Ok so on our second day in Derry (Saturday), we hired a taxi to take us up to the Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-rede Bridge, and Dunluce Castle. They're about an hour/hour and a half north-ish of Derry It sounds really fancy and/or expensive but it wasn't as bad as you'd think it was. To take a train and bus there and back, it would have been about 20 pounds (30 dollars) each, and to take the cab, it was 25 pounds (about 40 dollars) each. So we decided to just go with the cab because 1) the cab would pick us up and drop us off at our hotel, 2) we could leave each place when we were ready instead of waiting for a bus and 3) we weren't 100% sure where the train and buses would leave us and pick up from, or how far we'd have to go to actually reach the various destinations once we got there.
The places itself were soooo pretty. I liked Dublin, but it didn't feel lke that "classic Ireland" that you imagine, and this did.
The first stop was the Giant's Causeway, which is this natural stone formation on the ocean that looks like brick pavers were stacked up by giants.
From the Giant's Causeway tourist centre and gift shop area, its about a half a mile walk to the actual Giant's Causeway - so some of these first pictures are from that.
Approaching the Giant's Causeway
Me being silly and super-touristy :) Holding up a giant rock!
They look like manmade stones but its actually natural
Just a little video from the Giant's Causeway. I highly recommend watching the whole thing...
Then after the Giant's Causeway, we headed a few miles up the road (once again, in the taxi), to the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge. You walk a little less than a mile and then cross this rope bridge that I believe they said is 100 feet over the water. That gets you to this little island, and then you can come back.
Here's the rope bridge
And theres the 100 foot drop into the water ...
Our last stop on this trip was the ruins of Dunluce Castle - which we'd heard was very beautiful.
View of one of the cliffs from a window in the castle. I want that room!
Then we went back to Derry, all before 3 pm!
On Sunday, we wanted to go to a craft fair in one of the local churches, and since it didn't start until 11, we thought we'd sleep in a bit, wake up around 10 or so, go get breakfast and maybe do some shopping before heading to the craft fair. Well, its certainly lucky we didn't wake up any earlier than we did, because apparently in Derry (and possibly other towns), almost nothing is open before 1pm. And it closes at 5. We saw a couple (literally) little cafes that were open. But the stores weren't open, most restaurants weren't open. It was crazy! Well anyway, we went shopping around in the little craft fair.
Then we toured the city a little bit. Derry used to be a walled in city and is one of the places where the walls actually survive. So we walked on those a little bit. We saw the memorial to Bloody Sunday. We did other shopping, and stopped at cute vintage and antique shops. All in all, it was a very relaxing and casual weekend. And very enjoyable.
Heres some pictures from around Derry
A gateway in the walls around the city (technically the walls go through the current city, but enclosed the old city)
Yay playground!
The most awesome playground thing ever!!! So much fun! I think its called a Rota Rock.
Just to clarify, this is a statue (its a little hard to tell in the picture, lol)
Unfortunately this picture came out blurry, and I only took one shot. But I really liked the Christmas lights so I'm posting it anyway
Bloody Sunday memorial
Thats all for now! Another trip coming up soon!!
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