We woke up a bit early today and Marilyn and Hugh made us breakfast. I had a traditional Irish breakfast (sausage, eggs, tomato, mushrooms, black and white pudding, toast) and they had cereal, fruit, yogurt, coffee and tea too. It was delicious. We then headed off to the Giant’s Causeway to get there aa it opened. They gave us audio tour devices to learn about the geology of how the Causeway came to be and the history of the area. The Causeway was so neat; it is so amazing that it all happened naturally from lava. Very cool. My favorite so far. We hiked all over the area including up into the headlands. It was wise of us to get there early because buses and hoards of people were there when we left.
Speed limit signs in Northern Ireland are in MPH but look the same as the KPH signs. Very confusing; thankfully Bridgit tells ths speed limit so we can be legal. Northern Ireland also uses Northern Ireland pounds or stirling. We had to withdraw in stirling since our B&B and the Rope Bridge only took cash. I am not sure the conversion to euros or US dollars but I think it is similar. There is no official markings or signs to let you know you are in one Northern Ireland verses the Republic of Ireland, just the MPH and the Union Jack flags are clues.
We headed off to Carrick Rope Bridge that offered a hike to the cliffs and then a walk across an “old” robe bridge similar to what fishermen used to cross. There were quite a few people there also and a 10 min wait to cross the bridge to the scenic island on the other side. The views of the coast were gorgeous. While waiting in line to cross back we even saw dolphins. Bu this time it was 1 ish and our bellies were rumbling. We ate in the nearby town of Ballintoy at the Fullton. I had Irish stew.
We then drove to the Dark Hedges; a group of beech trees lining the road that was uses in Game of Thrones. There were a bunch of cars parked and people all over so it was hard to get a good picture. We walked and drove down it and then headed off to our Air B&B in Newtownabbey just north of Belfast. It seemed like a shadier building/neighborhood and a more suburb. But the apartment was very nice and our hostess left us breakfast food and entertainment including games, movies, and TV, but no internet.
We watched some TV and then headed to a restaurant called Sleepy Hollow. It was upscale and delicious. I had the Game picnic which had a rabbit, duck sausage, parsnip chips, and onion apple chutney. I also had a apple mojito. We then came back and watched a UK show called Eden. Kinda like survivor but for a year. We turned in and got prepared for Belfast tomorrow
We woke up and ate cereal and drank coffee from our host and also nectarines from our first grocery shopping trip. We packed up and headed to the middle of Belfast to the Titanic Museum. It was right next to the actual docks they built the Olympia and Titanic. The museum went into the history of Belfast industry and detail as to how the ship was designed and built. It was very interesting and informative. A first class ticket on the Titanic cost the equivalent to £1100. The boat also did not have any laundry services; it all was bagged up for when they landed. Most of the welding and manufacturing done by hand. Pretty amazing feat for the time. They lacked to talk about the actual sinking very much; just the building, launching, rescue, and then deep sea exploration of finding the wreck. It was very neat. Out on the dock they had the layouts of the Titanic and Olympia. We then had a tour of the Nomatic, the last existing White Star Liner ship.
We ate at Belfast Baking Co. I had pancakes with smoked salmon and a mocha. We then went through the city a bit to get to the highway. Then Bridgit took us a country way and I realized it was bringing us back to the highway eventually. I guided us back to the highway even with a lapse in GPS signal on our way to Newgrange.
Newgrange is one of a few ancient iron age sites left in Ireland, similar to the ring forts or a Stonehenge. The tours were sold out to go to the actual sites but we did get to explore the visitors center and learn about the ancient civilization and how obsessed they were with burial customs and making swirly rock carvings.
Next we went to Swords to visit Swords castle. Bridgit got us into Swords but then did not really know where the castle was. Luckily Ciara spotted a sign for it and it was right on a corner in town. It was very much under renovation so we took a picture and decided to call it good enough.
We filled up with gas and returned the car to Hertz at the airport. The Hertz airport shuttle then brought us to terminal one where we hopped on the city bus to zone 13. We were on the bus to close to an hour, making a bunch of stops along the way. Finally it was our stop; Redman place and Wexford. We walked a few blocks to our Air B&B and Brandon had the key com for the hall, then the one for our door and we were set. It is a small but nice two bedroom apartment with one bathroom, a balcony and an American size fridge/freezer. We unpacked and headed down the street to Bocas for burgers and chips(fries). Then we stopped at the store accross the street for breakfast groceries and Brad and Ciara bought Irish beer for their relatives.
Brandon and I were feeling adventurous so we then set our for a walk across the city to the pier in the harbor. Bridgit said it would take over 2 hours. We got to the water and decided to turn back; the days are long in Ireland, but we have to sleep sometime. It was good we stopped because 45 min away from “home” it started sprinkling, then pouring. Thankfully I had a coat and umbrella and Brandon a coat so we didn’t get drenched. Just my jeans and shoes and Brandon’s hair and jeans. We got back and threw our wet clothes in the wash. I tried talking to my parents since it was my mom’s birthday, via Hangouts video but it was too much for the internet to handle and choppy. At least we have decent internet here, the last place didn’t have any, though it did have a TV and games.
The owner of this place is a writer for a Dublin newspaper and his wife is an artist. There are prints of famous people all over the house. Pretty cool art and even for sale. I am trying to stay up until the wash is done but it is 12:30 a and I am failing. I think also it is pouring again.
