#Carrick A Rede

[greenbagjosh]

Days 3 to 5 - Belfast, Carrick a Rede, Giants Causeway and Bushmills

Hi everyone, Welcome to Day 3 of my visit to Europe in Summer 2004. Up to Monday the 26th July 2004, I had been staying at my parent's then-home in California. I was there for the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Now I had to move on to Belfast, in Northern Ireland. I planned to go on the city tour, and the next day a tour of the Carrick-a-Rede Bridge as well as the Bushmills distillery. Then lastly I rode the train from Belfast Botanic to Portadown Central. On 29th July 2004 I would go by train to Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland. The weather was much cooler than in Texas, and I was fortunate enough to remain healthy.

Dia daoibh, Fáilte go Lá 3 de mo chuairt ar an Eoraip i Samhradh 2004. Suas go dtí Dé Luain an 26 Iúil 2004, bhí mé ag fanacht i dteach mo thuismitheoirí i gCalifornia ag an am. Bhí mé ann le haghaidh Féile Gairleoige Gilroy. Anois bhí orm bogadh ar aghaidh go Béal Feirste, i dTuaisceart Éireann. Bhí sé beartaithe agam dul ar chamchuairt na cathrach, agus an lá dár gcionn turas ar Dhroichead Charraig an Rí chomh maith le drioglann Bushmills. Ansin ar deireadh mharcaigh mé an traein ó Belfast Botanic go Port an Dúnáin Láir. Ar 29 Iúil 2004 rachainn ar an traein go Baile Átha Cliath, i bPoblacht na hÉireann. Bhí an aimsir i bhfad níos fuaire ná mar a bhí i Texas, agus bhí an t-ádh orm fanacht sláintiúil.

Ciao a tutti, Benvenuti al terzo giorno della mia visita in Europa nell'estate del 2004. Fino a lunedì 26 luglio 2004, ero stato ospite a casa dei miei genitori in California. Ero lì per il Gilroy Garlic Festival. Ora dovevo andare a Belfast, nell'Irlanda del Nord. Avevo programmato di fare il tour della città e il giorno dopo un tour del ponte Carrick-a-Rede e della distilleria Bushmills. Poi, infine, ho preso il treno da Belfast Botanic a Portadown Central. Il 29 luglio 2004 sarei andato in treno a Dublino, nella Repubblica d'Irlanda. Il clima era molto più fresco che in Texas e sono stato abbastanza fortunato da rimanere in salute.

Bonjour à tous, Bienvenue au troisième jour de ma visite en Europe cet été 2004. Jusqu'au lundi 26 juillet 2004, j'étais chez mes parents en Californie, où j'étais à l'époque. J'étais là pour le festival de l'ail de Gilroy. Je devais maintenant me rendre à Belfast, en Irlande du Nord. J'avais prévu de faire le tour de la ville, puis le lendemain, de visiter le pont de Carrick-a-Rede et la distillerie Bushmills. Enfin, j'ai pris le train de Belfast Botanic à Portadown Central. Le 29 juillet 2004, j'allais prendre le train pour Dublin, en République d'Irlande. Le temps était bien plus frais qu'au Texas et j'ai eu la chance de rester en bonne santé.

Hallo zusammen, Willkommen zu Tag 3 meiner Europareise im Sommer 2004. Bis Montag, den 26. Juli 2004, hatte ich im damaligen Haus meiner Eltern in Kalifornien gewohnt. Ich war dort zum Gilroy Garlic Festival. Nun musste ich weiter nach Belfast in Nordirland. Ich hatte vor, an einer Stadtrundfahrt teilzunehmen und am nächsten Tag die Carrick-a-Rede-Brücke sowie die Bushmills-Brennerei zu besichtigen. Anschließend fuhr ich mit dem Zug vom Belfast Botanic nach Portadown Central. Am 29. Juli 2004 wollte ich mit dem Zug nach Dublin in der Republik Irland fahren. Das Wetter war viel kühler als in Texas und ich hatte das Glück, gesund zu bleiben.

