We're back on US ground, hanging in the Sky Lounge in Hot lanta. Got some good sleep on the way so the broads are not exhausted like we were on the way out. HOWEVER, we did have to leave the comfort of our cozy room at the Royal Marine Hotel at the dispicable hour of 4:00 am in order to get our flight out of Dublin. AND, it was snowing, AGAIN! Our flight left an hour late because the plane had to be de-iced but we made up time in the air and got here right time.
Although the trips to Europe are fantastic, the USA is the best country in the world, for sure. Simple things like ice in drinks (and in hotels), good plumbing, electrical outlets in bathrooms or anywhere for that fact, even sidewalks, big beautiful grocery stores with everything easily available including over the counter meds, should be appreciated because it ain't so elsewhere. By the end of any trip we are always very happy to be home even if it means we are back to reality and not retired or independently wealthly. LOL!
The Broads
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
We're in a Cabra Castle!!
Today's a picture day folks because the broads are tired. We had a short bus tour around Belfast, and then went to the Titanic center. We are now at the castle - woohoo, very nice accomodations. Our room has two bedrooms.
Belfast city hall.
Castle bedroom number one - yes, our room has two.
One of many stairways - there are 63 steps between our room and the main hall.
Front of castle.
Oscar II, the castle wolf hound - sweet dog.
Another hallway.
Former residents??
Another hall.
Oscar wall.
One of the dining rooms.
Hallway.
Oscar pictures.
One of several sitting rooms.
Our dining room.
The main castle dining room.
Another shot of the dining room.
Twin armour guards the main double staircase in the grand foyer.
The castle bar.
Us in a cozy room off the lobby.
We continued getting snow all night.
Our rooms are the first lit window that looks like a cloverleaf, and the next two windows to the right.
Titanic Memorial in front of Belfast city hall.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Long Day on the Bus!
Today was a long day on the bus starting at 8:00 am, and of course, it hasn't warmed up a bit. We headed even further northeast with stops along the way, ending in a pretty swanky hotel in belfast (see picture of our room at the end).
Our first stop in Derry included a walking tour around the city walls while a local guide told us the story of Ireland's civil struggles. Search on Derry to get the details because the broads are too tired to write the history in this blog. Needless to say, Derry is the site of Bloody Sunday and many other disturbing events. You'll see in the pictures large murals that tell the story of key events.
Scenes from streets of Derry.
Bloody Sunday memorial.
Us at one of gates on the wall around Derry.
Mass grave site.
Gate into the walled part of the city.
Snowy hills.
Giant's Causeway.
Us on the Causeway.
Check out the houses snuggled in the side of the peninsula.
More snow.
Even more snow.
Our first stop in Derry included a walking tour around the city walls while a local guide told us the story of Ireland's civil struggles. Search on Derry to get the details because the broads are too tired to write the history in this blog. Needless to say, Derry is the site of Bloody Sunday and many other disturbing events. You'll see in the pictures large murals that tell the story of key events.
Next we stopped at the Giant's Causeway, a five mile stretch of coastline famous for its bizarre basalt columns. The shore is covered with largely hexagonal pillars that stick up at various heights. Geologists claim the Giant's Causeway was formed by volcanic eruptions more than 60 million years ago.
Other than bathroom stops, we headed for Belfast through the snow laden mountains that we had been hearing about on the news for a few days. Lucky for us, the roads had been plowed and we only experienced snow flurries.
That's it for today - we're tired.
Our snazzy Belfast room. Very modern.
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