Firebrand Fulbrighter: A Sunday Surprise

The cold has run through the apartment, it has taken a right turn, and it has invaded the neighboring apartment.

When I woke up, my right nostril was plugged.

No. I would not accept it. Too many weekends have crept by sans adventure and this Sunday would not pass without these Marchetti girls seeing new things.

Veni, Vidi, Vivi (that's how it goes, right?). ;)

First, a unicorn and I dropped off James at the airport

And mailed postcards

Then we cabbed it on over to The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. Everyone who mentions it says, "it's far better than it sounds. It's a brilliant museum. You should go." I thought it sounded great to begin with, so I was sold.

If you've been to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia or Living History Farms in Iowa or Eckley Miners Village in Weatherly, PA, then you know this type of museum. This one, though, is unique in that they took apart the actual buildings from different parts of Northern Ireland and put them back together rock by rock and beam by beam and brick by brick.

In the first house we stopped in, a woman was dramatically recreating what happened to the family that lived in the actual house on Sandy Row. The husband went down with the Titanic and she was having a hard time making rent and was avoiding the tax collector. She was really knowledgeable and engaging.

What's wonderful about this museum is that its huge. Huge! Paths and roads meander and buildings and town sections and farms have the doors open so visitors just walk in and explore. Most buildings have a coal fire going but no people there. Occasionally there is a person recreating period information.

But it's amazing to wander freely -- without crowds -- and enjoy the quiet of the country.

A bike repair shop!

The Picture House showed a Charlie Chaplin movie.

This is a close up of a thatched roof.

This is a close up of a hedge row. An ouchy hedge row.

Seriously. It's so beautiful!

Piglets!

The mom had 18, but only 14 are left. She's in the contraption so it's easier for her to get up when babies want to feed and so she doesn't crush any accidentally.

Audrey was a schoolteacher and now works here as well as with The National Trust.

The Corner Shop sells candy. It's very popular. We did not buy here, but went to the gift shop to get postcards (don't tell Grandma), a fake egg for Chicky Wicky and pencils for school for Vivi.

We walked out of the gift shop and I saw a missed call from Diane.

She said Chloe had tickets to Cirque Beserk at the Grand Opera House but couldn't go. Diane, Mark, Lauren, and Chloe have been so, so good to us. I get a wee bit misty every time I think of them.

I'd wanted to take Vivi to see the show, but it didn't work out with timing this week and tonight was the last night. We had just enough time to pick up the tickets, grab a bite to eat, and then see the show!

I like about this circus that's it's all about the amazing things people can do. It's about skill and creativity.

The circus!