First I would like to apologize in advance, if some of the subject matter might cause distress. Part of today's adventure will contain the remnants of a conflict that started in the late 1960s, and lives were lost as a result. I will try very hard to keep that to a minimum, and focus on the more positive aspects of the events of the days concerned.

Monday the 26th July 2004, I had planned to fly to Belfast, Northern Ireland, making connections at Chicago O'Hare and London Heathrow. I would fly in first class from San Francisco to Chicago O'Hare, and Premium Economy the rest of the way. At the time, I had a United Premier Silver status, and consequently could spend time in the dedicated lounges. I woke up about 5:30 AM, took a shower, packed up, had a small breakfast, before my mother drove me to SFO. I checked in my rolling suitcase, and took my backpack along with me. The United lounge, at the time, in Terminal 3, allowed me in for an hour. I caught the 9 AM flight to Chicago O'Hare. I think I arrived about 3 PM Central. The flight to London Heathrow would not leave until maybe 5:30 PM. If you like Gerschwin's "Rhapsody In Blue" song, there was at the time, an underground passageway between Terminals B and C, and on the loudspeakers was a handbell version of "Rhapsody in Blue". There was also a neon light display just above the travellators, turning on and off along to the music. The walls had windows the same colors as the neon lights.

I was on a United flight to Heathrow from Chicago O'Hare in a sort of "premium economy" seat. It is different from the regular economy seats, since it has a few extra inches of legroom. On Monday 27th July 2004, I landed about 7:30 AM. First I went to the passport control, where I received a non-Schengen stamp in my passport. It said "Leave to enter for 6 months, employment and access to public funds prohibited". I would not need to have my passport stamped if I entered the Republic of Ireland by rail. My wheeled bag would be returned to me only after I had landed in Belfast. I was hungry, so I went to someplace in Terminal 3, the Cafe Rouge, that had a cafe serving "Full English Breakfast". I ordered it with coffee. I believe I had two fried eggs, sausage, tomatoes, a large mushroom and toast. Breakfast was very good, and cost only 9.50 pounds, including coffee.

After breakfast, I walked around Heathrow, even walking to the Underground station to see what had changed since my last visit in March 2000. Pretty much everything was the same from that time. I went back to the terminal, where I would catch the plane to Belfast. British Midland Airlines, known by its code "BMI", had a partnership with United Airlines, and welcomed those with a United Premier Plus status into their lounge at no charge. I spent an hour there, before my flight to Belfast. I listened to the BBC on my radio, and had a glass of Boddington's in a "nonic" glass.

About 10 AM, I boarded the flight to Belfast. It was on an Airbus A320, and it needed a jetway at Heathrow. The safety video had been prerecorded, and I would watch it again at least two more times on 31st July. The flight went over Isle of Man, before landing in Belfast City, east-northeast of downtown. The airport has since been renamed to the George Best Belfast City Airport. The international airport is west-northwest of downtown Belfast, close to Lough Neagh, and unlike the City Airport, it does not have a railway connection. Belfast City, if I remember correctly, did not have proper jetways, everyone had to alight by staircar. In later years, there might have been a couple installed.

