May 30, 2024

Belfast

Wednesday May 29th we explored the City. Above is City Hall where we joined in with a free walking tour of downtown. The rain sprinkled off and on , but does provide dramatic clouds in photos and reasons to stop for a tea break or shop, which we did! Our hotel Ibis Belfast Centre was in a great location for walking all about. 
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We had a yummy dinner at The Latern - Cod baked in fabulous sauce w sweet potatoes for me and Edel had beef roast, so tender! We split a sour apple tart for dessert.

THE CROWN PUB was first pointed out on our walking tour, and it was so interesting we went back for drinks after Dinner.

The owners are a mixed religion couple - the husband is Catholic and wife Protestant, and she adores everything about the royals. They compromised on the name the crown, but in smallest letters in Marquee outside and image of crown has to be walked on upon entry to the pub. The finishes inside and out are very detailed and unique. There are snugs lining the opposite side of the bar from 1880 built by Italian craftsmen working in the shipyards and on churches around Belfast they were designed to allow ladies and high society to have a drink without being overlooked.

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THE ART OF COCONUT CREAM - AMERICAN SAMOA

By Patricia Patrick • December 18, 2025
Making coconut cream is such a big part of the Samoan culture I feel compelled to share the 4 step process we were so nicely shown. Every Samoan young and old takes part in this tradition, it is an intrigue part of their everyday lives.

PAGO PAGO, TUTUILA ISLAND, AMERICAN SAMOA

By Patricia Patrick • December 17, 2025
The tour today was focused on the National Park but we also got a lot of insight into American Samoa's history and current day life. Our guide was Nini and she is a college student studying accounting and finance and works as a part-time guide.

NATIONAL PARK OF AMERICA SAMOA, TUTUILA ISLAND

By Patricia Patrick • December 17, 2025
Today we took the National Park of American Samoa Tour. It's a unique park - the only one south of the equator and where the U.S. Government doesn't own the land. Efforts to establish the Park go back to mid 1980 over concern about the decline of fruit bats and wanting to protect the tropical rainforests. On October 31, 1988 Congress established the NP of American Samoa. In 1993, a complex arrangement for a 50 year land lease years with seven villages and the Samoa government was signed. We got lucky with our tour - we were expecting an open air bus, but because we were a small group, we got a plush air conditioned van!