#northernireland – Bri Right Back

I decided on about a day’s notice that my second stop on my trip would be Belfast in Northern Ireland in hopes of it being a bit quieter and less overtly touristy than Dublin. My experience there was just that. I was able to relax a little- a big change from the urge to go-go-go in Dublin and try and see everything. I caught a bus to Belfast and checked into Vagabonds Hostel. This place was so cool and had the most social and friendly vibe and it will definitely be my benchmark for all future hostels. The staff and other people staying there were always making everyone feel included. It was just such a nice atmosphere overall. I even stayed an extra night! I would highly recommend it for solo or group travel- just a really awesome place.

For my first day, I had (shockingly) not done much research and set off on foot to see some sights. I was aiming for St. Anne’s Cathedral but despite the help of offline maps and very sweet and patient locals, I never actually made it there. So, after putting in some serious mileage, I returned to the hostel (which I miraculously found) and decided to admit defeat and get dinner instead. I’m going to do a whole separate post for my favorite foods I had while in Ireland soon!

The next day, I woke up for an early tour to see some scenery that has been used in the filming of Game of Thrones. Needless to say, I was geeking out and psyched to see what I was in store for. On the tour, we saw the Cushendun Caves, the Dark Hedges, the Giant’s Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. They were all really cool to see whether or not you’re a fan of the show. The rope bridge was pretty daunting if you are afraid of heights but I’d say the views more than make up for facing your fears. One thing I would’ve liked, had I rented a car, would be to go to the Dark Hedges earlier in the morning or later at night because having so many people around did not make for the best photo opportunities. The Giant’s Causeway was really interesting to see up close. I don’t think pictures fully do it justice. The tour lasted for almost twelve hours. It was a long day with a ton of walking but so worth it in my opinion.

For my final full day in Belfast, I headed to the Peace Wall to see the murals that illustrate ‘The Troubles’ between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The parts of the wall that I saw were by the Falls and Shankhill Roads. If you’re interested at all in the history of this conflict I’d definitely recommend making this a part of your visit to Northern Ireland.