At Belfast City Airport, I fetched my rolling suitcase. The rail link between Belfast City Airport and Downtown Belfast exists, but it is not particularly straightforward. You have to take a shuttle at the airport to the Sydenham Footbridge along the A2, go up and down the stairs, and go to the far side platform, not the near one, as trains would go to Bangor. There were no ticket machines, fares would be sold by the conductor. One thing I noticed at the corner of Inverary Drive and Station Road, was a house with a mural. In Sydenham, which I would learn later that day, the east part of Belfast tends to be loyalist, while the west part tends to be republican (unity with the Republic of Ireland). The mural was on behalf of the Ulster Volunteer Force. It has changed over time, probably three or four times, since I had last been to Sydenham. A train came in the direction of Bangor, likely a class 80. Arriving and departing sounded something like a helicopter landing and taking off. Since Northern Ireland's railways were not electrified then, they were served by diesel multiple unit trains, 80 class with the door handles on the outside, and 450 class that has electric door opening. Unlike in the UK, the Northern Ireland railways use the same gauge as in the Republic, namely 1,600 mm, known as "Irish Gauge". I rode a 450 class EMU from Sydenham to the terminus at Belfast Central, recently renamed to Belfast Lanyon Place, past the Titanic Quarter. I changed to an 80 class train, and rode for one stop to Botanic. The youth hostel was not very far. I think I arrived there about 10 AM. I checked in and signed up for the city tour for that day and the countryside tour for the next day. The countryside tour would include a lunch break where the city tour would not. The youth hostel was in the loyalist part of Belfast, the curbstones were painted red white and blue, and you could see hundreds of Union Jack flags strung along Donegall Road and Sandy Row. The "Orange Parade" had taken place two weeks prior.

At 11:30 AM, the city tour bus arrived, and only a few minutes later, it would end up at Belfast City Hall so that more passengers could board. We went first to the Gaeltacht Quarter on Falls Road. We spent maybe five minutes at Leeson Street, before going on to Shankill and the former Crumlin Road Gaol. The bus had stopped close to the Oliver Cromwell murals, at the time there were two. We were told by the tour guide, not to walk on the grass area due to "booby traps", basically meaning that many dogs do their business in random locations. Please bear in mind, it is difficult to exactly retrace the tour route, as over time, murals are covered and repainted, sometimes just simply covered with a solid color, or even the building can be demolished.

The bus left and we went on to see the Victoria Square and Belfast Cathedral. Belfast Cathedral is Episcopalian, more or less. It had opened in 1904. It is unique as it has two bishop's seats. It had a very nice interior, with corinthian columns and stained glass windows. They did not use benches, but they had individual wooden seats. They requested a visitor donation of about 2 pounds. They used the term "unwaged", for the local unemployed, which would have been maybe 1.00 pound.

The bus also passed by the Titanic construction grounds, and went as far east as Stormont, the location of the Local Assembly of Northern Ireland. The builidng itself was post-Georgian, had six ionian columns, and steps to the entryway. The lamp posts had moose heads on them. We did not have time to spend there unfortunately. The bus went past Queens's Square and the Albert Memorial Clock The tour ended at the City Hall square, and I was free to wander about. I must have wandered about for the last three hours, about as far east as the Albert Memorial Clock, but don't remember much else, as I felt jetlag and went to my bedroom to sleep. I used my UK adapter to charge my phone, which was a Siemens S40. The adapter I used was a "Type G", which worked fine. I went to sleep and woke up about 5:30 AM on Tuesday 28 July.

For some reason at 5:30 AM, I woke up, took a shower and then walked from the hostel to Belfast Central station. I took the first train somehow to Whiteabbey, wanting actually to go to Bangor, but by then it was too late. I was in a class 80 train. I happened to see an Iarnrod Eireann train, which I would take the next day to Dublin. The train also passed by Yorkgate. I remembered when I arrived at Whiteabbey, to put the window down and turn the handle to open the door. I did not spend much time at Whiteabbey. The only building of interest nearby was the hospital. I took another train back to Central Station and a bus to somewhere on Dublin Road. It was somewhere close to Wetherspoon Free House. I had a breakfast buffet for about 12 pounds. I could just pick the items that I wanted to eat. Then I took a bus back to the hostel, in time to catch the country tour bus.

The bus left the hostel about 10 AM. It went on the M2 to Glengormley, then north on the A8 to Carnlough Marina where we made our first stop. I remember the Herbert Street Bridge which had the maximum headroom sign of 13 feet and 3.8 meters. The bus went onwards to Carrick A Rede rope bridge. It was a pedestrian only bridge, and there was a charge of 1.00 pound to go over, returning was no charge. I had to walk from the car park on a trail to the bridge. I paid my one pound, and received a receipt for it. Once I returned, I received a signed certificate that I crossed the bridge. Crossing the bridge was not as scary as I had feared. It was going from a cliff to an island. I spent a few minutes there before going back.

