My Travels Around the World

Category: North Ireland

The Giant’s Causeway

Tuesday Oct 25, 2016

The Giant’s Causeway

The Giant’s Causeway was one of the most beautiful and interesting sights in Northern Ireland. is an area of about 40,000 interlocking massive black basalt columns sticking out from the sea, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption, about 60 million years ago. It is also known as Clochán an Aifir. It is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland and in 2015 was awarded the UKs Best Heritage Attraction at the British Travel Awards. It was discovered around 1690 and at that time there were lots of arguments as to whether the Causeway had been created by men with picks and chisels, by nature, or by the efforts of a giant. Only in 1771 was it discovered that it was caused by a volcano.

Leaving Belfast Along the Coast of Northern Ireland

Day 7, Tuesday Oct 25, 2016

Carrickfergus on the Belfast Lough

We drove out of Belfast early in the morning and got to see the sun rising and turning the sky a brilliant orange (not the best color in Northern Ireland, as you will see below, but this one is Nature’s doing).

The countryside continued to be gorgeous. We drove past lots of farms. Rolling green, green hills. White dots of sheep. Trees burning with color. And the bluest water ever. We drove through villages, past war memorials, horses and even longhorn cattle. We drove past white houses against the green fields.

Black Taxi Tour – and The Troubles

Day 6, Monday October 24, 2016

Black Taxi Tour of Belfast

We had visited the Peace Wall and Wall of Murals briefly as part of our tour.  But Thea and Steve and Andy and I had talked about taking a black taxi tour of Belfast that afternoon. These are tours that take place in the old London black taxis, driven by “survivors” of the Troubles, who tell their stories of their first hand experiences.  Part of me felt like we had already seen the Peace Wall etc, but part of me wanted to hear more stories. But we decided not to go. Then Dan mentioned that he and Jean were going and Andy and I decided to join them after all. And were we glad we did!

Belfast the Beautiful City

Day 6, Monday October 24, 2016

Belfast

Breakfast. What was unusual about breakfast. Well, this is Ireland so oatmeal at the buffet was served with whiskey.

The Titanic

Day 6, Monday October 24, 2016

The Titanic Museum

Our first major stop of our first full day in Belfast, was the Titanic museum, on the site of the former Harland and Wolff shipyard, where the Titanic and other ships were built (all ending in ic, like the Olympic or Britannic). It seems like that would not be particularly interesting but in fact it was an amazing museum which was beautifully done. The museum building itself is gorgeous with the design intended to reflect Belfast’s history of ship making and the industrial legacy left by Harland and Wolff. It was designed by Eric Kuhne and Associates. It is made up of three angles which look like the main prow of the ship. Some say it looks like an iceberg and the locals in fact call it “the iceberg.”  It is covered in 3000 individual silver anodized aluminum shards standing 12 feet high, the same size as the Titanic’s hull.

Heading to Belfast – no longer one of the “B” cities to avoid

Day 5, Sunday Oct 23, 2016

Leaving Dublin

Today we headed out of Dublin and headed north to Belfast. Since we would be traveling all around the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, I thought I’d include a map.

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