Friday June 26

Left Dublin 14.00. My mobile phone told me I crossed the border at 15.25. Okay. I didn't notice anything different for a while. Arrived in Belfast on time, at 16.30.

Walked to the Belfast International Youth Hostel. Followed the directions in the confirmation e-mail and found it easily. Still want to throw out half the content of my backpack, but that's another problem entirely.

Checked in. Paid in cash. The website and confirmation e-mail said I would have to leave my ID there and my only ID was my passport. But I was allowed to leave a 5 pound deposit instead. Not sure if this was because the receptionist was being nice.

Internet costs 3 pounds for 60 minutes. If you buy 240 minutes, you only pay 10 pounds. You get a paper ticket with codes on it and can log out and save minutes for later. You need coins for the ticket machine.

There are three food places right across the street. One pizza place, a Kebab House and an Indian place. There is also a self-catering kitchen at the hostel, but I did not feel like buying foodstuffs and cooking.

I had booked a bed in a 4-bed dormroom. It looked reasonably clean. The one irritating thing I noticed was that the shower in the ensuite bathroom did not have a curtain or anything else to separate it from the rest of the bathroom.

anyegr: Sorry - but it would be MUCH more user friendly if you had/would put your trip report into one thread. As it is we have to jump between five different threads (so far) all over the forum. Instead of starting a new thread for each day, just add new installments to the original thread. Then it all stays together . . .

janisj: Yes, well, it's a bit late for that, unfortunately. It's only this one and one more left. I will try to remember that for next year.

Tried to write a long report yesterday and got logged off the Internet halfway through, so I lost everything I'd written.

Saturday June 28

Went on a daytour with Allen Tours to Giant's Causeway. They actually have a ticket office on the ground floor of the hostel (Belfast International Youth Hostel). I had prebooked, which was probably a good thing. The bus was almost full.

The driver's name was Alan. He had an accent that was sometimes difficult to understand.

If you want to see the coastline on the way out to the Causeway, sit on the same side as the driver.

The first short photostop was ca 15 minutes at Carrickfergus Castle.

The second short stop was ca 15 minutes at Carnlough. This was mostly a toilet break. The driver said that this stop may be dropped from the schedule later in the summer, to give people more time out at the rope bridge.

The lunch stop is not at the place that was mentioned on the website when I booked. I haven't checked to see if they have changed the info on the website or not. The driver sent around a menu and something to write down our orders on. This was to avoid having to wait a long time for our food. Of course, we did not have to order from this lunchplace (Causeway Hotel) if we did not want to. There are other cafes etc and it is always possible to have a picnic with food you have brought with you on the bus.

The next stop was Bushmills. We were only supposed to be there for thirty minutes, so we did not have time for a tour of the distillery. But some of the passengers did not understand this and went on the inside tour anyway. So we had to wait for them and lost ten minutes.

Posting this part now to avoid losing it again.

Saturday June 28 continued

Next short photostop was a few minutes to get pictures of Dunluce Castle from a distance. Not sure if this stop was extra short to regain a few of the lost minutes or if it was supposed to be this short.

Finally got to the Causeway at ca 14.00. First we went to the Causeway Hotel for lunch. We had all been placed in one room, to keep all of us together. The food came reasonably fast and tasted okay.

I really didn't feel like walking all the way down to the Causeway. And the thought of walking back up was even less fun. So it's a good thing that they have a bus. It's called the Causeway Coaster and goes every tenth minute. Cost 1 Euro for a single ticket, 2 Euro for a return ticket. So it is possible to walk one way and take the bus the other way.

We left the Causeway at ca 16.15.

Next stop was ca 1 hour and 15 minutes at the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge. The driver said it's a 20 minute walk to the bridge and the same back. Well, maybe for him. But it took me 25 minutes there and 30 minutes back. I would also advise people to bring something to drink with them. It was ca 20 degrees Celsius and I felt half dead from the heat and the walk. I did NOT cross the bridge. I have a bit of a phobia when it comes to unstable things over high places. I sometimes get into hysterics on ladders. So, no rope bridge walking, thanks.

