Up on High at the Liverpool Cathedral

On the day I ended up going up Liverpool Cathedral, I was on my way to Liverpool One on the bus when I looked at the Cathedral out the bus window and remembered that it was on my list of things to get done in Liverpool. Looking at the sky I saw that it was sunny with a bit of fluffy clouds  so I decided to jump off the bus at the next stop and head over to the Cathedral. I made a small loop past the Chinese Arch before getting to the Cathedral. Stepping inside, I headed to the gift shop to purchase my ticket to the top.  Paying the £5.50, I took my ticket across the church, looking up and admiring the beautiful Cathedral which is the fifth largest in the world. 

I ended up joining in with a family of three to get in the lift that would take us up high into the tower. Exiting the first lift, we went up a small walkway and waited for the second lift. Exiting that lift, we got to view the bells and the thing I found funny about them is that one is named Chad.

Climbing some stairs, they weren't so bad. I think the stairs at my work are the worst stairs. This was a breeze and soon I came up to this door. Go into the light!

Leaving the stairs and door behind, I was surrounded by the city I have called home for over a year. It was a beautiful site. I wish I had binoculars but I enjoyed it so much. The wind was not so bad and you could see quite a far distance.

Down Hope Street you can see Liverpool's other Cathedral, the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. I am lucky to live in a city that has a spare Cathedral.

In the above photo I was able to locate where I live visually but its a bit hard to describe. A bit to the right of those four sky scrappers in the middle of the image.

Heading back down the stairs, I ended back with the family I had gone up with. Deciding to only go down one floor to the Embroidery Gallery, we took in all the amazing embroidery that was on display. Mostly religious robes and patterns with a special meaning to the cathedral.

From the Embroidery gallery I was able to look down at the inside of the Cathedral. I felt very high up seeing the little people walking about so far below. Heading down in the lift, I left the Cathedral feeling very pleased with the experience.

Giant's Causeway(Photo Heavy)

After our drive up from the Dark Hedges we made it to the main destination of our first day in Northern Ireland, Giant's Causeway.  The sky was mostly overcast as we arrived but the sun peaked out and shone across the Causeway. We headed down the path, following along the road towards the rocks from where we parked the car and entered through the buildings containing a cafe and gift shop.  There is a bus going down and back up but we chose to walk to stretch our legs.
(lots of photos)

Sunday Recap: July 26

Just six days until I head off to Dublin. I am super excited and I know that the next five days of work will fly by.

The past week since the last Sunday update has been uneventful. I worked long hours from Monday to Friday before heading home. On Friday I met up with Jamie to go for dinner. We decided to try the Gourmet Burger Kitchen and boy am I glad we did. The food was amazing and the salted caramel milk shake was heavenly. I ended up going for the Salvador Burger which had a pork chorizo patty with avocado, garlic mayo, crispy onions, salad, relish and was served on a brioche bun.  I could not help myself and got the sweet potato fries which came with a very yummy baconaise.

I definitely hope to get back there as it was really hard to make up my mind on what to order. Everything sounded good.

On Saturday I walked up to the post office to mail a card to Hillary, headed to the library to print off my boarding pass. Thanks Ryanair. Printouts in hand, I walked to the Tesco Superstore and picked up a few things before heading back home and whipping up my usual soup. Sausage and Lentil.

With six days to go until I fly off, I've been packing, repacking, charging, repacking. I hope that I'll be able to say I'm sorted soon but might have another look through.

I've been watching Band of Brothers on the TV this week, managing to record the episodes when they come on and watch them later.

I'm very excited about my trip now that it's down to the single digits in the countdown. May or may not get a Sunday post out of me as I will be travelling to Canada next Sunday starting at 9 am Dublin time but will be in Toronto at I think 11 am still on the Sunday so might try and post from there. Shall see. Very excited.

Belfast, The Big Fish and Burgers

After finally leaving the airport, we made it to Belfast. Getting the hang of driving on the left side of the road from Belfast International to Belfast city centre, we were guided to Victoria Square Shopping Centre where we managed to enter the parking garage and find a spot without killing the car or ourselves.  Entering the mall from the lift we headed up to the viewing platform that was a draw to the shopping centre. The viewing platform is free and gives you a good look over the capital of Northern Ireland. 

Copenhagen Zoo

After my journey through the Cisterns I walked across the road to Copenhagen Zoo. If you haven't noticed, I really enjoy going to zoos and have hit up quite a few in my time in Europe. I could not resist the Copenhagen Zoo not after walking a million miles to get to the Cisterns and it just being right across the street.

Sunday Recap: August 19

Sunday again! How did that happen? Well I can happily say I got my room somewhat cleaned. Just need a few finishing touches and it should sparkle. Probably won't.

13 days until I fly off to Dublin. The days are slipping away so quickly. Have to wait until the 25th to print my boarding pass though. I'll print all my flight itinerary for the Dublin to Calgary flight as well.

On Saturday I got the bus into town and the sun was out and I thought why not go up the Liverpool Cathedral while the weather was good. I headed down near Chinatown. Checking out the amazing gate that Liverpool has and then went up to the Cathedral. It's only £5.50 and I thought it was well worth it to get up so high and see over the city.

After leaving the Cathedral, I headed down Bold Street and enjoyed a very reasonably priced A&W rootbeer and got some White Rabbit candies at the same time. Chewing on my sweets, I headed over to St. George's Hall which was hosting the Summer Arts Market. I picked up quite a few things. Very happy with them.

The weeks weather was a mix of rain, sun and overcast. Work was fine. Nothing to write home about.  I am trying to be a bit more active on the blog front. We'll see how that goes heading into crazy August.

June Instagrams

Cisterns

After visiting a few museums on my Sunday in Copenhagen, I walked all the way to Søndermarken Park and ventured into the Cisterns of Copenhagen. I had not known about this amazing place until the night before when I happened to sit down next to a lovely girl from Vancouver. We had a good chat and even went for dessert. She told me how she went to the Cisterns and I knew I had to go. I fit it into my Sunday schedule as like some of the museums it is closed on Mondays and I would not have time to visit on the Tuesday as I was flying out that day.

The cisterns were the water reservoir of Copenhagen until they were drained 33 years ago. The exhibits change and when I visited "H" was being displayed. It involved walking across a lit pathway surrounded by water. Fountains spray water at certain points from the ceiling and an eerie music plays in the background.

It's very visual and I really enjoyed it. I wandered along the pathway a few times. Taking in where stalactites hung from the ceiling of the cisterns.

My visit cost DKK 50 and the exhibit is open Tuesday to Sunday 11 am to 5 pm. It is closed December to March.  

Sunday Recap: July 12

Well the way time flies here I'll be surprised to find myself on an airplane bound for Dublin sooner than I realise. I fly out Aug 1 and that's not that far away. I need to sort out packing and what exactly is coming with me on the journey to Canada. Another thing I need to sort out is what I'm going to entertain myself on the flight from Dublin to Toronto. I hope that I do not find myself very jet-legged but at least I will have time in Calgary to adjust.

I'm so very excited to see all my friends and experience Vancouver. It's going to be such an amazing memorable trip.

Little Mermaid

I finally found the Little Mermaid or as she's known in Danish, Den lille havfrue. The statue was made in bronze by Edvard Eriksen. 

I've read on a few blogs about their visit being underwhelming or them being surprised by her size. She is only 4.1 ft tall but I thought she was perfect. 

She is of course based on the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Anderson who is Danish, if you did not know.