I have completed travel on my one-way ticket so here I am. I guess since it was half a round-trip I had half the hassles. It really was a brilliant journey all the way around - save a landing in high winds that had me green around the gills as the plane touched down in Belfast.
I lugged my 150+ pounds of luggage out to the cab.
I told the driver I was headed for the Lisburn Road.
He looked like he'd swallowed a bad clam. "The road to hell?"
Three beats while I tried to understand if he said road to hill, road to hale, what? Finally, it dawned on me. "Aye, that's the one."
Obvious and continued disgruntlement ensued. He was literally gunching and moaning about driving on the Lisburn Road! "It's the worst road in Northern Ireland," he proclaimed.
"I thought the Westlink was the worst road," I countered. It's the worst as far as I'm concerned - I've only been a passenger on it and I nearly had a heart attack.
He would not relent. Lisburn Road, straight into perdition.
Apparently there are some traffic issues on the Lisburn Road - a fact of which he is well aware because he lives right off it. "I keep trying to get the wife to move. She won't."
We had a nice chat about the States and his upcoming trip to Florida (natch). Of course there are Orlando promotions everywhere here, fueled by the brutal / delightful exchange rate (depending on your point of view).
[Why Orlando feels the need to advertise here is beyond me. Seriously, every person I have met has been to / is about to go to Florida. And not for 7 days - these are like 21-day stints! ]
A few folks also seem a bit perplexed that someone from the States would agree to move here. They're very welcoming but just a little curious as to why this would be my new home. I tell them: Have you seen the place when the sun is shining? Seen the architecture? Talked to the locals? Visited the Linen Hall Library? I'm so happy to be here I could burst - especially since the trip takes me along the Lisburn Road!
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