I was a bit sad to be leaving Scotland, I really had an amazing time and still so much to explore, I will be back someday! Departed Edinburgh to Belfast Harbour City airport, a quick flight of only 38 minutes on Flybe. Although we almost missed it, we were at the airport on plenty of time but saw on the board that the flight was delayed and being Canadians found the nearest bar and got a drink to kill some time. Did not hear the announcement for the flight as it was going on time now (this never happens at home) once a flight is delayed, anyway long story short we had to run to gate and got the final call to board!
We took our 1st cab of the trip when we arrived in Belfast, fairly short drive to the city centre and 10 GBP. We stayed 2 nights in Belfast at the Park Inn city centre. Great location and easy walk to the city square, caught the last hop on/hop off tour of the day around the city. Belfast is the site of shipbuilding and famous for the building of the titanic, they are cleaning up their waterfront and there is a huge museum of the shipbuilding and titanic and also a titanic studios where much of the Games of Thones is filmed. Another well known area in Belfast is also Shankill Road and Falls Road, the roads are lined with many murals and an area known for the troubles in Belfast.
We heard this a lot in Belfast, “during our troubled years”. A few people we spoke to in Belfast said they are about 30 years behind, which I wouldn’t disagree with this but they are very proud on how far the city has come since the troubled years, I guess if you lived through this tumultuous time it would be something to be proud of to see you city grow and tourists coming to visit as they said no one came for 30 years.
Most of the people we met in Belfast are very eager to move on from the troubles and are happy to see tourists visiting their city, as it was not very long ago it was war torn and to get into the city centre their were car bombs mirrors to search under the cars, and army checks and everyone got searched. We had a great tour guide to giants causeway, he was born and raised in Belfast and seemed very opened to the different beliefs and as he said the majority would like to move on from these troubled years and see Belfast prosper but he also said there are still some people from both sides that live in the past. For someone like me I find all this very interesting but have a really hard time understanding the divide between catholic and protestant.
Our day tour the North and Giant’s Causeway departed from Belfast taking aprox an hour to go directly to Giant’s Causeway with a stop close by at old bushmills distillery, it was a great day tour costing 25 GBP.
http://www.belfastcitysightseeing.com/gc/
Giant’s Causeway is a beautiful spot on the tip of a Northern Ireland and only 12 miles from Scotland. It became a world heritage site in 1986. If you go as our tour guide told us to save your 8 pounds and walk around the visitors centre and straight down to the site, you can get a shuttle as it is a bit if a walk up especially coming back it is mostly up hill. They charge 1 pound each direction for the shuttle.
From here we went to the famous roped bridge, I believe also famous area where game of thones is filmed if you are fan. This was 5 pounds entry fee, if you want to cross the bridge, it was an aprox 20 minutes walk and a well maintained trail to cross the roped bridge. The views were spectalar and lots of great photo ops. The bridge was pretty cool, not nerves but maybe coming back over it it was shaking quite a bit but we both did it!
For here we drove the coastal road back to Belfast, beautiful drive. It is true what they say about the north, you’ve got to take the time to explore.
Took the train from Belfast to Dublin, a relaxing 2 hours but buy your tickets in advance got stung a bit buying day of, but a great way to travel.
Spent our last two days in Dublin having a great visit with Siobhan, shopping and hanging out at our favourite spot from last year, Oliver St. John Gogarty pub. I’m sure the locals would think it’s too touristy but a great spot for live music from 1:30pm to 1:30AM daily.
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