The bus went on to the Giant's Causeway. It is said that the causeway goes as far as Fingal's Cave on the Scottish island of Staffa, past Islay. We stayed there for about ten minutes before going to lunch. We had lunch at a pub, and I think I had a thick cut bacon sandwich, salad and glass of local cider, something similar to Magner's. After lunch, we stopped at the Bushmill's distillery. They specialized in whiskey. I was picked to do a taste test at the end of the tour, I think I might have had seven shots of various Irish whiskeys, including Jameson, John Bower & Son, Black Bush and even Bushmills. After the tour ended, the bus drove down the A26 and M22 back to the hostel in Belfast. The tour arrived about 5 PM at the hostel.

I was not quite content to end the day just yet. I walked to Botanic, had a snack of chicken strips, fries and fizzy lemonade. Then I took a train to Portadown, just to look around. The train I rode over was a 80 class train. It made an intermediate stop at the former Great Victoria station, which has since been decomissioned. I walked from the station to High Street. At some point, there were gates that were due to close about 8 PM. Looking at recent Google photos of the same place, those gates would have been removed. I found some place to have fish and chips. About 9 PM, I took the train back to Botanic station. The train arrived at Botanic about 10:30 PM. When the train was at Finaghy, the lights had turned on. As it was a low pressure sodium light, otherwise a SOX light, it had a pinkish glow which would turn bright yellow. Ireland is in the GMT +1 zone, GMT +0 during winter, and the sun might rise and set later than in the UK. I went to my bed in the hostel and went to sleep. I would have to wake up fairly early to catch the bus to the rail station to go to Dublin.

I hope you will join me in tomorrow's adventure in the Republic of Ireland. I get to go on the self guided tour including a LUAS ride to Sandyford. You will kind of feel what it would be like to be in the film "The Commitments", particularly with Robert Arkins. See you then!

[death-by-mercury]

𝕭𝖊𝖆𝖚𝖙𝖎𝖋𝖚𝖑 𝕴𝖗𝖊𝖑𝖆𝖓𝖉

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in Irish History | 11 February:

In the Liturgical calendar today is the Feast Day of St Gobnait, also known as Gobnat or Mo Gobnat, a medieval, female saint whose church was Móin Mór, later Bairnech, in the village of Ballyvourney (Baile Bhuirne), Co Cork. She was associated with the Múscraige and her church and nunnery lay on the borders between the Múscraige Mittine and Eóganacht Locha Léin. 1177 – John de Courcy’s army…

[isupportzaynxliamxziam]

Friday, 13 October 2023/2

Liam's still in Ireland, where poses with a fan while visiting Carrick-a-Rede

credits to updatingljp

[smbilodeau]

Carrick-a-Rede, Northern Ireland, 2005

[tmarshconnors]

Orange Lilies

Lilium bulbiferum, common names orange lily, fire lily, Jimmy's Bane, tiger lily and St. John's Lily, is a herbaceous European lily with underground bulbs, belonging to the Liliaceae.

[itsloriel]

© Ian Berry - Woman crossing the rope bridge over 24-meter chasm to Carrick Island. Carrick-a-Rede, Antrim, Northern Ireland. 2004

[windermeresimblr]

Tag Game!

I was tagged by @danjaley. Thank you!

last song I listened to: "Caitlin Triall" by Skara Brae on their self-titled album. It's really a sad song, but I like the way they perform it.

favorite place: Carrick-a-Rede. I still can't believe I crossed that bridge. But the view was fabulous!

favorite books: This is unfair to ask! Everyone's favorite ANYTHING evolves over time. I do have a fairly stable shelf of "classics" in my head, usually involving "The Chronicles of Prydain" and the Marcus Didius Falco series, as well as "The Eagle of the Ninth" and "The Crystal Cave." (Looking back on that sentence, I see a very obvious thread of historical fiction and fantasy.)

