Next we went to Ireland.
Day 1 in Ireland
We wandered around Dublin. And here are some of the highlights:
- St Patrick's Park and Cathedral full of blooming tulips
- Trinity College and the (entrance to) Book of Kells. (I didn't realize there would be pre-sold timed tickets and the day was booked out). Alas, I was near the ancient Celtic bible.
- National Museum of Ireland
- Medieval Irish Brooches
- swords
- bog preserved dresses and cloaks
- beautiful architecture building
- St Stephens Green Park - full of ducks, swans, tulips and flowers, and a playground
- Temple Bar
- River Liffey
- Jameson Distillery... flight of whisky anyone?
- St Audoen's park and church... built in 1190! the oldest surviving parish church in Dublin
Day 2 in Ireland
6am Train to Ennis which is the last found place (that we know of) for Pete's family history.
Found a cafe and ate a full Irish breakfast which includes: gravy beans, sausage, ham bacon, sunny up egg, hash browns, taters, sourdough toast and an Americano. Delish!
Continued walking and found:
Ennis Friary
River Fergus walking path
Old and not working water mill
Ennis Cathedral
Then we bused to Cliffs of Moher! So pretty! So wet! Perfect Irish day. While the weather was poor, it was one of the main locations we wanted to see, and hence make the best of it.
Then we bused to Galway, soggy but warm. found a pub for some warm food and a pint. Then the hotel.
Day 3 in Ireland
expressway bus up to LondonDerry... epicly long but such beautiful countryside.
Time in Derry: Derry Girls mural, Derry wall, beautiful cathedral, "pigeon park" as the kids called it, walking path over the peace bridge.
Train to Coleraine then a bus to Bushmills. Where we saw:
working watermill
Bush stream w a cool walking bridge in the park
fun playground
old buildings
cool historical things
badge on a fence saying Bush Mills city is 400 years old
BushMills Distillery (was closed for the day so we took a photo at its locked gates)
Bush House Bar- excellent local camaraderie, good music, nice pint and a dram of whisky for Pete
Day 4 in Ireland
finally rode a double decker bus a quick jaunt to The Giant's Causeway!! Where we found the Red Trail and hiked down "to the stones"(as the locals call them). Basalt honeycomb shaped columns of beautiful black rocks. so fascinating.
We spent a few hours playing around, looking at the stones, watching the waves, and just being here.
***trip highlight for Nicole. I found this place amazing. I loved all the parts of it. While the weather wasn't perfect we got to see it, and be in it, and enjoy it for a while. Before we were soaked we hiked the paths along the cliffside for other views. ***
Then we hid at the hostel to hide from Storm Dave. Soo windy! Glad we made it to the stones before the storm. We didn't get to see the nearby Dunluce Castle ruins but that was a choice to not be out in the rain and wind storm.
Day 5 in Ireland
We woke up to chocolate eggs hidden around the hostel. Happy Easter! After we left, we rode the bus to Coleraine, found a coffee shop, walked around listening to beautiful church bells ringing, played at a playground.
Trained to Belfast.
Found a burger shop. Yum! Their menu was a business card- front and back- they serve four burgers. I think since it was a college part of town they really knew how to make something "simple" and delicious.
Saw:
Albert clock tower
walked a pretty riverside trail by a river
big fish statue
harbor seal head statues
beautiful mix of old and new buildings
Next we caught a ferry... the StenaLine ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan. It felt like a cruise ship. 10 floors including two vehicle levels. The ferry was about 2.5 hours.
And then we were in Scotland and it was dinner time!
