Day 16 - The day that never ended

After getting back from the Aran Islands we returned to the hostel and picked up our bags. We ate dinner and hung around until about 11:30 pm. We were planning on busing to Belfast and taking a ferry back to Scotland. Since we needed to be back at the University by the next afternoon we had to bus overnight. This bus journey had three legs. It was not too bad. We hardly got any sleep though. We finally got to the Belfast bus station at about 5:30 am. Here is what it looked like:


It was way nicer than the other bus stations we were in, in Ireland and we were in a lot. It even had a statue:


We were not the only ones there at 5 am.


On this bus trip we were prepared. We put our backpacks in bags again so they didn't get wet.



After getting off the bus I finally found a pay phone that worked. I had been unable to find one for the last couple days. At this point, facing having no housing in Edinburgh, I really wanted to call home. I also found out making a call with a phone card from a pay phone is very, very expensive.

After I made my call we took a taxi to the ferry. We were originally going to take the bus but it did not come. It was a good thing we took the taxi, otherwise I am sure we would have gotten very lost.

We got rail and sail tickets (combined ferry and train ticket) to Edinburgh because it was far cheaper than anything else. Since it was so much cheaper we thought that it would be minimal in terms of fanciness and comfort. We were very, very wrong. The boat was huge and super fancy!

Here is the directory sign on the first floor of the boat:


The area we sat in:


The boat ride was uneventful and easy. We landed right next door to the train station. The train ride was also very easy and pleasant. The train is much more comfortable than the bus. Unfortunately it is usually also much more expensive.

We got back to Waverly station, picked up our bags and went back to Pollock halls (the housing office of the University). I was very, very upset that they had not given me a room. Luckily when I told them my situation the organizer came out and talked to me. He then went and looked at my records and said that they were going to offer me a room in a non-catered flat which was exactly what I had wanted!