Got back to Belfast after seven in the evening. I would not advise anyone to book a train or bus ticket to elsewhere for earlier than maybe eight that evening.

Me and the calendar are not on friendly terms again. That was Saturday June 27. Not 28. Today is Sunday June 28. So the tour to the Causeway was Saturday June 27.

Well, now that I've gotten back to the right day on the calendar, let's try to continue this.

Sunday June 28

Decided to do some sightseeing in Belfast today. Walked around a bit. Most shops are closed on Sundays until about one in the afternoon. Found the Botanic Gardens, but didn't stay there for long. Found the Ulster Museum, but it turned out to be closed. Apparently it's been closed for a while. Continued walking and found the Queen's University. Saw a Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus arriving and jumped on it. Cost 12 Pounds. Hmmm. I think I wrote Euros in one place in the report for yesterday. Sigh. Have to remember what country I'm in.

Went all the way around on the bus without jumping off anywhere. Saw some old building and murals and other things.

Jumped off at the Castle Place stop, since the buses all stop there and everyone has to get off. It is of course possible to jump right on to the next bus in line.

Decided to go on the Belfast Wheel. It looked reasonably safe, despite the height. The carriages are all enclosed and it goes very slowly. Cost for one adult is 6.5 Pounds. (I almost wrote Euros again, but stopped myself in time). The wheel goes around a few times before one has to go off again. I think it was three times.

Before you get on the wheel they take a picture of you and when you get off they try to sell you a package of photos with yourself on it. This costs 12 pounds. You will have to decide on your own if you think it's worth it or not. I also think it is possible to buy parts of this package, but I did not ask.

Went to get lunch. Will continue this later, maybe tomorrow.

Still with you and enjoying your report. Thanks!

Just realized that it is tomorrow in Belfast, but I am also sure that it is much too early to be up writing trip reports!

Sunday June 28 continued

Walking around in town, I saw what I think was three different parades. At least one of them had really loud drummers. A lot of the people in the parades were wearing orange, so I guess this is part of the Marching Season thing. I thought that was in two weeks, but maybe they are starting early.

Monday June 29

Well, I'm sure it's Monday. And I think it's the 29th. But I have been mistaken before.

I wasn't sure what to do today. I think I have one day too many here in Belfast.

I needed to find the post office. It's on Bridge Street. Took me over an hour of walking around to find it. I really can't read maps at all. I know I passed some of the buildings and stores more than once. I walked past the Belfast Wheel twice, the Linen Hall Library twice, the Spires three times...

There is a day ticket, valid for any bus rides on the metro after 09.30 in the morning. It costs 2,70 pounds.

After the post office I decided to try going out to Belfast Zoo. There's a bus going there, Metro line 1. Actually, there are many different buses, because line 1 splits into multiple lines someplace after the Zoo. So there's 1A, 1B, 1C etc. The stop for the Zoo is called Bellevue. The bus driver does not call out the stops, so it can be easy to miss the stop you want. But there are lots of buses going back the other way, so that's okay.

From the bus stop to the Zoo entrance is a long uphill walk. People coming in cars can drive up and park much closer. Entry to the Zoo costs 8,30 pounds for an adult.

On a hot summer day, bring something to drink, because the prices are much higher at the Zoo's shop then in the city centre.

Walked around the Zoo for hours. Getting to the animals is an uphill walk. So when you want to get to the exit, you simply find a way that goes downhill.

There were a lot of animals visible in their enclosures. Some were hiding. Maybe the large groups of loud schoolchildren had frightened them off.

There are lots of benches to sit on in the Zoo and lots of picnic tables, too. Saw a lot of families and of course the big groups of children. There are a few places where people with wheelchairs or wheeled babycarriers may have problems, but most of the Zoo was easily accessible.

Took the bus back to the city centre again.