Results tagged “Ireland” from Intelligent Travel Blog

'Ello city-lovers! Former Traveler intern Ally Burguieres is studying in Belfast, Ireland, right now, and shares some tips on what to see and do in her adopted city.

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Belfast, Ireland is My City

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is the St. George's Market on Friday: It's full of food, treasures, and local goods.

To escape university students I head to the Irish countryside!

If I want to hear the Irish language I go Falls Road or the Irish mass held every Sunday in City Centre.

For complete quiet, I can hide away in The Linen Hall Library, where it smells like fresh coffee and old books.

If you come to my city, get your picture taken with City Hall in the background, it's an ornate grey stone building.

If you have to order one thing off the menu from Maggie May's it has to be the Ulster Fry: a breakfast of fried things including but never limited to: tomatoes, soda bread, potato bread, pancake, bacon, and eggs. People will ask if you've tried it!

When I crave banana and Nutella crepes I always go to the St. George's Market on Saturday to buy one from the French crepe man.

Friend of IT Ally Burguieres is taking a road trip in Ireland this week, just as the country gears up for St. Patrick's Day. She's got a car, and wants to know where to go.

In Traveler's October issue, John Rosenthal asked the question, "Do You Really Want to Drive?" about the risks of driving abroad. Since his article was in the Smart Traveler section, I had to hope that one could answer "Yes" to the question and still be smart.  Rosenthal presented some pretty sobering statistics. Yet Ireland's a small island, and there's nothing better than a car for getting to all the out-of-the way nooks and crannies.

Tomorrow, I'll pick up my friend from the airport and we'll get into our rental car: a small stick shift that neither of us will know how to drive well. We've got ten days of the open road ahead of us, and nothing but sheep-traffic-jams and tea breaks to slow us down. The whole island is up for grabs: the North, the South, and the coastlines. Do we really have to see the Blarney Stone? Is there a castle that's hidden behind a farm somewhere near County Wexford? Do you know of a pub that's perfect for two fine ladies on vacation?

What suggestions do you have for Ally? What are the must-see places and little-known spaces of Ireland? Where should she go to see the best St. Patrick's Day celebrations? Let us know in the comments below!

Photo: h_roach via the Intelligent Travel Flickr pool