Friday Photo Inspiration...

Happy Friday!

 

IRELAND | Part 2 of Wedding Anniversary Trip

8.17.13 

We took the StenaLine ferry from Scotland and arrived in Belfast later that day! We checked into our Hotel, the Fitzwilliam and went for drink and then to bed!

8.18.13

We woke up early and took a tour up to the Antrim Coast, with the final destination of Giant's Causeway! We had a lunch stop at Bushmill's Distillery, and then when to the Rack-a Bridge. The landscape was epic, no wonder Game of Thrones films there (and was filming there). We spotted Peter Dinklage on our visit to the coast (you will see my photo from the back of him).

8.19.13

We booked a private black taxi tour to take us through Belfast and educate us on the history of "The Troubles". I asked to stop at this truck coffee on our way. We went through Parliament, then to Loyalist and Catholic neighborhoods. They fly their flags so you know who's territory you are in. And of course we signed the peace wall!

8.19.13 (later that day)

We took a bus from Belfast to Dublin, it was about 1.5 hours. Easy Breezy. We checked into our hotel - The Marker (super nice). We went to the rooftop for drinks and apps, and then went to bed. Tomorrow we were going to hit Guinness!

8.20.13

We went to breakfast at Avoca in Temple Bar, it was SO good. Then we walked to the Guinness Factory, it was a long walk, but worth it. We learned to pour our own pint of Guinness and we went to the skybar and took in the view. 

Then we went back to Dublin and putzed around, shopped, etc. 

8.21.13

Today we took a tour to Wicklow Mountains, monastic ruins and amazing scenery. Our first stop was to the Avoca Handweavers main store for coffee break. I loved this stop :) Local fruit being delivered was awesome too. 

Then we went on our way up to the Wicklow Mountains - a stage for many movie/show locations - Braveheart, The Vikings, P.S. I Love You, etc. We took pictures in front of the P.S. I Love You bridge - tourists! The scenery was just breath-taking - lakes in between hills that were formed by glaciers thousands of years ago. 

Then we stopped at monastic ruins, and did a 20 minute walk to the lower and upper lakes, this was so amazing. Supposedly one of the first celtic crosses was made and created here, that was amazing to see. It was a great tour, so beautiful, I highly recommend it. 

8.22.13

Today we woke up and went to the Jameson Distillery, Pat was selected to do a Whiskey tasting and I had a lovely Jameson/Ginger, it was excellent. Then we went back into Dublin and I wanted to go to this bakery - Hansel & Gretel, it was so good and so quaint. We went to lunch at a place called The Farm, and then went to the hotel and hung out and ordered room service.