On our return journey, we pass more incredible farmland with sheep absolutely everywhere. We learn they are all marked on their backs to identify ownership. The rams are also marked on their stomachs so when they have sex with the female sheep, the herder will know which sheep may be pregnant. Interesting factoid.

We stop for quick photos at what used to be the largest castle in Ireland, the Dunseverick Castle, built in the 5th century AD. Sadly, today, it is now just a pile of rocks perched on a hill at the coastline. A beautiful pile of rocks, but a pile nonetheless.

We get another quick stop at the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge that connects the mainland to the rocky island of Carrick-a-Rede. Spanning 20 meter wide gap that is 30 meters deep, the original bridge was constructed in 1755 by a fisherman. Looks amazing – as in amazingly scary to walk across it! Sort of glad we’re just taking photos from afar.

Next we visit the Dark Hedges, an avenue of beech trees leading up to what I’m calling the Grey Gardens because it reminds me of that whole story about the mother and daughter living in that dilapidated grey mansion in East Hampton, NY. My mind. What I can say. The house is actually called the Gracehill house and was built in the 18th Century, along with the beech trees lining the entrance drive. Amazing that the trees all remain 2 centuries later!

Patrick has taken a liking to Ed and they have been chatting it up throughout the whole tour – and now he becomes our personal photographer, personally guiding us through the grounds and posing us how he wants us! He even puts us in this hollow tree he’s been telling us about since we arrived. Too fun! And gorgeous. It is just beautiful here.

As we get back on the bus gave, Patrick gave us a folk song CD he had been playing earlier – and and that he enjoyed.  We also find out he is the foremost expert on Oscar Wilde in Northern Ireland.  What? No way! Patrick has even written a book – which he gave us to peruse on the ride back – and it was a really great overview of Oscar Wilde, his life, his poetry and his death! Fantastic.

Lastly, we stop at the Titanic Museum, the biggest Titanic museum in the world – which makes sense as the ship was built right here in Belfast – as a matter of fact right where the museum is located. You all know what huge Titanic fans we are, so this museum for us is just the penultimate visit. We have about an hour and a half to wander through all the exhibits, the reconstructions and the information surrounding this heartbreaking disaster. There is even a ride that takes you through the building of the hull of the ship. Totally wild!

Pictures, eh, not so many photo opps – but so much information – there were 45,000 linens aboard for 18,000 beds. They had to carry all the linens they needed for the entire voyage because there were no laundry facilities aboard. The text of a letter the Doctor aboard sent his mother from the last port (Cobh) before Titanic sailed across the ocean. The story of the reporter who was aboard the Carpathia at the beginning of his holiday, and how he got the scoop of the century by being the only reporter allowed on board (because he was already there). He interviewed survivors and wrote a 5000 word story, which he bundled up and tossed to another newspaperman who was on a tug off to the side of the Carpathia. Amazing.

A thoroughly enjoyable time – and a thoroughly enjoyable tour. We end the tour, passing the Nuala with the Hula or The Thing with the Ring, as the Beacon of Hope statue is affectionately known, sitting at the end of the Queen’s Bridge, and disembark at the Belfast City Hall – an incredibly huge an beautiful building completed in 1906. Patrick tells us there some great exhibits there which we should visit. So now we’ve added the City Hall to our plans tomorrow. We should have time before our “Conflicting Stories” walking tour in the afternoon.

After relaxing in the condo for a bit, we walk downstairs to 7 Spice, one of the restaurants that ring the St. Anne’s Square complex where we are staying. They have these great outdoor pods where we can eat, all by ourselves, in a private, warm little gazebo type thing (they use the same little plug in heater we have at home!). And they knock when they want to come in – to take your order or deliver your food. Wild – but an excellent way to eat out but not inside with the crowds.

7 Spice is a fabulous Indian (Bangladeshi) restaurant, with so much to choose, we have a hard time making decisions! We finally settle on Peri Peri chicken wings and Naan and some sort of chicken covered in an excellent cream sauce to start, then share the Handi Biryani, which is slow cooked lamb shank mixed with rice and vegetables in a vegetable curry sauce and topped with puff pasty. Yummy! The picture doesn’t really tell the entire story. We tried to take a shot once we cut into the pastry, but it was definitely not successful!

After dinner drinks come complimentary and as we are enjoying our alcoholic dessert, our sweet waiter takes some pictures of us to memorialize our evening.

Sweet (haha) way to end our evening!