Ireland Day 2

A really good day today. We took the train from Dublin, Ireland to Belfast, Northern Ireland. Ireland is on the Euro system but Northern Ireland is strictly British and uses the English Pound for currency. Even the accent is different. In Belfast you would swear you were in London whereas Dublin you know you are in Ireland. A word here on transportation. The European concept of transportation is totally different than in the US. Double decker buses are everywhere. Light rail pretty much goes everywhere in the cities and suburbs. High speed rail connects the cities. The train we took from Dublin to Belfast was the high speed variety. It takes off so smoothly you don't realize you are moving or accelerating until you look out the window and everything is flashing by. They are totally silent and the welded rails are as smooth as silk. It's almost an eery experience. The seats are comfortable and are set up in a booth style with 2 sets of seats facing each other with a table between. A totally wonderful experience. Belfast is a good city with lots of old buildings built back in the 1700's. We had lunch at the Cafe Vaudeville which is an old bank converted by a team of interior designers gone wild. The interior was like something out of the Arabian Nights. While we were doing the lunch bit Beth and Bruce were visiting with the Irish girls they took in as exchange students back in 1990. Beth and Bruce are my moral compass. They are the kind of people I would be if I were a nice guy. " The Woman " on the other hand has a major problem. EVERY woman in Ireland has calf length leather boots, most with spike heels. She has none. No boots, leather or otherwise. I feel, subconsciously that this sad state of affairs is some sort of failing on my part. I haven't quite figured it out yet but the comments lead me to believe it's my fault. The Irish women are quite fashionable in a New York sort of way. Very elegant as you can only do in a cool climate. Leather boots, full lengths overcoats, scarves, gloves, etc. In South Carolina all you see is shorts, tank tops and flip flops. I can some merit in living in a cooler climate. The ride back was very relaxing. The rail line runs along the coast about half way and through typical Irish farmland the rest. Lots of small, square field with stone fences all around filled with flocks of sheep. Just like in the pictures. Tomorrow we move on to the next stop via rental car. That should be interesting driving on the left side of the road.