April 28, 2024
Sunrise over Belfast started an awesome day of adventuring!!!
First an early morning walk about in the city centre to experience the city without all the people. I love walking around in the quiet of the morning! The gates to city hall were just opened as I walked by and I got to walk around it in the quiet of the morning with the birds singing and in the crisp of the morning!!
Back to the hotel to join the group for a trip north along the Causeway Coastal Route, one of the most scenic drives in Northern Ireland. Heading toward the Giants Causeway, we stopped enroute at Glenariff National Park where the views of the rolling hills was incredible. We did a short hike in the park before getting back on the coach to head to our next stop.
The Giant’s Causeway is an UNESCO heritage site! The giant hexagon rock formations tumbling down into the Atlantic Ocean is an awe inspiring view. We started at the top of the hill and climbed down a zig zag path to the ocean. I was so excited that I could do what is considered a difficult climb!!!
It is Ireland, so of course there are stories of the magical creature Finn McCool who carved out the stones and left behind the mystical features filled with folklore. After our hike down the hill and then we sat on the grassy roof of the centre and had our picnic lunch.
Continuing our explorations, we stopped for a photos at Dunluce Castle and the Dark Hedges, made famous in Game of Thrones. I included a picture from Game of Thrones so you can recall the scene.
Back in Belfast Kim, Ernie and I headed out to do a pub crawl…it is Saturday night so we wanted to do some people watching. The streets were filled with young people all wanting to have fun. After a few drinks in various pubs we found a charming small restaurant and enjoyed dinner and my new favorite drink, Blood Orange Gin and tonic.
A stop to see City Hall lite up and we headed back to the hotel ending yet another “Best day ever…so far”!!!
..beautiful country
It’s interesting for me to see Belfast through your eyes. I’ve always imagined it as it was 25 years ago, full of violence and strife.