While in Belfast, I ventured out of the Troubles and into Beauty. The biggest tourist attraction of Northern Ireland in undoubtedly the Giants Causeway, so I took a day trip that visited the site, among others. Our first stop was Carrickfergus, a castle just outside Belfast. Though we didnt step inside, we got a great photo (to be shown below).
We drove the coastal route of Northern Ireland, which is notorious for its breathtaking views, of which I have to see anything rival it.
I have plenty more, but I will stop there :) We stopped at the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, which while only 10 meters long (and 90 meters high), literally connects two islands. I don't have any pictures of me actually crossing, as both hands have to be on the side ropes, but I have this:
The view from the crossed island is absolutely spectacular and well worth the 6 Euro it cost to cross. The sea is the bluest blue, the fields are the greenest green. A view so amazing you could stare at it for hours and not get bored.
Looking across the ocean on a clear day, you can see all the way to Mull of Kintyre, which is the southwestern most tip of Scotland, made famous by Paul and Linda.
Hey look, there's me!
Breath-taking, right? I cant even describe what the natural beauty does to a person..... After that, we made a short stop at the Bushmill's Distillery. While Jameson was a much more impressive experience, whiskey anywhere aint bad.
And with that, we were off to the highlight of the day - the Causeway. But first, more scenic views.
The Giants Causeway is a land formation of 40,000 columns of all different sizes, which formed as a result of cooling lava from a nearby volcano that erupted a long, long time ago. It is a humbling sight to see, a true wonder of the world. Some of them are quite tall, while some are only ankle high. They all face the sea, making for a serene and calm setting, despite the enormity of it all.
And with that, our tour was over. Another beautiful day with sights I will not soon forget.
Belfast has been the most interesting city I've visited in Ireland. The history that still today rings true, made for an experience most of my family and friends will never get, and I am lucky to have visited Belfast and to have really felt the city, for all its good and perhaps not so good. Next, I was off to Derry. Or as you may have heard of it - LondonDerry, depending on which side of the argument you stand :) While Derry was also very badly hit and hurt by the Troubles, it somehow is a more uplifting and happy place. Cant explain why. Which isn't to say they don't have their fair share of murals and memorials. Derry has the only still-standing wall which surrounds the city center, dating back a long time in history. A walk around it is a must, as are the views from up there.
Then there are those murals that just make me sadder than all the others....
Derry is also the location of the horrible tragedy that is known as Bloody Sunday. A peaceful march in January of 1972 left 14 innocent and unarmed civilians dead, all by the guns of the British army. While it has been contested over and over again that the civilians WERE indeed armed, the final inquiry concluded that they were not armed, many of them being shot in the back. Yet the British maintain their innocence, and no formal apology has ever been made,
Like I said above, while Derry carries along with it a violent history, the city is filled with hope for the future, something I felt Belfast was lacking..... After Derry, I was off to several smaller towns, making my way to Dublin. While all were great, none were historical.
As promised, Carrickfergus castle.
And a part of what's left of Derry Castle
And with that - poof! - my trip has come to an end. But (hopefully) one final post, tomorrow.
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