And now Ireland

Just 3 nights in London and I was off again. I went to Decathlon to check out the latest great. Very disappointing. I did get a bathing cap for Yoki.

On the bus coming home the recording said heading to North Greenwich so I quickly got off the bus only to find that I was right so had to find another stop to get back on again!!!

I did get to pick the kids up after school and catch up with some of the mums I know. That was fun. Went to the library for coffee before. 

I caught a train to Bristol on Tuesday and Joan met me. 

Lovely to see her again. I slept over to catch the flight on Wednesday.

First a bus into town then a walk to the bus station for the airport bus. 

Flight was fine. 

Then another walk to the airb&b. Quite a walk!! With my backpack on my back. About of an explore around us. Some basic shopping 

To a lovely Indian restaurant for dinner. Then bed.

A lovely rainy day on Thursday. We picked up a hire car and drove the the Giant's Causeway. A most amazing day. 

There is a huge divide between Republicans and Unionists. They still hate each other.

this was the start. Gale force winds and heavy rain. We had coffee and scones, jam and clotted cream in the cafe. Then caught a bus to the causeway.

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That's Joan. We met in Cuba and she arranged this trip. She was born in Belfast.

You can see the what they call the organ - on the right.

I was so bleak but spectacular Of course I couldn't stop taking photos.

I bought this coat the last time I was in the UK at Christmas. Lucky for me the kids when the came tp Perth they took it back with them. I'll leave it in the UK now. It's been perfect for the weather we are experiencing this time round. 

From there we walked up to the cliff and of course walked around them. It was a narrow path quite close to the edge and we had to be careful to stay upright! Beautiful non-the-less. 

that's a huge cliff on the right

the stairs were really dodgy and steep\

I thought it was magical. This is sheep country to there are gates everywhere, Some open some won't so I had to climb over one and through a fence, Keeping up my mobility skills!!

then across a damp green field and back to the car for the next showpiece.

Mussenden Temple was our next destination 

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/mussenden-temple-and-downhill-demesne

It was a lovely walk from the carpark to this amazing building. I think a folly because it is so far from the manor house. It is on the edge of the cliff though 0 the edge has diminished a lot and one day it will fall into the water!! 

That's a long was to walk!! I was in the middle.

I had to hang onto the rail otherwise I would have been blown over

the the long walk back to the car, We then drove along the coast through Portrush and Portstewart. One is republican and one unionist I was told. In Northern Island there is a great divide between these two. A beautiful drive and there are lovely beaches. Who would swim here - does it ever get warm enough?

We had early dinner/late lunch at the Bushmills Inn Hotel. Irish fare 0 smoked haddock with a poached egg on top! Mash and veg too. Pudding was amazing - warm white chocolate rice pudding - Pedro Ximenez (?) soaked raisins, honeycomb, torched plums, ginger cookie icecream (and I forgot to take a photo :(