Belfast sept 18/23

We were up at 5am for the bus at 6:45. Pickup was outside Starbucks where we bought coffee and breakfast pastries. The route was along the coast with snatches of the Atlantic Ocean, green fields of sheep and cows. We arrived in Belfast after 90 minutes. We stopped to buy food and snacks.  We were told No hot food as the odour may disturb other passengers. 

There was two choices we could choose from …..a visit to the titanic museum. The museum is in the shipyards. Belfast shipyards was the largest in the world, (surpassed now by China) a recently built building.  The second option was a Black Cab ride.  We chose the cab ride and “Brendan” our driver, was 60 years old he had first hand knowledge of the “troubles” of 1968-1998. He was living on the catholic side of town as a seven year old boy. 

Our ride took us through both the catholic side and the Protestant side. These two areas are separated by the peace wall.  The peace wall is locked each night at 7pm and opened again at 7am. During the 20 years of the “troubles” there were 3,600 killed and more than 30,000 wounded. There are many memorials, painted posters and words written on walls.  Arguably they are the most famous murals in the world. 

Along the wall that separates; some houses are so close to the wall that they have extra protection from missiles that can be thrown from the other side. 

At one of the walls we were invited to write a message with our name, alongside many US presidents, and famous people who had visited.  Our cabbie told us they paint over it every three months! Not sure if he was joking or not. 

It’s very sad that while there is a form of peace the two sides are still very separate today. 

Later in the afternoon we met up with our bus and the titanic group.  

Driving further north, to the top of Northern Ireland we visited the ruins of Dunluce Castle, very dramatic, rising high above the sea. The castle was used in filming Game of Thrones. 

. The Giant Causeway is a 5.5 mile loop near Bushmills, Antrim, a moderately challenging path . On the route there are some 40,000 basalt columns rising out of the sea, we walked the coastal path, it was muddy in places and rained and I hailed off and on. The basalt columns are a major sight to see. 

 At the restaurant at the causeway , called the Nook we had lunch …..seafood chowder.  There is also a visitor centre, hotel and restaurant.

We arrived back in Dublin at 8pm. We stopped at McNeils pub for dinner and some lively Irish music which we always enjoy.