Disaster and Troubles

It was all about disaster and troubles in Belfast. The major tourist attraction is the Titanic Experience, an impressive museum about all things Titanic: from the design and construction, the voyage and disaster and its aftermath, through to expeditions to find the wreck.  The other big theme of tourist activity were the Troubles: walking tours, black taxi tours, mural tours. We did a bus tour and were planning a walking tour for our final day, but the rains set in, so we decided to move on. We did fit in a visit Carrickfergus Castle which is the most complete Norman Castle and dates from 1205.

After Belfast it was along the Northern Ireland coast to the Giants Causeway. Along the way there 

were numerous sites natural and man-made to see through the drizzle. 

As it doesn’t get dark until around 10pm we explored the Dark Hedges just before dark and again in the morning. Whilst the Dark Hedges have been made famous through Game of Thrones they were planted some 200 years ago as a driveway hedge.

We arrived in Derry yesterday and learned more about the Troubles which started here in 1972 when the British army shot 28 unarmed civilians during a protest march resulting in 14 deaths. We also took a walking tour along the city walls (the most intact city walls in Europe). Along the wall we also met some historical figures including an 18^th century surgeon who wanted to amputate Adrian’s arm.

Tomorrow we will head back into the Republic and head down the Atlantic coast.

PS If you hadn't guessed Joy is mobile again