Exploring the Emerald Isle

This for now will be short and sweet!   Getting into Londonderry was hell.  We need beer.  More to come later! This is being written while we enjoy a beer in Maldron Hotel Derry.  It just might be the first of many!  Our nerves are shot.  Putting it mildly, driving today was a challenge. The day started out really well.  We made our way back to Bushmills (the town) from our hotel in Portrush.  We had a 10:00 am tour and tasting booked at Bushmills (the distillery).  What a great way to start the day!  Our tour guide, a Brit, was great.  We were able to wander through most of the plant and ended with a tasting in their bar.  We tasted a 10 year old and a 12 year old whiskey.  The 12 year old was hands down the smoothest...and I have not been known to like Irish Whiskey.  That just meant a much more expensive bottle was purchased to take home.  And yes the plan is to actually get it home unlike the McCutcheon ...

 We breezed out of Belfast this morning.  Sue's navigation had us out in no time.  Maybe that had a little to do with it being a Sunday morning.  It seems nobody gets up very early here. A couple of days ago we decided to book a visit to Carrick-a-Rede.  It is a rope bridge that goes from the mainland out to a small island.  A reservation was made.  A tad of a 'screwup' took place...someone booked the wrong day for our visit...not sure who that someone was!  A phone call this morning was able to remedy the problem.  In fact it worked out even better because we had more time to get from Belfast to Carrick-a Rede. We decided to take the Causeway Coastal Route.  It was quite the experience.  We were treated to a wide variety of Ireland's finest roads.  Some were 2 lane lined with stone fences on both sides while others were narrow (no wider than a path) one lane 2 way roads.  If you met someone, you were forced to squeeze by ...

 This afternoon we took a Black Cab Tour of Belfast.  For more than 90 minutes we were toured through the streets of Belfast looking at the political murals commemorating the years from 1969 to 2000.  This period is commonly known as the 'Troubles'.  Although interestingly enough, our guide only used the term once instead choosing to refer to the time as 'The Conflict'.  This was a political conflict between the catholic sector led by the IRA (Irish Republican Army) against the British Government.  The IRA wanted political independence for Northern Ireland.  The IRA used bombs and targeted killings.  The Police/British Forces used just about as brutal of tactics.  About 3000 people were killed during the conflict.  A wall was built between the Catholic section of the city and the protestant territory.  Still today, 24 years after a peace agreement was signed, the wall still exists.  All but one of the gates between the 2 areas ...

We had a nice dinner last evening celebrating Sue's birthday.  She has caught up to me again...if only temporarily.  It was nice to eat something other than 'pub grub' for  change. Before we left home we booked a tour of Bru na Boinne.  Good thing that we did as it was sold out.  This is an archaeological site where we were able to visit 5000 year old tombs/burial grounds.  They are massive mounds built atop natural hills with a chamber inside reached by a narrow stone passage.  Little is known as to why these things were built or better yet, how in the heck they moved some of these rocks upwards of 70km.  At Newgrange we were able to enter the passage way and go under the mound.  The experience is mind boggling almost giving us the chills. These have been being excavated every year since about 1960.  They learn more and more but the overriding question is still, why were they built? The rest of the day was spent making our way to Belfas...

 Another planning hiccup played out this morning...Nothing serious though!  As we left breakfast this morning, we got the hotel receptionist to book us a cab for a 8:45 departure to take us to the Hertz Rental location by 9:00.  When we came down to the lobby to catch our ride, things were a bit hectic.  That is actually an understatement.  It was a circus!  Two bus loads of people (Americans) were 'milling' around in the lobby waiting for their ride to the airport.  The lobby actually was not a bad size but there were too many people in too small of space.  You could not move.  To make matters worse, our taxi that had been booked was for some reason cancelled by the dispatcher.  They said that they could not find the driver of our assigned ride...a strange explanation.  Dublin has a central booking system for all of its' taxis.  The Hotel Receptionist was not a happy camper!  Eventually the 'herd' of Americans made their ...

 Today was a repeat of yesterday...not even close! Now for the rant! Last evening we attempted to book a Guinness tour online.  Twice the website allowed us to go through the whole booking procedure (including the credit card info) only to send us back to the beginning.  Two different credit cards, the same result.  By this time we were getting a little concerned.  Were our cards okay?  As it turns out they were not the problem.  The website was letting us try to book a 9:30 start time.  The first tour actually begins at 9:45 as we found out when we arrived at Guinness this morning.  Unbelievable!  To make matters worse, they were unwilling to let us buy tickets on site. They no longer do that, or so they said.  With a little bit of discussion and pointing out that their website booking system was in need of updating, they let us do what they said they could not do, buy tickets on site!  Enough for the rant. The tour was actual...

 Up and at it by 6:00 am.  But wow was that difficult!  When the alarm went off we were anything but awake.  Anyone who knows Sue will be saying "what else is new"?  And you would be right!  And if anyone is wondering about the early start for the day while on holidays, I can explain.  28 days ago when we booked our first tour, it seemed like a good idea.  Never thought it through that we might be just a 'tad' tired after missing a nights sleep on the flight over. Go figure! Today was all about Dublin/Ireland's history.  We visited Kilmainham Gaol.  It was built in the 1780's through the 1790's and housed prisoners until it closed in 1924.  It did not look like a lot of improvements were ever made in those years.  It sat derelict until the early 1960's and was restored by volunteers some of whom had been prisoners there. Kilmainham was an incredibly 'harsh' institution to put it mildly.  It housed men, women and children....

Red eyes are a 'thing'.  Let me explain.  We left Toronto Pearson at 10;10 pm and arrived in Dublin at 9:45 am.  I have never been good at sleeping on an airplane and this flight was no exception.  Sue was able to get a little 'sleep eye'.  I never slept a wink!  And our rule is that we cannot 'pack it in' until 8:00 pm.  To say the least the eyes are gritty, sore and red. (And no Ken, it has nothing to do with the Guinness). Ha'penny Bridge Statues in honour of the Great Hunger Iconic picture of the Temple Bar Christ Church Cathedral St. Patrick's Cathedral Having a Pint of Guinness (or maybe 2 or 3)

It is a week from today that we fly out for this next adventure.  Much planning/scrambling is taking place.  (I really dislike computers.) I guess that I am a luddite. Stay tuned.

 It has been a while since our last 'out of country' adventure. It is time to head out once again. Ireland (the Emerald Isle) will be our destination. And no, it will not be on bicycles. We have pretty much given up riding, at least the 'touring kind'.  We will be circumnavigating Ireland for 3 weeks by car.  The plan is that this blog will be more about pictures with less of my 'drivel'. I know that some people will be saying "sure, you will not be able to post without giving commentary". I guess we will see. We are taking the 'red eye' on Sunday, September 22, 2024 arriving in Dublin on Monday morning. Stand by, we will see you there! Dingle Peninsula 2016