August 12, 2006

Days 9-11: Northern Ireland

From Bushmills, we visited the Giant's Causeway just 3km away. Advertised as one of the strangest natural rock formations in the world and hyped up by the touristic visitor centre, we got the picture it's one of the most important places to see in Ireland. And it certainly was impressive! However, even more breathtaking than the causeway were the furious waves pounding the rocky coast. The wind almost blew our heads off!

The north coast of Ireland, pounded by waves.
Leaving the best (and also most expensive) hostel of the trip behind us, we took the bus back to Coleraine, where we were very surprised to hear that a train to Belfast would be cheaper than a bus. Making use of the transfer slot to walk around the town (although it was also inviting to just stay at the station without having to lug our stuff around), we visited a church and some stores.

Last-minute deals to get out of Coleraine.
Belfast was a very nice city and a big place (this impression might have been due to the fact we arrived there after a week and a half in the countryside). We stayed two nights there and that gave us enough time to see the most important things, including a long walk to the suburbs of West Belfast, famous for their political murals and the "peace wall" - dividing the protestant and catholic communities, it has stood there longer than the Berlin wall.

Surprisingly, the murals also depicted current conflicts all over the world.
Belfast also had the best water fountains I have ever seen - we sat watching them for about half an hour, admiring the way the gushes of water were designed to dance in unison (one of the gushes was out of order and didn't know the dance) and chace each other at amazing speed. There were interesting modern artworks at the River Lagan, while the City Hall must be one of the most beautiful in the world.

A Belfast street corner.
At the Linen House hostel, we took the cheapest accommodation option which was a 22-bed dorm, reminding Mikko very much of his army times. We had some trouble falling asleep with all the people snoring and banging the door and turning the lights on in the middle of the night. The second night was a little easier. Once again, it was pasta-and-olives o'clock for lunch and dinner. Like this, we could afford our last drinks in Ireland - and what better place to enjoy them than the oldest and most famous pub in Belfast, the Crown Liquor Saloon!

Yesterday, we left the hostel just after six in the morning and took the bus straight to Dublin airport, using the very last of our money. Ireland was more expensive than we were expecting, but every cent/penny was worth it. Here are some tips for going to Ireland, based on recently acquired experience!

-Think of how much you are prepared to spend, then double the sum and you'll have your minimum travel budget.

-Call ahead to book a bed - the hostels are all full in the summer!

-As we were told and found out ourselves, Ireland is one of the best countries in Europe for hitchhiking. Read previous post for helpful hints on catching a ride!

-Don't underestimate Northern Ireland! The scenery is just as breathtaking and Belfast makes for a pleasant surprise with its shopping streets and interesting (also tragic) history.

- If planning on visiting the Aran Islands, try Inisheer, the smallest one. There's not as much to see as on the other islands, but it's probably even more special because of relatively little tourism.

- Take warm clothes - Ireland can be cold even in August.


Inisheer Island, one of the highlights of our trip.

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