Travel Viki

On The Way To Belfast, Ireland

The only things I really knew about Belfast before we came here was The Troubles. Three decades of violence between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. I believe the major reason behind the violence was because of discrimination of the Catholic Minority and the Protestant Majority in Northern Ireland, also the question of Northern Ireland's status within the United Kingdom. The Troubles were between 1969 and 1997. All I remember is hearing of car bombings and other kinds of bombings with or without warnings. Shootings and snipers. Barricades being put up and check points being manned to check for bombs and weapons. It was a terrible time for all the people of Ireland, especially the civilians.

I also knew that the Titanic was built in Belfast and we know what happened there!

So I was expecting a lot of change between Ireland and Northern Ireland, but when we went over the boundary lines, there were no signs to tell us we were in Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland. The roads are wider in Northern Ireland and not so many brightly painted buildings. The roads in Northern Ireland are not bordered by close to the road rock fences or very close to the road hedges. The traffic signs are a little different also between the two! Ireland is more old country, farms, small stores, farms, rural. Northern Ireland is more citified even in the rural areas. Anyway, this is how the land looked in Northern Ireland.

Pardon the finger in the picture, we do not have time to stop! It is 10am and we have to drive from the Castle to Giant's Causewy then to the Belfast Airport to turn in the car by 3pm.

I know we have 5 hours to go 150 miles, but in these small towns with all the roundabouts and ways to get lost we needed to hurry!

These pictures are now from Northern Ireland. Like I said we just crossed a river and we were into Northern Ireland, where on some maps there is a border separating the two countries.

Then we come upon Londonderry/Derry! Boy it looks beautiful but we do not have time! Maybe next time!

So thru another 10 roundabouts, we don't get lost and off we go, Giants Causeway!

Now we are just a few kilometers from the Giants Causeway! Sheep by the Sea!

We have arrived at Giant's Causeway! Turn to the next post for the rest of the story!!!

Dinner at the Castle!

We received a 50.00 Euro voucher for dinner in the Castle Restaurant! Of course it was not a pub or budget cafe, it was going to be expensive. We had to order off the menu that had several 4 course dinners for 55.00 euro!

Now our room was in the corner that was furthest away from the restaurant as you can get. When the employee from the restaurant showed us to our room, I couldn't remember how to get back to the registration desk. Bud finally discovered the way which was a long way but we didn't have to go outside!

First we went down this hall!

Then we went down this hall!

Then we went down another hall to these stairs!

Down the stairs!

Down another hall to the restaurant!

Where we were so very hungry because we walked so much! We started off with a salal. They wrapped the lettuce, asparagus and carrots with a slice of cucumber!

Then we had Rib Eye Steak with mash potatoes and Veggie! Perfectly done medium rare!

Then we had dessert! Bud with a trio of homemade icecream: Coconut, Rum and Raisin and Chocolate Chip Mint!

And then I had for dessert Creme Brulee with Cherries! I didn't like the cherries but the Creme Brulee was delish!

It was a great evening! But on the charge cards in Ireland, we have yet to see a space for tip! But at this fancy restaurant they hiked up the exchange rate by 3.5 percent for the tip! Ouch! Thank goodness the meal was good! And the service was excellent! We'll come back!