Monat: Juni 2014

A tour to the bushmills distillery

Today Martin, Tim and I headed to the bushmill distillery. Our tour started at 9am we headed to the botanic train station and hopped on the train it took us 1hr 20min to reach colerine train station after waiting for around 30 minutes we took a bus that drove us directly to the bushmills distillery. We arrived a few minutes before the distillery openes we decided to not take the first tour since it was pretty crowded instead we went to the gift shop to see what they offer and to eat some lunch in the cafetaria. We took the tour at 1pm the tour is roughly 40 minutes long. It was definitely worth it to learn how whiskey is made. After the tour ends everyone was allowed to test one kind of the different whiskeys.
Sadly we weren’t allowed to take pictures during the tour.

Sunday – Bushmills distillery

On Sunday I had to get up really early, because Martin came into our apartment quarter to 9. We had planned to take a trip to Bushmills and at 3 after 9 René, Martin and me managed it to start our walk to the Botanic Train Station which was almost too late. I never took a train during my stay in NI before so I appreciated the extras they had to offer. In every train there is an open Wi-Fi which you can use during the ride, which is in my opinion useful and impressive as the route is along rural areas and the train speeds up to I think 70 – 80 miles/h between the stops. After we disembarked at the Colerain Train Station we had to wait 30 minutes for the 402 bus which is called the Causeway Rambler. During the rapid bus ride we had a few awesome views over the coast including all kinds of countryside, from steep cliffs to nice beaches. Only minutes before the distillery has opened we arrived there and were included in the first group that entered the complex that day. We first went to the gift shop to see what they are selling there and then we took our lunch in a canteen which  is directly connected to the shop. When we’ve got back from the lunch to the entry hall, one of the clerks there told us that the next tour is going to start in 5 minutes and we should register for it now. We did what he told us and participated in it. It was interesting to see how the whiskey is produced from the mesh, to the fermenting, to the destilling and at the end the ripening. We got to know the differences between the types of whiskey and after that we we’re led to a bar where we were able to try out the product. I’ve had a glass of the 12 year old distillery reserve which you only can buy in their shop and it was in my opinion a real good spirit. The tour took us 40 minutes and after we’ve got the some souveniers we went back to Belfast. It was a nice day and I think it was worth the journey time. So as the next week is going to be the last one here, I wish everybody who is staying in (N)I that the last week will be a great one.

Last weekend in NI

Hello everyone!

This is it man. This is our last weekend we have here in Belfast and for me I can say that it was an awsome weekend. First we had to celebrate Tims birthday wich was quite nice. Then we watched that soccer game germany versus Ghana and over the weekend itself I went to the Q-Con everyday from Friday to Sunday. Overall I can say that I really love Belfast and Ireland itself but I really have to get back to germany. More and more people ask me when I will be back and now I can say it is just 6 days from now on.

Barbecue and PUBlic viewing

Hey everyone,

the weekend was very nice and passed quickly. We used the fine weather and the good atmosphere for a nice barbecue. At Saturday midday I met Joel and his girlfriend in the city centre and showed them a little bit of Dublin. After that we went home and had a delicious barbecue with a lot of family members and friends of the Brady’s. In the late evening we all went to the „Cat and Cage“. We watched the last match of the World Cup and had a few beer.

20140622_155039

Today I, Jonas, Paul, his sister and her husband went to Carlingford. We had a nice walk and lunch in the alleys and enjoyed the nice weather.

Yours George

The last weekend in Ireland

Well time went by quickly and I woke up on Saturday morning with plans to really wander around Belfast and soak every impression in me I could get and it ended with my typical route around the city with stops at my favourite restaurants and bars. This time I was alone which was a different experience compared to wander around as a group of germans. I talked to a lot of people and I even met somebody from Italy who is living at the same town of my grandma which was an incredible coincidence. We talked about our experiences here and our future plans. As I am heading to my family after the internship I well meet him again back in Italy and who knows maybe we are even related… You never know!

Saturday

On Friday there was again not much to do in Concentrix. Eric, Max and me had to do several little tasks and after they were done and the time has come Peter allowed us to go home. Yesterday we went to a Pub near the Queens University. There were many people on the streets, probably the Q-Con where Eric went to was also a factor – but when we got back home the density wasn’t that high anymore. In the pub (that claimed itself to be a World Cup bar – with big posters on the outer walls) were many local Irish people that are celebrating every goal, for Ghana and Germany. I think they weren’t really biased towards the game and they just were happy that the game was exciting at all. The atmosphere was relaxed. They had a big choice of beer, wine and softdrink brands and when the game was finished and after we had a few drinks we went back home again. I’ve liked the pub, except a few people which weren’t really interested in watching the game and disturbed the people who wanted to.

Public viewing – Belfast style

When Germany played against Portugal we were invited by intern europe to join them watching it on their HD TV including their staff and some other students from Portugal. You can imagine that after the first couple of goals the atmosphere was kind of weird as every german in the room was full of joy and cheering but on the other hand there were some devastated folks aswell. Intern europe provided us with beer and chips which pushed the atmosphere even more in the right direction. After the match and in the break I hat some nice conversations with some of the opposite fraction who at the time of the break thought they still have a chance… Well we know how that ended!

CPR testing

In this week I mostly tested the work I have been providing for our next Build which is going to hit in the next week. By doing this I also found out how the development of patches is handled which was incredibly interesting to see. Everyone is working hard to get the last things done as most of the company is gone for holiday the upcoming week. I am very satisfied with my work and I am also receiving good feedback which is boosting my confidence a lot.

Soccer game pub thing

Hello everyone!

Yeah I had no better idea for the title than that but I think it sums it up perfectly. Yesterday Tim, Martin, Marco, Leo and I went to that pub 15 min away from our arpartments to watch the soccer game Germany versus Ghana. The pub was okay but I think it was a bit to crowded at first but the later it got the emptier it was and the game was nice to watch. It is something sad that it was just a draw because we needed to win to be sure in the next round. Now we can’t loose against USA in the next round or else we are out of the game.