We took the ferry from Cairnryan (Scotland) to Larne (North Ireland) on a very stormy day. We have been on a lot of ferries in our life but this was one of the roughest passages yet. We usually explore the ferry and play games but this time we just sat quietly, waiting for the ferry to cross the Irish Sea.
In Belfast, our camping was run by the local community centre. While registering for our stay at the site we saw they had a "Clip 'n Climb" and an indoor playground. After dinner, Raija enjoyed an hour of playing with new-made-friends at the indoor playground and Myron tested his climbing abilities at Clip 'n Climb. Both kids had so much fun. Myron was asked by staff how many years he had been climbing. They did not expect the answer "This is my first time ever". I guess sailing has made him strong ;)
Before we came into Northern Ireland, both John and I did not know much about the region that belongs to the United Kingdom. We both were born in the mid 70's and we grew up with constant news about the unrest in this area. The Troubles, the ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland, lasted about 30 years and ended in 1998. The image of a region so divided, so hurt, was still stuck in our minds.
We were happy to be finally travelling here and to see that that image was a thing of the past.
We visited Belfast for a day and were pleasantly surprised by the Titanic Quarter. The Titanic was built here, in the early 1900's by the ship-building company Harland & Wolff. Today, the area houses the Titanic Museum, the SS Nomadic (a former tender of the Titanic), and an interesting waterfront with Game of Thrones themed stained glass windows.
The Titanic museum had a large square with the outline of the Titanic on it, where we could walk around and learn about the layout of the ship and about the passengers and crew that lost their lives the night the Titanic sank.
The old town of Belfast was maybe not the prettiest, but it did have some interesting places. The Albert Memorial Clock, The Salmon of Knowledge, the City Hall, and the Titanic Memorial were worth a visit for sure!
We spent a night in Antrim, next to Lough Neagh. During an evening walk we found this art piece, next to the lough. We learned about the legend of
Fionn Mc Cumhaill, who was chasing a Scottish giant and picked up a lump of earth from the north of Ireland and threw it after him, but it landed in the sea. Depending on where you come from, the lump formed either the Isle of Man or Ailsa Craig, while the hole that was left in the ground became Lough Neagh.
Our last stop in Northern Ireland was in Londonderry (or Derry), the only completely walled city in Ireland. We walked the 17th-century wall and enjoyed the vistas.
We also visited the Guildhall, where we enjoyed the grandeur of the main hall with its stained glass windows, and where we learned about the Plantation of Ulster in a very interesting exhibition. The news article from August 1887 about a quick passage into Manitoba, was a great way to get a conversation going with the children about the first immigrants that entered the country we call home.
Northern Ireland did not disappoint. You can tell they had a troubled past but it for sure is a place where we could have easily spent more time.
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