currently reading: I have a pile of To Be Read academic books about Bronze Age textiles and clothing, but I had to put that aside for a bit because I needed a break from flipping back and forth from the index to the plates. For fun, I've been rereading "Saiyuki" (the 90's manga, not the actual Journey To The West), as I wanted to recapture some high school nostalgia. It's surprising how much teenage!me and current!me are in agreement about how irresponsible the main characters are. (Although I now think, gosh, these characters that I thought were so grown-up and experienced and cool--they're so young, comparatively! The passage of time is a trip.)

favorite tv show: I've been rewatching a lot of "How It's Made" and "Mythbusters." Last weekend, I got back into "River Monsters."

favorite food: I had kiwi for "brunch" this morning and realized how much I love it once again.

I tag whoever hasn't been tagged AND wants to do it.

[belfasttransfersandtours]

Journey to the Giant's Causeway: A Belfast Day Trip

There are a ton of things to do in Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The RMS Titanic was built in Belfast, and the city is probably best remembered for the bloodshed and suffering that occurred there during The Troubles in the latter half of the 20th century. The Titanic saga has captivated Belfast for more than a century. 

The enormous hulk of the ship formerly towered over the docks in east Belfast during the years it was being built, and it is believed that on the day of launch, the entire city partied and celebrated. A business called Belfast Walking Tour provides a selection of escorted walking tours in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Local experts who are passionate about the city and its history lead their trips. There are several excursions available from Belfast Walking excursions, including the following:

The Titanic Quarter, City Hall, and St. George's Market are just a few of the major sights included on the Best of Belfast Highlights Tour.

The Troubles and the Titanic disaster are just two examples of the city's difficult past that are covered in the tour "A History of Terror."

Visit some of the filming locations for the well-known television program Game of Thrones on this tour.

During this trip, passengers ride in a vintage black taxi cab as the driver tells them about the history and culture of the city.

It is highly recommended that you choose Belfast Transfers and Tours if you are considering visiting Belfast. It's a fantastic way to discover the city's past, present, and attractions.

The Typical Crucial Elements of Belfast Walking Tours

Typically, these tours are led by knowledgeable guides who give anecdotes, information, and viewpoints regarding Belfast's past and present. They give guests a fun and instructive experience and can deepen their awareness of the history and culture of the city. You may find numerous tour companies in the city that provide various tour kinds to fit your tastes if you're interested in taking a Belfast Walking Tour. 

Cultural Tours

The history of Belfast, particularly its industrial past, the Troubles (a time of unrest in Northern Ireland), and the city's contribution to shipbuilding, most famously the Titanic, are topics that are covered on many walking tours in Belfast.

Historical Tours

Some excursions place a strong emphasis on Belfast's cultural highlights, including its thriving music, artistic, and literary scenes.

Campaign Tours

Some tours in Belfast examine the political aspects of the city, including murals and locations connected to the Troubles, in light of the city's history of political struggle and peace-building initiatives.

Theme-Based Tours

Belfast Walking Tours might be thematic, concentrating on certain subjects like cuisine, architecture, or the city's nautical heritage.

Personalized Tours 

Several tour operators provide bespoke excursions to allow customers to customize their trip to their interests.

Tour of Belfast and Giants Causeway: The Best of Northern Ireland

A geological feature called the Giant's Causeway is made up of more than 40,000 interconnecting basalt columns. Over 60 million years ago, a volcanic eruption is thought to have produced it. The various sizes and styles of the columns combine to form a truly extraordinary and breathtaking scene. 

The Belfast to Giants Causeway Tour is a full-day excursion that transports tourists from Belfast to the Giant's Causeway, a site that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the way, the trip frequently makes stops at additional sites such as the Dark Hedges, Dunluce Castle, and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. This tour is a fantastic way to explore some of Northern Ireland's most stunning and well-known sights. 

