Back to Dublin! A bit of a nightmare negotiating the traffic and narrow roads to get the car back safe and sound, but I managed it thankfully. I had really enjoyed driving thie beautifully powerful BMW around Ireland, but always rather anxiously I must admit.
Our hotel was centrally located so we hopped on a Hop on Hop off bus and headed out to see Dublin. It was a really good decision because we got lots of interesting facts, saw lots of places and got a completely different perspective of this city from the top of the double decker. Colourful window boxes everywhere and reminders from all guides that we British will be leaving the EU!
The highlight of the Dublin trip was without a shadow of a doubt Kilmainham Gaol. What a brilliant tour we had with a woman who was passionate about the history of the prison and about the people who faced the firing squad there after the Uprising in 1916. Sad stories of brave men and their loved ones.
There were not only political prisoners there. Even a 5 year old boy was there for three months for stealing something very petty. Perhaps his family thought he was better off in prison with regular meals and a roof over his head than at home during the Great Famine. Prisoners were not allowed to speak. How did this poor child cope with silence and no parents to cuddle up to?
The tales were grippingly interesting but the piece de resistance was definitely the unbelievably beautiful architecture, reminding me more of a modern day shopping mall than a prison. They recognised the need for light and they certainly achieved this. It was a stunningly beautiful building.
In the political wing things were more sombre but still some light.
I would recommend this tour to everyone, but you need to book online to reserve a space at a certain time. Only 33 are allowed at one time and tours are only half- hourly.
Time then to say 'goodbye' to independence and hello to the luxury of a very personalised small geoup tour with Rabbies again. It is great to just sit back and be taken to the highlights without having to think about how to get there, where to park, etc.
We were a group of 13 very different personalities and nationalities - Kiwi, Swiss, Canadian, American, Australian and German. I could write at length about the elderly Canadian couple , but will not. Suffice it to say, the woman was loud and sometimes very strange and tactless. Her husband looked somewhat down- trodden and it was clear he was happy to sit away from her where possible! Otherwise, the group was quite normal ( !) and we made friends with the Germans and younger Canadians on board.
Tom the driver/ guide was a funny little older man, small and round, missing many teeth, and with an exceptionally strong Irish accent which even I, as a native English speaker, had trouble following. Some wonderful examples of his pronunciation were
- look at the tree tatched cottages over there( 3 thatched)
- William the turd (3rd)
- duck O'connor - i couldn't figure this out for a while till he started talking about ductors and nurses!
He was very interested in archaeology so gave us some good information.
We had our first substantial rain as we left Dublin and headed to Northern Irelans, but as we arrived in Belfast it eased off enough for us to get out and look at the very thought- provoking posters at the Falls and Shankhill Road area, scene of so many atrocities. We are all so shocked by Isis nowadays but in fact every era has had absolutely dreadful events. Ireland must be so grateful to at last have peace, though I got the feeling that in some areas there is simmering discontent.
We were told to look at the ( muriells), murals, at this sad point in Belfast. Sadly we did not have enough time to read them in detail.
Someone told us that the gates are still closed at night but our driver couldn't confirm that.
Some wonderful poetry and fantastic collages.
We didn't linger long in Belfast. We had a pretty full- on programme with a brilliant long stop for a quick lunch and the Titanic Museum. I am not normally a museum-lover but this one was sensational both from outside and inside. It was built to ressemble an iceberg and is as high as the Titanic was in its dry dock there. It is so impressive. As I ate a snack rapidly I could not help thinking how sad it is that disasters become such tourist attractions, The Titanic museum was voted best tourist attraction worldwide last year. It certainly merited its fame.
The photo below was taken in an area where the survivors raccounted what had really happened. The lighting effects and animation were fabulous.
I had enough time for a quick look at the last remaining boat built at that time, actually used as a tender. What I truly enjoyed was a visit to the toilets there, with their lovely wooden panels and Crapper's toilets. I am probably the only person who did not know that this was where the verb ' to crap' came from! I love it! One never stops learning .
One of the top places to visit on my Bucket list was The Giant's Causeway. Of course we had all hoped for fine weather, but this was not meant to be and as we arrived it was raining heavily. However, it did not stop it feeling amazing to actually stand there on these remarkable polygonal columns. Luckily the rain did stop, adding to the enjoyment of being in such a special place.
It was great to hear both the geological end mythical explanation for this natural wonder of the world. Certainly volcanic explosions over 60 million years ago sounded more feasible!
It had been a busy day with heaps to see so it was wonderful to stay at such a fabulous b and b in Portrush. We bought a great bottle of NZ wine and enjoyed it with a truly delicious Indian meal at a newly opened restaurant allowing BYO!
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