Here it is - the last real post of this European sojourn of mine. I'm typing this on the evening of my last full day in Europe, but this post is actually about my trip to Carrickfergus, the Antrim coast and Glens area, the Dark Hedges, and the Giant's Causeway.
I met the others on the tour at Allen's Tours in Belfast, and we boarded the bus and set off about 9:30 Monday morning. Our first stop was Carrickfergus - just a phot op for the castle (see the picture of King William III) and the harbor on which it sits.
From here we drove along the Antrim coast and also through many of the glens in this area. Please forgive some of these photos (the reflections from the bus windows) as I was on the wrong side of the bus and the bus was moving. But the drive along the coast was stunning. And interestingly, while we were in sunshine the whole way, there was mist out to see.
Also, a few pictures as we drove through the glens.
We stopped at the Dark Hedges Hotel for lunch, and to give the Game of Thrones fans their fix of sights from the series. I haven't ever seen it (I admit it!) but I understand the Dark Hedges (which are trees) are important. They didn't mean a lot to me from that point of view, but the walk out there was definitely in my wheelhouse - through the trees.
Finally, we were off to the Giant's Causeway. This was the highlight of the trip for me. I have seen pictures and heard from people who have been there and everyone says it is breathtaking. And it is.
I couldn't resist taking a couple of short videos, just to actually see the water moving and hear the sounds of waves on the rocks.
And that's it. It's about 10:30pm here in Belfast, and I have to be up at 4:30am to catch my bus to the Dublin Airport and my flights to LHR (that's London Heathrow) and then to Boston. If all goes well I should be home sometime around 6:30pm EDT tomorrow.
I have been over here just over 6 weeks, and have visited:
Brussels, Belgium
Bilzen, Belgium,
Dinant, Belgium
Luxembourg
Rotterdam
Lisbon
Prague
an 8-day tour through the Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia)
Amsterdam
London
Cardiff (Wales)
a 7-day tour through the Republic of Ireland
and the last few days in Belfast.
I have seen friends I have known for years, and some I met for the first time (after knowing them only on Zoom), and made new friends along the way.
It was a great trip, but now I am ready to be home again. I miss my own bed, and my home, and all of you! So see you soon.
And stay tuned for any future travels; I will continue to post here when I'm on the road.
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