my writing topics until I return from Éire.

Many of the hexagonal basalt columns at Giant's Causeway

The Giant’s Causeway is an area of mostly hexagonal basalt columns from the aftermath of an ancient volcanic eruption located just northeast of Bushmills, County Antrim.  (Yes, near NI’s favorite whiskey distiller.)  This site has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The legend of Giant’s Causeway focuses on Fionn mac Cumhaill, (Finn MacCool) a mythical hunter-warrior of Irish mythology who also appears in Scottish and Manx myths. His tales (Fenian Cycle) are a separate series of stories from Cú Chulainn’s. (Ulster Cycle.)

Close up of the columns

The warrior, Fionn, had a Scottish counterpart named, Benandonner. The bravado between the two men set up a rivalry from hurtling insults, socks and barbs across the channel between Ireland and Scotland.  The anger between the two grew to a head after a threat from the Scottish giant that if Benadonner could get a hand on Fionn, Fionn would never be able to fight again.  Fionn was so enraged that he built the causeway within a week’s time to connect the two lands so that Benadonner, who couldn’t swim, would be able to reach Fionn and fight.

Driven by pride, Benandonner crossed over since he had something to prove.  However, Fionn was exhausted from building and needed to rest.  There are different tales of what happen next, so I’ll pick and choose pieces to finish the story.

Fionn was exhausted and fell asleep to rest before he would fight; his wife, Oonagh, helped him to trick Benandonner. Oonagh covered Fionn with a blanket to disguise him as their baby while the Scottish giant approached.  Upon arrival, Benadonner asked for Fionn. Oonagh said that he was away but would return.  Oonagh entertained the guest with tea and cakes in which she slipped some rocks.  As Benadonner ate, he broke his teeth on what he thought were miserably hard cakes.  He noticed that Oonagh’s son, upon waking, was given the same food (but without rocks) and was eating them with ease.  Curious, he approached the baby and saw his enormity. Against better judgment reached out to stoke the baby’s head.  Fionn bit Benadonner’s finger, and Benadonner realize that if this massive child could eat stone-hard cakes and violently bite a man’s finger, there was no telling how big his father would be and what he would be capable of doing in a fight.  With the fear settling in, Benadonner ran, leaving Oonagh’s hospitality and tearing up the causeway in his wake.

The Pipe Organ formation at Giant's Causeway

 In Scotland, there is a formation, Fingal’s Cave on the island of Staff which is made from the same ancient lava flow.  This time, the basalt columns construct the basis of the cave.  The isle of Ulva also shows proof of this lava which had traversed between the two land masses.  This legend matches up with the geologic history to the British Isles.

The Irish tales are very rich fables, with many different plots, characters or even competing stories – like Perrault or the Bros. Grimm say, for our faerie tales – that the Irish told to explain their world.

Next time I go to Ireland, I’m going to have to head North: Co. Sligo, Co. Donegal, Co. Derry, Co. Antrim and Belfast to enjoy the other side of the Isle.

Images are courtesy of Wikipedia. 

Not yet named food entry: Irish Food Trinity

When I first visited Ireland around 12 years ago, I was under the impression that I would land at the airport, head to the hostel and seek out a delicious authentic Irish stew and some offal dish, like steak and kidney pie. The first opportunity that my companion and I had to eat, we found a restaurant that offered the said “authentic” Irish stew.  It was gross; a thin, weak broth covering fatty and tough bits of beef with minimal vegetables.  If something that should be flavorful and thick, filling and fragrant was so repulsive, I couldn’t imagine what a steak and kidney pie would taste like.  I made the quick decision to avoid it.

This doesn't represent what the bad Irish stew looked like

After a bad meal in what we discovered to be a tourist trap, we asked our front desk clerk at our hostel for suggestions.  Our clerk apologized for the unsatisfying meal and gave us leads for better places to eat.  With those tips, we found that Irish food was good and tasty.  Irish chefs have a great craft and work very hard to make fantastic meals. Outside of the traditional fare, Ireland also offered us great options in Italian, French, California, Mongolian and more.

Now reminiscing before my return to Ireland, I’m looking forward to sampling three favorite Irish treats: brown bread ice cream, chips and curry, and Guinness.

Schooled on the local tourist traps, our hotel clerk encouraged us to go to Temple Bar, Dublin's cultural quarter.  The area has preserved its medieval street pattern including many narrow cobblestone streets. Wondering though, we found a charming yellow building that houses the Oliver St. John Gogarty Bar & Restaurant. There is where I came across brown bread ice cream; the thick egg-laced vanilla ice cream blended with brown bread caramelized in butter and brown sugar. The custard-like constancy pairs well with the nutty and sweet nuggets of the bread. It was so good that when I returned to Dublin from my trek around Ireland, I headed to Oliver St. John Gogarty to have a light meal and the great dessert again.

