If the prefix is 'Bally' then we must be in Northern Ireland!
Ballybogy, Ballycarry, Ballypatrick, Ballycormick, Ballygobbin, Ballycastle, Ballylinley, Ballymagorry, Ballyleigh, Ballyrashane, Ballymacree, Ballymena, Ballygalin.... and there's many more!
But don't forget lovely Ballymoney in County Antrim where we stayed with Elaine and her 16 year old Collie dog, Figero. Elaine runs probably the most luxurious BnB in all of Northern Ireland and her gourmet breakfast, served around the huge dining room table, set a new benchmark. Ballymoney is just a short drive from the Causeway coast, where we were heading to see the Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede, and Dunluce Castle. Landmarks and historical features aside, the countryside is a patchwork of colours bordered by a jagged and spectacular coastline. We drove the coastal road all the way to Belfast.
One small island with so many differences. Republic in the south; part of Great Britain in the north; kilometers in the south; miles in the north; euro in the south; Irish pounds in the north; the tricolour in the south; the Union Jack in the north (you'll see both in Belfast - though not together). And, well we all know about the religious differences.
Belfast was a surprise. Parts of the city centre have a young, modern vibrancy that I hadn't expected, however evidence of its complex and troubled past is not hidden away. It's there on the streets, and painted on the sides of the buildings and while it's easy for visitors today to walk around the now seemingly peaceful neighbourhoods, it's impossible to know or understand the reality for those who lived, or are living, there.
As in London during this past summer, there were also riots in Belfast in June aimed at destabilising communities. I was fascinated to visit, to see and to learn a little more behind the tragedies and atrocities, but in west Belfast I felt like I should be tip-toeing.
Ballybogy, Ballycarry, Ballypatrick, Ballycormick, Ballygobbin, Ballycastle, Ballylinley, Ballymagorry, Ballyleigh, Ballyrashane, Ballymacree, Ballymena, Ballygalin.... and there's many more!
But don't forget lovely Ballymoney in County Antrim where we stayed with Elaine and her 16 year old Collie dog, Figero. Elaine runs probably the most luxurious BnB in all of Northern Ireland and her gourmet breakfast, served around the huge dining room table, set a new benchmark. Ballymoney is just a short drive from the Causeway coast, where we were heading to see the Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede, and Dunluce Castle. Landmarks and historical features aside, the countryside is a patchwork of colours bordered by a jagged and spectacular coastline. We drove the coastal road all the way to Belfast.
One small island with so many differences. Republic in the south; part of Great Britain in the north; kilometers in the south; miles in the north; euro in the south; Irish pounds in the north; the tricolour in the south; the Union Jack in the north (you'll see both in Belfast - though not together). And, well we all know about the religious differences.
Belfast was a surprise. Parts of the city centre have a young, modern vibrancy that I hadn't expected, however evidence of its complex and troubled past is not hidden away. It's there on the streets, and painted on the sides of the buildings and while it's easy for visitors today to walk around the now seemingly peaceful neighbourhoods, it's impossible to know or understand the reality for those who lived, or are living, there.
As in London during this past summer, there were also riots in Belfast in June aimed at destabilising communities. I was fascinated to visit, to see and to learn a little more behind the tragedies and atrocities, but in west Belfast I felt like I should be tip-toeing.
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| Before crossing into Northern Ireland we went back to Senor's roots. In a different century L, S and E's ancestors would have walked over this ancient stone bridge at Killinkere, County Cavan |
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| Now, that's a peat bog! |
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| The fortifications at Ballymoney's local police station give an indication that life there hasn't always been as tranquil and peaceful as it is today. |
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| Dunluce Castle |
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| The Giant's Causeway - tessellated basalt pillars. Mesmerising. |
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| The pillars rise up to form pedestals.... |
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| and platforms.... |
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| ....and march down to the sea . |
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| The tops of some of the columns are convex, others are concave. |
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| The pooling water adds another dimension to this awesome natural wonder. |
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| A front blew in while we were hopping along the coast - wind so strong it would have blown a dog off its chain!  So beautiful is the Causeway coast that we were constantly stopping to take in the views out to sea, or inland over the patchwork hills. |
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| Belfast's City Hall. Inside the dome there is a whispering gallery similar to that in St Paul's Cathedral in London. |
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| Protestant areas were adorned with Union Jacks flying from every light pole. |
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| This loyalist mural in Belfast is a little chilling. We walked up and down the street and the barrel of the paramilitary's gun appeared to follow us so that it was always pointing at us. |
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| Shankhill Road mural |
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| The Peace Lines - this one dividing the communities of Shankhill Road and Falls Road - have stood for over 40 years. Communities have voted that the Peace Lines stay in place until 2020. |
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| Gates in the Peace Line - once manned by armed troops, now at 6.00pm every night the gates along the wall are secured and locked until the following morning. |
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| Visiting Gerry's office |
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| Bobby Sands mural painted on the side wall of the Sinn Fein building in Falls Road. |
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| The gorgeous Crown Bar, Belfast. So ornate, outside... |
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| ....and inside. from floor to ceiling . |
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| Europe's most bombed hotel. Bombed some 30 times during 'the Troubles'. |
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