This tour is appropriate for visitors of all ages and interests. These excursions offer a wonderful chance to take in Northern Ireland's natural beauty, learn about its geological history, and immerse in the local mythology and culture. They are a well-liked option for travelers wanting to experience the area's breathtaking coastline and distinctive geological treasures.

[live-the-fangirl-life]

i would love if you'd shared everything that might be in aelin's list in a world away, all the dream places she wants to go or already went 🤧🥺

First of all - I am so sorry it’s taken me so long to answer this ask 😭

Second - this list is in no way complete. I could probably double it if I gave it some more time (and maybe I’ll edit this post and add some later) but I wanted to answer this ask.

Third - some things listed are cities, some are attractions, some are landmarks or monuments…it’s really a mix of everything. And some major landmarks that cover more than one country are only listed once.

A World Away

So, without further ado, please enjoy

Aelin’s Incomplete and Ever-Adapting World Travel List ✈️

Antarctica

Argentina

Iguazú Falls // Patagonia // Rainbow Mountains // Buenos Aires

Australia

Melbourne // Sydney // Gold Coast // Great Barrier Reef // Adelaide

Austria

Vienna // Salzburg // Hallstatt

the Bahamas

Belgium

Bruges // Brussels

Belize

the Great Blue Hole

Bhutan

the Himalayas

Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Stari Most Bridge // Mostar

Brazil

Rio de Janeiro // Christ the Redeemer // Amazon Rainforest // Lençóis Maranhenses National Park // Sao Paolo

Bulgaria

Cambodia

Angkor Wat

Canada

Niagra Falls // Vancouver // Banff // Toronto

Chile

Easter Island // Torres del Paine National Park // Marble Caves

China

Great Wall of China // Beijing // Shanghai // the Summer Palace // Potala Palace // Tianmen Mountain // Reed Flute Caves // Zhanye Danxia

Costa Rica

San Jose

Croatia

Dalmatian Coast // Diocletian's Palace // Krka waterfall park // Plitvice Lakes // Zagreb

Cuba

Havana

Czech Republic

Prague

Denmark

Copenhagan

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Quito // Galapagos Islands

Egypt

Cairo // The Great Pyramids & Sphinx // Nile River // Valley of the Kings // Luxor // Aswan

England

London // Thames River // Stonehenge

Estonia

Tallinn

Fiji

Finland

Helsinki

France

Mont-Saint-Michel // Louvre // Eiffel Tower // Alsace Lorraine // Paris // Notre Dame // Sacre Coeur // Versailles // Nice

French Polynesia

Bora Bora // Tahiti

Germany

Munich // Berlin // Black Forest // Oktoberfest // Neuschwanstein Castle

Greece

Santorini // Athens // Parthenon // Roman Agora // Acropolis // Mykonos // Oia // Fira // Corfu // Meteora

Greenland

Hong Kong

Tsim Sha Tsui

Hungary

Budapest // Capitol Hill // Bath Houses

Iceland

Reykjavik // Northern Lights // Egilsstaðir //Ring Road // Blue Lagoon // Vatnajökull National Park // Kirkjufell // Húsavík // Akureyri // Thingvellir National Park

Italy

Roman Colosseum // Amalfi Coast // Florence Duomo // Venice at Carnival // Piazzale Michelangelo // Cinque Terre // Pisa // Venice // Pompeii // Milan

India

Taj Mahal // Varanasi & Ganges River // Golden Temple // Agra // Mumbai // New Delhi

Indonesia

Bali // Komodo Island // Blue Flames at Ijen Volcano // Jarkarta

Iran

Hall of Diamonds

Ireland & Northern Ireland

Cliffs of Moher // Giants Causeway // Galway // Blarney Stone // Trinity College // O'Neills // Belfast // Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge // Cobh