Chips and curry, courtesy of Smeggy's

Drinking was our night time activity, but in moderation. Yet, several late nights ended up with us looking for chips and curry.  I joked that chips and curry serves the Irish like a cheesesteaks serve Philadelphians after a good night out at the bars. The best chips and curry are thin cut fries, fried in peanut oil usually, that are crispy outside and tender on the inside.  The soft potato inside sops up the rich curry sauce, a warm pungent gravy with hints of heat from chilis and black pepper, smoke from cumin, floral notes from coriander and cardamom, and sweet flavors of cinnamon and clove that reach over the lightly salty and savory base. There were enough Pakistani and Indian shops that were open after midnight to feed our new craving, but we were lucky enough to discovery Abrakebabra, Ireland’s Premier Fastfood Chain, early on in our trip.  With our find, we could at least get a consistently well-favored curry for our fries. (Which by the way, we originally found after our first meal at Oliver St. John Gogarty after asking the security guard for chips and curry and following his directions of guh doun t’uh shtreet, make uh luhft, t’en uh rauht, guh doun fuh’ uh bit’ an uht’s t’air.)

Guinness and Brown Bread (before crumbled into ice cream)

Rounding out the troika is Guinness, the beer of Ireland (or at least Dublin… Don’t ask for one in Cork; that’s Beamish territory!) I can’t wait to get my hands on a pint of the world's most famous stout.  I can imaging it now.  I order my beer and wait for the bartender to properly pour my glass. The black brew with red tones is served to me in a pint glass and its creamy head forms by bubbles that seem to be floating downward.  I bring the Guinness to my lips. The surprisingly light mouth feel in spite of the dark color washes over my palate and eludes to hints of malt, molasses, coffee, chocolate and burnt caramel with a dry, almost peaty aftertaste. After my first big sip, I relish the first shallow and place my pint down.  I fill out my fantasy from my memories from my last trip and I spy the bar and take in the patrons’ actions and shake my head, since these young adults are ordering their favorite imported beer, Budweiser.

It's a shame that they waste their euros and calories on that.  Oh, I never had an offal dish either.

Images, except where noted, are courtesy of Wikipedia.

Wish List: Ireland

This is a little bit of a cheat since I’m leaving for Ireland in thirty-eight days, but I have always wished to return.  Twelve years ago, I got the opportunity to visit Ireland with one of my best friends, Laura, and the trip was definitely life-defining.  We traveled throughout the Republic and Northern Ireland, hitting Dublin, Cork, Dingle, Limerick, Galway, back to Dublin, Enniskillen, Belfast and again to Dublin.

A bucolic view of Ireland

While there, I wrote nine e-mails about my visit to friends and family.  This was the time before blogs or smart phones.  Digital cameras were gaining popularity, but still most pictures were taken on film and printed (and also scanned onto a CD at the photo processor’s.)

In one of my several attempted to design a webpage and to keep a travelogue, I posted my e-mails, including all typos, misspellings and missing words on my cuchulainn.net site.  I went back to visit them to see what had impressed me about Ireland and what I wanted to share with my folks while I was still there.

Ha-penny Bridge, Dublin, Ireland.

My observations about Ireland amused me.  I mention that Laura and I would stop mid-conversation and saying that the people “look so effing Irish” and that an Irish Bar in Ireland looks like any other Irish Bar in the world, including a few that I’ve seen in France and Japan.  I was disillusioned crossing into Northern Ireland from the Republic, since it was more anti-climactic than crossing into Delaware from Pennsylvania; I didn’t even remember since a sign saying anything like, “Welcome to the UK.”

As for the cities, Dublin reminded me of Boston; Cork, Manayunk; and Belfast, New York but smaller and more colonial. I was thrilled to visit the Dublin’s General Post Office (GPO) to see the statue of Cuchulainn as a memorial for Easter Uprising, but I was disappointed by its small stature.  I was humored by how still superstitious the Irish are, since the Y2K bug was a very big topic there.  In Enniskillen, I walked around town and happened upon a Pound Store (just like a Dollar Store, except things cost a £,) it tickled me.

Belfast City Hall

One of the things that I won’t be getting to do this time in Ireland is visit Belfast or any of Northern Ireland.  We simply don’t have the time to stay longer to do so.  However, I did get to Belfast when I was there in 1999, where I stayed with Laura’s friend, who drove us through Catholic and Protestant Belfast.  We went past the Peace Lines – walls built around Catholic sections of Belfast that look more like No Man’s Land barriers than Peace Lines.  I was taken aback by the Murals, particularly one featuring the Cuchulainn statue from the GPO and a Northern Irish British solider with symbols of Ulster and the Union Jack, claiming Cuchulainn as the North’s protector, too.

The Mural in West Belfast

In my last e-mail from the island of Ireland, I stated “I will miss this little island and I will have to return.”  I have missed Ireland, its people and its culture; visiting really left a mark on me.  I can’t begin to explain how elated I am that I get to return.

If you are interested, feel free to read my error-ridden e-mails from Ireland in 1999.

All images courtesy of TripAdvisor, except for the Mural in West Belfast - courtesy of Big E's Belfast Taxi Tours.