Up bright and early at 5.00am and on the road by 5.30am. Easy journey to Luton airport and parking/transfer was very smooth.
Coffee and croissant for breakfast and then we saw we had a 2 hour delay. Pissed off. Deciding what to do and then half an hour later I heard our gate being called. Went and checked and it wasn’t a mistake…we were on time. Really odd. I suspect it might have caught some people out but never mind that, we’re on the plane and ready to go. Phew.
Quick flight, about 55 minutes and through to get our car only to realise that it was booked to pick up at City airport, we’d arrived at International airport! Luckily, same company were based here so we waited behind some people that had done the same and then we managed to sort it out and get a car, bit of messing about as I didn’t have my credit card so cost us a bit more as Rash had to be named additional driver just to use her credit card, absolute joke in my opinion
Got on the road and headed North. Got to the town we were aiming for and parked up and then walked along the coastal path following Komoot! That’s such a good app.
The views were lovely but it wasa shame that it wasn’t sunnier. It wasn’t raining or anything, just overcast. We had a picnic in view of the causeway and then made our way over. It’s an odd area because there not much to it. Very interesting and fascinating how it was form and we managed to get loads of photos, a little surprising that they don’t protect it more and rope off some areas but people were allowed wherever they wanted.
After a bit we moved on and followed the trail up a steep slope and made our way home which was a lot quicker, even made it onto the beach. Not allowed in the sea here because of the rip tides and it was obvious why, very strong and powerful waves.
Back to the car and decided on the coastal route back with the aim of stopping at a pub along the way. Stuck behind the slowest and most cautious driver for an hour, tried my patience as I couldn’t get past them! And to compound matters, there wasn’t a pub along the way…I thought I was in Ireland. Very odd.
So we arrived in Belfast and found our hotel and then found a parking space nearby that was reasonable, although didn’t strike me as particularly secure but it worked for us.
Malmaison Hotel was nice, not spectacular to be honest but no complaints, other than our blinds wouldn’t close. Got sorted and down to the bar for 7.30pm and then our meal at 8.00pm. Waiter was “zany” but harmless I guess. For was good.
Decided to go out afterwards and went to The Garrick that was a traditional Irish pub and typically there was a 4 piece group in the corner playing fiddles etc. had a couple of drinks and savoured the atmosphere before moving on and finding another pub to try. Were planning on a jazz club but it looked dead, so went next door for one drink and that was good in there.
Left and went back to hotel for one more drink but the bar was closed…11.00pm. A shame but we probably didn’t need any more really.
Off to bed.
A good day, eventful even by our standards!!
