Which is what happened today. I signed up for a tour of the Giant's Causeway, which makes a stop in Belfast. (Oh, and by the way, AFTER we were on the way, the driver informs us that there was rioting last night in Belfast. "It's the rioting season," was among the comments. And, "Don't worry, we'll be safe. The riots happen in neighborhoods, not the City Center." Comforting.)
It was a free day and 4 of our group went on this tour: Narketta, Lenora, Mary Catherine and me. At the bus stop, we met an Argentinean 20-something guy, Frederico, who had originally planned to go to the Cliffs of Moher (a completely other coast), but had somehow missed his bus. He seemed to take it in stride and ended up having a good time tagging along with us.
Passing through Belfast, we head to the coast, stopping first at the Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge that spans a chasm with a 100-ft drop into the sea. Thrilling!
The Scotland coast is easily visible (and makes me want to go there!).
This northern coast of Ireland is rugged and breathtaking. The ride was well worth it!
(A little confession: I [as well as 6 others] was 30 minutes late getting back to the bus from the rope bridge. The driver had the "don't be late" talk with everyone as we were heading out of Dublin, but there were lines to get on the bridge from each direction and honestly, I was so smitten with the landscape once we'd crossed the bridge that I didn't even remember we were on a time-table.)
A stone's throw away is the Giant's Causeway, rich with fairy tale stories and more heart-stealing scenery. (See http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/giants-causeway/.)
I love the myth and folklore of the Irish! Such storytellers...
As we left the area, we stopped "for a wee photo" of Dunluce Castle, which has been named among the "most romantic" castles. The story goes that as the owners were serving dinner, the rock face supporting the kitchen slid into the sea, killing all but a boy who had hid under a table.
It DOES have a gorgeous silhouette, doesn't it?
On the return trip through Belfast, we stopped for a whole hour! Actually, it's longer than I've ever had to walk around the city center in the 3 years I've been coming here. The driver said something about "Victoria Square" and without knowing what he was actually talking about, we went in search of it. Turns out that it's a shopping mall with an amazing dome that is worth going up to.
Top left: Narketta & Mary Catherine. Bottom left: Lenora. Right: Y from Denver.
We mistakenly thought another square was our stopping point... so the adventure was in going to the tourist information office, finding a map, then winding our way to the square. This time, the 4 of us had 2 others in tow: Frederico as well as a Denver-based engineer, Y, who I had befriended at the rope bridge.
The book I started reading on this bus ride is fascinating and full of "magic" strategies for shifting one's state and reality. I'll write about it soon!
Mollie, the next time we work in clay, I want to make these:
Having a grand time,
Suzan
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