Splendid lands of (Northern) Ireland

After visiting Dublin and the archaeological and monastic sites of north-east Ireland we headed for Belfast, where, before dinner, we decide to take a walk around the centre; strange thing, especially as it's Saturday, there's no one about and a police car even stops us telling us to be careful not to keep our cameras too much on show. We also have trouble finding an open restaurant. The following morning we leave Belfast without too much regret and head for the Antrim Coast, where we come across splendid landscapes, helped too by the fine day. After a stop at the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge we reach the Giant's Causeway. The site, with its structures created by a multitude of columnar basalts, is truly interesting even if a little too crowded. In the afternoon we visit the old Bushmills distillery and, reaching the B&B at Coleraine, the lovely Dunluce Castle perched on the sea.

In the evening we spend a pleasant time at Portrush where some children...complete with wetsuits...'amuse themselves' making spectacular dives into the cold waters of the harbour. The next day, through Londonderry, we re-enter Ireland.