SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 20TH - BELFAST - DOWNPATRICK- DUBLIN IRELAND

"This mornings highlights are a "living history" orientation drive with a local guide and a visit to the stunning Titanic exhibition. learn all about the building of the largest passenger steamship, its maiden voyage, and the tragic night of April 114,1912. Travel to Downpatrick and visit the inspiring Saint Patrick centre before you drive back again into the Republic."

HILTON DUBLIN

 

 

Our hotels have all been really well appointed and last nights (and meal) were excellent. The Irish obviously don’t want you to starve! Afraid there will be more of me coming home than going! Three courses every night and beer and wine – definitely decadent!

Our coach travellers are interesting and haven’t divided into cliques, so we have talked with most of them and there are some characters. Many of them are seasoned travellers and we have learnt a lot about places to see and things to do.

This morning we had a local guide in Belfast. There was a half marathon in the city about to start so our very experienced drive dodged cones (meant to prevent traffic lol!) to take us around the city. Our guide was an informative and amusing local lady and took us to areas around the city, talked to us about “The Troubles” of Belfast and of everyone’s hope for a better future.

STILL ON WALLS IN SPITE OF THE CHANGE IN BELFAST...ONE WONDERS HOW LONG BEFORE MORE TROUBLE ERUPTS?

 

 

 

Next a visit to the site where the Titanic was built and what a surprise that was! You would come especially to Belfast just to see this exhibition it is so well done. The building itself is four stories high (the same height as the Titanic). It displays everything about the ship from its inception to its rediscovery in 1985.

St Patrick’s Centre in Downpatrick where the church is at the top of a hill and there is a churchyard there. Some debate exists about whether the gravesite really is that of Wordsworth! A good break with warm soup as it had got really quite cold followed.

 

Off then to Dublin, and rain most of the way, but gorgeous countryside of course (although I must admit I snored through most of it!)
Exhausted but still alive we were revived by a visit to the Guinness storehouse, a seven story exhibition centre…again brilliant. From the seventh floor a view of all of Dublin…and a free Guinness. Then dinner in the old dining hall….a great night!