Blogs from Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, Europe

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Europe » United Kingdom » Northern Ireland » County Antrim » Belfast October 20th 2023

Belfast is Northern Ireland’s capital. It was the birthplace of the R.M.S. Titanic, which famously struck an iceberg and sunk in 1912. This legacy is recalled in the renovated dockyards' Titanic Quarter, which includes the Titanic Belfast, an aluminium clad museum reminiscent of a ship’s hull, as well as shipbuilder Harland & Wolff’s Drawing Offices and the Titanic Slipways, which now host open-air concerts".― Google And that's the guided bus tour availability in a nut shell.... Its the Titanic or the Giant's Causeway or O.M.G. the Game of Thrones filming sites. Once these... in your face attractions. ... read more
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Castle from Game of Thrones
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Europe » United Kingdom » Northern Ireland » County Antrim » Belfast September 10th 2023

Causeway Express Tour Today, Renata, Mom and I took an excursion booked through Get Your Guide called the “Causeway Express Tour Shore Excursion.” Belfast Murals Our first stop was Belfast where we saw various political murals and graffiti on our way to the Dark Hedges. The Dark Hedges The Dark Hedges was made famous as the Kingsroad in the HBO television show Game of Thrones whom Renata and I are big fans. Walking around the dark hedges was a real treat. Old Bushmills Distillery After seeing the Dark Hedges, we made our way to Old Bushmills Distillery where we had a taste of different Irish whiskeys. Giant’s Causeway We ended the day at the Giant’s Causeway, the highlight of the tour. The Giant’s Causeway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coastal route. ... read more
Belfast Cruise Stop
Belfast Cruise Stop
Belfast Cruise Stop


We got to the airport a few hours early so our chauffeur (Hillary) could get back for an evening meeting so we had time to buy and read a Post, eat our sandwiches, fiddle with our phones, and wander around before we even checked our luggage! Security went fine and we got to the B gate concourse in time for a glass of wine and some people watching. Flight was good, our luggage made it too, and we found our group. The first part of this trip is with Road Scholars, to Northern Ireland. Got on a bus and headed north. Cloudy day but could see lots of green and plenty of gorse bushes in bloom. Got all checked in, showered (is there much better than a shower after a plane ride?), found the nice hotel ... read more

Europe » United Kingdom » Northern Ireland » County Antrim » Belfast August 13th 2022

Ireland the North 2. Belfast Short run today from Larne to Belfast. Cycled past the roundabout in Larne with a large golden crown as a centrepiece. A very sharp and not so short hill out of Glynn made us breath a bit heavily, and someone behind me sounding as if it was their very last breath ever. A bit of undulation in cow country lead us to a very welcome long descent to the A2 at ’Eden’ by the Kilroot power station. A brew was taken at the clock tower cafe in Carrickfergus before moving on to Belfast. Bill made a visit to the recently refurbished Norman Carrickfergus Castle which has been besieged by the Scots, English, Irish and French over the centuries. Belfast was approached using a very pleasant cycleway for several miles to the ... read more
Carrickfergus tank
Carrickfergus castle
Castle


From Overland Ireland Tours: “Introduction – Sure, have you never heard of an Irish half hour? It can stretch out for days and 10 is what you’ve got to experience this guided ‘road trip’ along the Antrim Coast, through The Wild Atlantic Way. From ancient Newgrange, it’s full tilt ahead to The Titanic Experience in Belfast, an award-winning interactive adventure about the most tragic ship in the world. We’ll walk in the footsteps of Fionn McCool at The Giant’s Causeway, where a volcanic eruption forged this Wonder of the World some 60 million years ago and look! Is that Jon Snow in the ‘dark hedges’? We’ll be heading to the iconic beech trees to find out. From Derry; the last walled city to be built in Europe, to sinking oyster and champagne shots in Ardara in ... read more
Monasterboice High Cross and Round Tower - Drogheda, Ireland
Monasterboice High Cross and Round Tower - Drogheda, Ireland
On the Road to Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK


Ireland the North 1. Banbridge We had a first today. I had a puncture just going south out of Belfast on the cycleway which hugs the river. I felt the rim touching the ground and knew the worst had happened, especially the rear wheel, which meant removing all my bags and dropping the chain etc. Luckily it was not raining and the job took less than 15 minutes before we were on our way again. The puncture was caused by a tiny piece of glass which had worked its way into the tyre. Luckily I found it and managed to work it back out. Our route was a cycleway for the next 23km, which was very pleasant riding since there were no hills and no traffic, unless you call loads of runners, walkers and the odd ... read more
The Peace sculpture
Canoeing on the river Lagan


Ireland the North 1 Belfast On the road again at 8.30 with an overcast sky, a strong westerly wind and occasional drizzle. Just past Ballygally we saw some cormorants basking on a rock, unlike some other miscreants taking an early morning dip in the bay, maybe as penance for some wrongdoing. This appeared just as crazy as the Bungee Jumpers on the Belfast Quay. The riding was pretty average for most of the way but this was because I jibbed at the steep hill out of Glynn and went around the coast via the A2. The section to Larne was good and the wind was mostly behind us. The Carrickfergus leg was more difficult as we headed into the wind but a cycleway took us away from much of the traffic, especially after the town where ... read more
Cormorants
Early morning bathers. Ballygally.
The Orange flag


For me, it was a day of tears as well as laughter. We HOHO’d it again today. Walking to the bus stop along the Falls Rd, we passed many murals remembering those that died in the Troubles or shouting out against Government, police and the British army. The tour guide on the bus spoke very eloquently, informatively and objectively about the history of the Troubles. I certainly learnt a lot! I think we both did. I remember watching TV news in the 70s and 80s, hearing the names of places and the names of some of the people, but at the time not really having an insight into what it must have been like living in the situation. I know I still don’t have a good insight, but certainly more than I did, now I’ve visited ... read more
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Now a full week in to our trip, we really needed rest so we slept until 10:00. This was a good day to choose to sleep in as it was a full day of walking tour with no tickets or timed entry. After we did get up and ready for the day we took a cab to the Crown Liquor Saloon, perhaps the most famous pub in Belfast. The Crown is actually owned by the National Trust of UK (official conservation organization), it is across the street from the Europa Hotel (the most bombed hotel in the world). The first floor is your standard pub setting, but there are “confessional boxes,” booth built in the style of a confessional with a door so you have total privacy This was our spot for lunch, so we headed ... read more
Chicken, Leek & ham Pie
Beef & Stout Pie
Europa Hotel


Another early day, up at 5 to get ready to catch the train at 7:35. We were going to walk, but decided we just have to much luggage to make the easy. A very quick taxi to the train station. We had the first train out for the day, so it was already in the station. We boarded on time and first class on the Enterprise was 100 times more comfortable the on the train to Holyhead. They had just recently started food service again, and while it was not inclusive of the ticket price it was prices fairly. Seats are reserved and include your name above your seat so there is no confusion. The train of course left on schedule. It was a very beautiful journey; my pictures do not do it justice. Some of ... read more
City Hall
Grumlin Goal
Cell Block C




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