Of Titans and Giants

Now back online - this was written yesterday, Thursday 3 October

This morning we visited the Titanic Experience in Belfast - and it was an amazing experience! From the visual recreation of the streets of Belfast in 1910, through to the construction of the ship, life on board, its sinking and then its rediscovery on the ocean floor in 1985, the whole story was brought to life in imaginative and realistic ways. The highlight for both of us was the ride on the Arrol Gantry where we were carried on a railway several floors above ground level through the shipyard, experiencing all the sights and sounds as the Titanic was constructed around us.

The Titanic Belfast

We were there for two and a half hours and could certainly have spent longer but for our booking at the Giant's Causeway. This stretch of coast in the County of Antrim, ninety kilometres north of Belfast, is a World Heritage Site famous for its interlocking columns of basalt. Despite the wet weather, we went on a guided walk with a National Trust guide who explained the geology of the area to us and also recounted the legend of its formation by the giant Finn McCool. Apparently the columns were formed by the cooling and shrinking of successive lava flows 60 million years ago and the result is described as a 'geological wonder'. Even in the misty rain, the scenery was spectacular.

The Giant's Causeway

Basalt columns

Finn McCool's boot

It was a long drive back to Portaferry in the failing light. We concluded the day with another delicious meal next to the fire in the Portaferry Hotel.

View back along the Strand after dinner