Isreal

Dead Sea // Jerusalem

Jamaica

Japan

Tokyo // Mount Fuji // Wisteria Gardens // Osaka // Kyoto

Jordan

Petra // Amman

Kazakhstan

Kenya

Maasai Mara National Park // Lake Victoria

Kyrgyzstan

Luxembourg

Madagascar

Avenue of the Baobabs

Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur // Batu Caves

the Maldives

Male

Malta

Valletta

Mexico

Cabo // Teotihuacán // Chichen Itza // Cabo // Yucatan Peninsula // Mexico City

Mongolia

Gobi Desert

Morocco

Casablanca // Hassan II Mosque // Marrakesh // Chefchaouen // Sahara Desert

Myanmar

Bagan's Temples

Namibia

Nepal

Mount Everest // Kathmandu

the Netherlands

Amsterdam // Van Gogh Museum // Tulip Festival

New Zealand

Auckland // Queenstown // Kawarau Suspension Bridge // Milford Sound // Tongariro National Park // Hobbitton // Dark Sky Sanctuary // Waitomo Caves

Nigeria

Lagos

Norway

Oslo

Panama

Panama City

Peru

Machu Picchu & Huayna Picchu // Lima // Aguas Calientes // Andes Mountains // Huacachina

Philippines

Palawan // Manila

Poland

Krakow

Portugal

Lisbon

Romania

Russia

Moscow // St Petersburg

Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park

Saint Lucia

Samoa

Saudi Arabia

Al-Masjid an-Nabawi

Scotland

Edinburgh // Loch Ness // Inverness // Glasgow // Scottish Highlands

Singapore

Marian Bay Sands

Slovenia

Lake Bled

South Africa

Capetown // Johanessburg // Isle of Elephants

South Korea

Seoul // Jeju Island

Spain

Barcelona // Madrid // Sagrada Familia // Mosque of Cordoba

Sweden

Stockholm // Sweddish Lapland

Switzerland

the Alps // Bern // St Moritz

Tanzania

Mount Kilimanjaro // Serengeti

Thailand

Bangkok // the Grand Palace // Phuket

republic of Türkiye 

Cappadocia // Istanbul // Hagia Sophia // Pamukkale

Turkmenistan

Darvaza gas crater

Turks & Caicos

United Arab Emirates

Dubai // Burj Khalifa

United States

Grand Canyon // San Fransisco // Honolulu // Kauai // New Orleans // New York City // Seattle // Portland // Los Angeles // Antelope Canyon // MOMA // Las Vegas

Vanuatu

the Vatican

St. Peter's Basilica // The Vatican Museum // Sistine Chapel

Vietnam

Ha Long Bay // Hoi An // Hanoi

Zambia

Victoria Falls

[greenbagjosh]

Northern Ireland July 2004

[travelella]

National Trust - Carrick-a-Rede, Ballintoy, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in Irish History | 11 February:

In the Liturgical calendar today is the Feast Day of St Gobnait, also known as Gobnat or Mo Gobnat, a medieval, female saint whose church was Móin Mór, later Bairnech, in the village of Ballyvourney (Baile Bhuirne), Co Cork. She was associated with the Múscraige and her church and nunnery lay on the borders between the Múscraige Mittine and Eóganacht Locha Léin. 1177 – John de Courcy’s army…

[carstenz]

The King‘s Road

21. September 2024

Ballycastle - Bushmills

Das war mal wieder eine kalte Nacht. Morgens versteckt sich die Sonne auch noch blöd hinter Bäumen anstatt mich zu wärmen. Dafür stoppe ich dann erstmal lange im nächsten Café in Ballycastle. Es ist ins Hotel integriert und sehr beliebt. Mein Körpergeruch scheint doch noch nicht so schlimm zu sein, denn mein kleiner Tisch am Fenster wird bald von vielen Menschen bevölkert. Es sind aber alles Stammkunden. Vielleicht wollen sie ihren Stammplatz, nicht einfach wegen einem stinkigen Radfahrer aufgeben.

