Yesterday we travelled up to the Ulster American Folk Village - a great collection of old houses and then on to Belleek where there is a beautiful pottery.
In the afternoon we drove on to Killybeggs and after finding accommodatin, drove out to the highest sea cliffs in Europe. The scenery was absolutely spectacular. On the drive back we passed turf cutting for fuel and wonderful country scenery.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Bushmills, Giants Causeway and Rope Bridges
After the beauty of the Antrim coast and the glens of Antrim we continued along the north coast of Ireland. AMong the highlights was the Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge out to a windswept island and the famous Giants Causewaydestroyed by the Scottish giant Finn running back steps to Scotland when he saw the Irish giant dressed as a baby in a cradle.
We visited the distillery at Bushmills...only with our organisation we arrived at 9.30 am just after a full Irish breakfast - not the time to be tasting whiskey. We bought supplies for a cold night on the sea near Iceland.
The Dunluce Castle was hauntingly beautiful. Then on to Londonderry with its famous walled city where we visited the cathedral and the Tower Museum. We finished with a walk around the town walls.
We visited the distillery at Bushmills...only with our organisation we arrived at 9.30 am just after a full Irish breakfast - not the time to be tasting whiskey. We bought supplies for a cold night on the sea near Iceland.
The Dunluce Castle was hauntingly beautiful. Then on to Londonderry with its famous walled city where we visited the cathedral and the Tower Museum. We finished with a walk around the town walls.
Irish Modern Art
In Belfast we visited the Lagan waterfront near where the Titanic was built. We found an exhibition 'Eye of the Docks' so decided to take in another exhibition.
The art was displayed in a dank passageway and chambers under the Lagan Weir. Real bottom of the harbour stuff. We climbed downstairs into the eerie cavern below the river to view the 'spectacular multimedia installation'........ actually weird changing images displayed in spaces inferior to a torture chamber.
The prize went to a large musty chamber with a vast series of 'donkey coats' suspended from the ceiling. For th unitiated. donkey coats are the felt and leather jackets worn by Irish waterside workers unloading the ships.
We re emerged into the Belfast sun not having seen another soul but pleased to have escaped being sold into slavery.
The art was displayed in a dank passageway and chambers under the Lagan Weir. Real bottom of the harbour stuff. We climbed downstairs into the eerie cavern below the river to view the 'spectacular multimedia installation'........ actually weird changing images displayed in spaces inferior to a torture chamber.
The prize went to a large musty chamber with a vast series of 'donkey coats' suspended from the ceiling. For th unitiated. donkey coats are the felt and leather jackets worn by Irish waterside workers unloading the ships.
We re emerged into the Belfast sun not having seen another soul but pleased to have escaped being sold into slavery.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Beautiful Belfast
We spent yesterday exploring Belfast, visiting a number of beautiful old churches, especially St George and St Anne's Cathedral. We visited the Crowne Pub with its wonderful individual booths where you can order a pint of Guinness and a dozen oysters with a silent message.
In the afternoon we went out to Belfast Castle and Cave Hill Country Park. The castle was morelike an old mansion and was being prepared for a wedding that night.
Back at Carrickfergus, we visited the old Norman Castle dating from the 10th century. This was wonderful as it is located right on the coast and is still in its original condition.
We continue our trip up the Antrim coast.
In the afternoon we went out to Belfast Castle and Cave Hill Country Park. The castle was morelike an old mansion and was being prepared for a wedding that night.
Back at Carrickfergus, we visited the old Norman Castle dating from the 10th century. This was wonderful as it is located right on the coast and is still in its original condition.
We continue our trip up the Antrim coast.
Belfast Sex research
Irish researchers, based in Queens University in Belfast have made a major breakthrough in parthenogenesis. They discovered that female sharks can reproduce without having sex.
Who else but an Irishman would research the ability of the female of the species to reproduce without mating?
Who else but an Irishman would research the ability of the female of the species to reproduce without mating?
Police Escort Out of Belfast
Yes we were escorted out of Belfast by the police!
We travelled up from Dublin by train, an interesting trip mainly along the coast. When we arrive, we dropped off our luggage at the car hire and spent the afternoon walking round Belfast.
The City Hall was most impressive with its beautiful dome and its wonderful marble staircase. We went on a conducted tour and walked on the beautiful silk and wool carpets and even sat in the mayoral chair.
Then it was time to drive up to Carrickfergus for the night. In the first 5 minutes we were lost! After another 10 minutes had to resort to police assistance. The officer looked us over and decided we were a priority case and escorted us out of town. No he did not say don't come back.
We travelled up from Dublin by train, an interesting trip mainly along the coast. When we arrive, we dropped off our luggage at the car hire and spent the afternoon walking round Belfast.
The City Hall was most impressive with its beautiful dome and its wonderful marble staircase. We went on a conducted tour and walked on the beautiful silk and wool carpets and even sat in the mayoral chair.
Then it was time to drive up to Carrickfergus for the night. In the first 5 minutes we were lost! After another 10 minutes had to resort to police assistance. The officer looked us over and decided we were a priority case and escorted us out of town. No he did not say don't come back.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Vote Costello for Labor
We have arrived in Dublin at election time. The election poster that really impressed us was "Vote Costello for Labor". We escaped the Australian frenzy only to hit the UK with Blair's departure and the campaign for deputy PM. Now elections in Ireland.
The wild Irish Sea was like a mill pond. We travelled in the "Ulysses" the world's largest car carrying ferry but we could have made it on a surf ski.
Today we took a local light rail to visit the National Museum of Ireland. A wonderful display of decorative art and history in a 17 century building. After lunch we visited Dublin Castle, the City Hall and Christchurch Cathedral.
One of the quirky things on display in the cathedral is a mummified cat and a rat. Apparently the cat chased the rat into an organ pipe in the 1860s and neither made it back out!
Also on display is the tomb of Strongbow. Some of you will think of Strongbow as cider but indeed he was an Anglo Norman knight who died in 1076.
Tomorrow we are off by train to Belfast.
The wild Irish Sea was like a mill pond. We travelled in the "Ulysses" the world's largest car carrying ferry but we could have made it on a surf ski.
Today we took a local light rail to visit the National Museum of Ireland. A wonderful display of decorative art and history in a 17 century building. After lunch we visited Dublin Castle, the City Hall and Christchurch Cathedral.
One of the quirky things on display in the cathedral is a mummified cat and a rat. Apparently the cat chased the rat into an organ pipe in the 1860s and neither made it back out!
Also on display is the tomb of Strongbow. Some of you will think of Strongbow as cider but indeed he was an Anglo Norman knight who died in 1076.
Tomorrow we are off by train to Belfast.
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