One of trips organized by International Society to Belfast was the biggest one. There was a full coach, so about 40 people.
As you well know, Belfast is in Northern Irnaldii, it is a separate country, subject to the United Kingdom. On the roads distances are in miles and you pay in pounds:)
I don't know how it's now, but in 2005 year, it was very specific city, because it was few years after civil war beetwen between Catholics and Protestants. There are remnants of the old wall, almost like in Berlin:) which divided the city into two parts. This can be seen by going to the traditional black taxi trip around the Belfast. On the buildings are painted portraits of Protestant liders and their other signs commemorating various events and fights.
Is it normal that you see on the street, an armored police car like this:
There was one strange story, once we went out at the evening, walking through the city, we went dance to the a club. With us was a guy, all the time he was sitting in the corner, hi didn't say even any word, didn't dance, didn't drink a beer. After that, when we went out, somebody ask him why hi was so quiet, and hi answered that hi is from Southern Ireland, so if someone heard his accent, then he would be beaten. It was wery strange for me.
But in general Belfast is very beautiful City, amazing architecture, vibrant city.
While in Belfast, we had a further trip to the amazing place. Did you hear about Giant's Causeway? This is one of the wonders of nature. It is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven and eight sides. The tallest are about 12 metres high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 28 metres thick in places.
I have much more pictures, many beautiful, but unfortunately there is no enough place for them :(
These rocks are amazing. Really are of natural origin? They look like strengthening the quay made by man.
ReplyDeleteStrange city, strange country.
I think that this trip had to be very interesting.
As can be seen not so distant countries can be surprisingly different.
Yes. the rocks are natural, according to wikipedia:
ReplyDelete"The Giant's Causeway (or Irish: Clochán na bhFómharach) is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption."
more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant's_Causeway
It's very funny with those rocks, when I firstly watch pictures, before reading I was wondering "for what reason did he put pictures of pavement brick?"
ReplyDeleteIt's good to know that nature can create such things.
Now just wait for somebody to cut it off and slice it for pavements:))
Ireland is one of the places which I honestly admire. I don't know if my imaginations about this country are in any way connected with reality and facts but I imagine that Ireland is similar to Australia -always green, full of nice people... I have seen many films about it and I'm very impressed. Frankly speaking I love such a natural places as you showed on your photos. I heard about moorlands which are supposedly the most beautiful in all Europe- I hope that on day I will have opportunity to see it.
ReplyDeleteBelfast seems to be a really interesting city. Defnitely looks nice but I suppose I would have to go there myself to fully appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteI dont know what I can say in this case since I havent been there myself but...
That guy you mentioned. Fact he was afraid of being beaten perhaps was a bit extreme but the silent "South vs North" war in Great Brittan seems to be quite a normal thing, to them at least.
I didnt know they have same thing in Ireland but I do know how it looks in England.
Apparently Southeners call people from the North the Northren Monkeys and in return they are called Southern Fairies by their "neighbours".
I dont really know anything about seriousness of that "conflict" though. As far as Im concerned it seemed to be a light prank kind of stuff but I may be wrong.
Also, in Ireland it may look different. Or that guy was just bit strange, who knows.
When we say just Ireland, it means we have in mind Southern Ireland, which is separate country than Northern Ireland which is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Im not sure, but i think that not much people know about that.
ReplyDeleteThe reason that people from North dislike people from South, is the same, that The English dislike(hate) the Irish.