04.23.16

Northern Ireland is a magical place.

We boarded from our hostel in Belfast and headed up to the coast. I spent most of the trip gazing out the window at the grassy cliffs and the fluffy sheep laying out in the sun.

Coastal views

Our first official stop was Giant's Causeway, a natural wonder. These disc-shaped rocks jut out from the ground that border the coast. The rocky columns are a result of a volcanic eruption over 50 million years ago.

I was in heaven, just sitting on a rock and watching the water splash against the edges. The rocks can be a bit slippery but it was so fun channeling my 8-year-old self as I hopped from rock to rock. I recommend packing a lunch so you can eat while enjoying the view.



We made another stop in Ballintoy which has the Carrick-a-Rede bridge. This rope bridge connects the mainland to the grassy island Carrickarede. It's quite high up (about 100 feet) and sways back and forth a bit, although this may have occurred because of the slight wind. As you're crossing the bridge, you can hear the crashing waves below you, causing you to hold onto the ropes even tighter. But I did it! It was actually scarier than I thought, but completely exhilarating.

Can you see the fear in my eyes?

Views from the bridge

According to our tour guide, there is another island nearby where residents would pull a prank on the farmers by stealing their sheep and placing them on the island. Appropriately, the island is nicknamed "Sheep's Island."

After our stomach's had been turned inside out due to the rope bridge, the RV rolled on through the town of Bushmills and stopped at The Old Bushmills Distillery which is well-known for their whiskey. Instead of poisoning myself, I decided to embark on a journey to find a restroom. TMI? Yeah, sorry.

The distillery was founded in 1784. All of the whiskey bottled under the Bushmills brand is produced at this distillery. It's a great stop if you're a whiskey fan (obviously) and they give out free samples as well.

The smell is pretty potent in here

The view from the outside

Carrying some tipsy college students, the RV headed back to Belfast. The next day was slightly more relaxed and consisted of museums, much to my chagrin! The first museum was the  Belfast Titanic Museum. Again, I'm not a massive fan of museums but this one was so interactive and visual and interesting that the time flew by. There's a full-scale film auditorium and even a slow ride that takes you through a reconstruction of the Titanic. I was able to buy a reasonably priced necklace for my mom in the gift shop which she l-o-v-e-d.

The next museum was the Ulster Museum located in Belfast's Botanical Gardens. It's also across from Queen's University Belfast. The museum had a great range of natural and local history. And a lot of stuffed animals, if I might add. All in all, it's a great place to spend the afternoon, even if the cafe is a bit overpriced!

While waiting at the airport to head back to Newcastle, England, I was able to FaceTime with the family for my brother's birthday.




This trip was the absolute best. I loved the fresh air and the beautiful grassy cliffs along the coast. Ireland is truly magical, and I'm proud to have heritage that can be traced back to this beautiful country. I visited the motherland, yes!