Ich habe jetzt definitiv die Nordküste von Nordirland erreicht. Gestern gab es kaum etwas zum Fotografieren und dafür knipse ich mir heute die Finger Wund und diverse Male den Akku leer. Mir graut schon davor, dass ich die ganzen Bilder noch durchsehen und auswählen muss. Eine Sehenswürdigkeit jagt in dichter Reihenfolge die nächste. Zum Radfahren komme ich immer nur an kurzen Abschnitten dazwischen. Die Hängebrücke von Carrick-a-Rede macht den Anfang. Diese verbindet eine kleine Felseninsel mit dem Festland und wird schon seit hunderten von Jahren von Lachsfischern benutzt. Für die heutigen Touristenmassen sind nur die Seile etwas erneuert und modernisiert worden. Den Abschluss macht der Giant‘s Causeway. Das ist eine ganz seltsame Felsformation, die wie ein großer Treppenweg ins Meer führt und eindeutig die größte Touristenattraktion in Nordirland. Auf solche Menschen-, Auto- und Busmassen war ich auch nicht vorbereitet.

Und dazwischen habe ich noch diverse Drehorte von Game of Thrones gesehen, die hier aber im Gegensatz zu allen bisherigen auch sehr spektakulär sind. Gewaltige Klippen gesehen, über die Drachen geflogen sind. Grassteppen, die von den Dothraki beritten wurden. Ein großer Steinbruch, in dem die Armee des Königs ihr Lager aufgeschlagen hat. Der Hafen und Strand von Balintoy, der als Double der Eiseninseln eine fantastische Arbeit gemacht haben. Und als Höhepunkt aller nordirischen Game of Thrones Drehorte war ich bei den Dark Hedges. Eine berühmte Allee aus 250 Jahre alten Buchen, die als King‘s Road gefilmt wurde. Das sie asphaltiert ist, war mir in der Serie entgangen. Erstaunlich auch, dass man auf der King‘s Road ganz Westeros durchqueren kann. Die Straße ist nur ein paar hundert Meter lang.

Leider sieht es heute auch nicht mehr ganz so episch aus, weil ein Sturm einige der Bäume dahin gerafft hat. Der Meister des Marketings hat aus diesen umgestürzten Bäumen aber zehn kunstvolle Türen mit Motiven aus Game of Thrones herstellen lassen. Die sind jetzt in Pubs über ganz Nordirland verteilt und die Dame in der Touristeninformation hat mir heute Morgen einen Sammelpass gegeben, den man sich in den Pubs abstempeln lassen kann. Als ehemaliger Marketingleiter finde ich die Idee toll, aber als Tourist/Fan möchte ich soweit doch nicht gehen.Im Gegenteil: Ich denke, das war heute ein perfekter Abschluss für meine Reise zu den Drehorten der Serie und morgen geht es weiter nach Westen ins richtige Irland.

[photosbyjabo]

Belfast | Northern Ireland, November 2019

It’s November and my partner and I are celebrating our first anniversary here in Belfast.

It was rainy and grey when we got here in the morning but just the fact that we got to travel and be on holiday is reason enough to be happy. First thing to do — breakfast! I’ve been here before when I first went to Belfast with friends and I really liked my experience so I suggested we come back. The place is called Harlem.

After breakfast we went to the Titanic Museum. Again, I've been before so I didn't really take any photos anymore. A cold and rainy day so we ended up just going back to the hotel and only came back out for dinner. We ended up having a late night and drinking some Guinness.

The following day was our coach tour day to the Carrick-a-rede and the Giant's Causeway.

We were still blessed because today the weather improved and the sun came out. It was still a bit cold walking by the cliffs but being the water is definitely comforting.

Part of the tour was stopping by the Old Bushmills Distillery in Bushmills. We weren't quite ready to drink whisky at two in the afternoon but definitely a good experience to remember.

We've finally reached our last destination on this tour -- the Giant's Causeway.

It was actually quite difficult to take a decent photo without other people. There were simply people everywhere, although I would still definitely recommend this place. Incredible to know that all of this isn't man-made. Sunsets on November are so much earlier. By 4pm it's already sundown. Hopped back into the coach and had some steak for to celebrate our last night here.

(All photos taken with an iPhone, November 2019)

[greasy-old-skillet]

 Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge - County Antrim