Picto Diary - 18 September 2019 - Northern Ireland, Part One.
Above: Carrickfergus Castle. Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. 18 September 2019.
Out and about in Northern Ireland.
Carrickfergus Castle is a Norman castle in Northern Ireland, situated in the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim, on the northern shore of Belfast Lough.
Besieged in turn by the Scottish, native Irish, English and French, the castle played an important military role until 1928 and remains one of the best preserved medieval structures in Northern Ireland.
It was strategically useful, with 3/4 of the castle perimeter surrounded by water (although in modern times only 1/3 is surrounded by water due to land reclamation.
Above: White Park Bay. Antrim Coast. Northern Ireland. 18 September 2019.
Out and about in Northern Ireland.
Antrim Coast is said to be second only to Dingle Peninsula (where we travelled The Ring of Kerry in May) for Ireland scenic beauty.
Not a perfect shot, but, still, a lucky one as I captured it from inside a moving car and through slightly tinted window.
Today, in a late model Mercedes tourist van, with driver Tommy, we drove the Antrim Coast.
We made six stops along the Antrim Coast:
1. Carrickfergus Castle. Norman castle circa 1100.
2. Carrick-a-Rede footbridge. 90 foot drop from hanging bridge to sea.
3. Carnlough Harbor, one of the many locales in Northern Ireland where Game of Thrones was filmed. Game of Thrones was also filmed in Morocco, Spain, and Croatia. Over half the filming though, was in Northern Ireland. Just like there were tours in Liverpool that focused exclusively on the Beatles, so, in Belfast, you can book a tour that takes you only to Game of Thrones filming locations.
4.. Giant's Causeway. A geologic site near the ocean where 40 thousand square, pentagonal, and hexagonal pillars up to 40 feet long were upthrust by volcanic action some 55 million years ago.
5. Bushmills Distillery. After lunch in Bushmills' restaurant, Hoops and I toured the whiskey making operation.
6. Belfast. On our return to the Seabourn Ovation cruise ship, driver Tommy showed us around downtown Belfast where we saw and discussed points of interest associated with The Troubles.
Above: Carrick-a-Rede footbridge. Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland. 18 September 2019.
Out and about in Northern Ireland.
Check out footbridge over the almost one hundred foot high foot chasm.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is a famous rope bridge near Ballintoy in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The bridge links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrickarede. It spans 66 ft and is 98 ft above the rocks below. The bridge is mainly a tourist attraction.
Above: TIMDT. Carnlough harbor. Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland. 18 September 2019.
Out and about in Northern Ireland.
Braavos Canal. "Game of Thrones."
Much of "Game of Thrones" was filmed in Northern Ireland. Driver Tommy notes that there has been a significant tourism burst in Northern Ireland because of "Game of Thrones."
Before this stop at "Braavos Canal" Tommy pointed out the set of Castle Black nestled against the base of a cliff, which could have very well been "The Wall" were you to squint.
TIMDT is standing on the dock at "Braavos Harbor," where Arya Stark was repeatedly stabbed by The Waif. Arya then jumps into the freezing water to escape and crawls up the steps into the streets of Braavos. Season 6 Episode 7.
In 2014 TIMDT and Mwah (sic) visited Dubrovnik, Croatia. A fourth of the compact, walled, inner city had been cordoned off as a set for "Game of Thrones." It was in Dubrovnik that my curiosity was first piqued about "Game of Thrones." Since, I have watched every episode of all eight seasons.
Addendum:
Please have mussels in stout and cream for me! The best right from the sea. I was in Bantry county cork.
Comic Mom,
Park City, UT
May he and all the 9/11 victims Rest In Peace.
Rocky,
Miami, FL