kwren

DAY 9 - continued

GIANT'S CAUSEWAY

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This is another slide show. The first part is our walk along the cliff top path (look at the very top of the first coastline pictures - that's where the path was) looking out on the one side at the beautiful patchwork rolling hills of Northern Ireland and down the other at the waterside path from the Visitor's Center to the rock formations.

The second part is our walk along the water to the Giant's Causeway and climbing on the step-like basalt columns, and finally out past the Causeway to the giant organ and chimney stacks.

kwren

DAY 9 - continued

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Bushmills Distillery
Dunluce Castle

Dai

Wow! Now I want to go to Northern Ireland too.

kwren

Dai - sounds like you'd better start planning soon!

Next...our Game of Thrones itinerary in Northern Ireland and Newgrange

kwren

OK, not exactly next, but a short break for a few picture of how the Coastal Causeway towns celebrate the arrival of the Giro d'Italia, an annual three week Italian bicycle race. It's usually held in Italy, but every other year starts in a different country. This year it was held in Northern Ireland and Ireland.

The towns up north supported the riders along their route by displaying lines of pink flags and painting bikes, tractors, tables, even building trim, pink in honor of the pink jersey worn by the stage leader. We couldn't imagine why there was so much pink in No. Ireland when we first arrived!

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While we weren't there during this 3 week race (it had been held the previous month), there were plenty of cyclists throughout the area.

Dai

That was fun. I really like the shot of the pink bike against that gray building.

whitneyd86

Loved viewing your pictures! I may have to plan my next trip to Ireland! I'm an "outdoorsy" girl at heart, and I'm envious of all of the beautiful scenery you got to enjoy. I just returned from a trip to London, Paris, and Rome and I think my next trip needs to be to a place like Ireland where I can enjoy the outdoors rather than city life! Thanks again for sharing!

GreenDragon

Ireland is magical, whitney, truly it is!

kwren

I agree with GreenDragon! I did so many outdoorsy things and loved them, and everything was beautiful. Magical sums it up so well. (Good thing the weather cooperated!)

Had I known that we would end up in Northern Ireland at the end, I would have planned my itinerary differently. My ideal would be two weeks and go to the Killarney/Skellig Michael areas, followed by Doolin/Cliffs of Moher/Aran Islands, then up to Connemara (which we did not do) then Northern Ireland. That would be outdoorsy! (Glendalough south of Dublin or the cliff walk outside of Dublin would be outdoorsy too - my son did both and loved them. Next trip for us.)

We did our trip in 10 days and it worked but having more than a full day to visit the sites up north would have been better. I could have spent most of a day at Giant's Causeway alone, getting there first thing in the morning. In any case, you should definitely get there before noon. The second day I would go to the rope bridge first thing like we did, then Bushmills Distillery and Dunluce Castle. Third day to explore the Antrim Coast on the way to Dublin. Add time as desired .

kwren

DAY 10

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Our own Game of Thrones itinerary: Ballintoy Harbor, Dark Hedges and Cushendun Caves
The controversial Cushundun statue of Johann the goat (and another goat hanging around)
The drive south through the countryside and Belfast
Newgrange
Howth

GreenDragon

I went to all those! I also went to Old Castle Ward (Winterfell, at least the courtyard scenes) and Shillanavogy Valley (Dothraki Plain)

kwren

GreenDragon - We told DS to pick three Game of Thrones sites - I don't know if he knew about those other ones you went to. It was such a spur of the moment decision and I told him he was in charge of planning (although in the end I vetoed a couple since they didn't show anything used in the series).

I would have never gone to any of those places if it weren't for him! I don't watch the show but enjoyed them immensely anyway.

I'm working on my last set of pictures.

GreenDragon

You picked three good ones. I am a fan, and my trip in November was solo, so I could pick anything I wanted Some places, like the Shillanavogy valley, was beautiful, but not anything you could say 'yes, I remember that tree' from the show. Castle Ward, though... yes, I recognized the courtyard right away.

The Dark Hedges is one of my favorite all-time spots.

kwren

My trip is at an end! It's been really fun sharing it with you.
This last set of pictures is a compilation of shots that didn't quite fit elsewhere, but still give an overview of different pieces of beautiful Ireland. It's (IMHO) the most fun set!

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Thanks for coming along!

Dai

I want to go down that road with the twisted trees in the previous set. I enjoyed your photos very much. Thanks for the inspiration!

kwren

Thanks dai...you certainly don't have to be a Game of Thrones fan to love those trees. Glad you enjoyed!

flpab

Bravo!! You did really well.

kwren

Thanks flpab!

theatrelover

I am in the process of planning a 3 week trip to Ireland for September 2015 and I so enjoyed all your photos. They brought to life so many of the places I've been reading about. Thanks so much for posting them.

kwren

Well hi again theaterlover! (I just responded to you on my other thread!)

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed them!