from South Louisiana to Northern Ireland
July 7, 2019
After a very smooth American Airlines experience (shocker!), we landed in Dublin around 7:20am, picked up our Kia from Sixt, finagled our two 35 lb bags into our tiny "boot" and headed out on our Irish adventure. The reason we're here is for Kristin Parr and Ciaran McNamee's wedding on July 13, but before that, our plans will take us first to Northern Ireland - first to Belfast, then to Portrush.
As we pulled out of Dublin, we decided to take Rick Steves' suggestion to visit Newgrange. Not only is it an ancient, yet well-preserved site, it's a relatively short drive and is good practice for driving on the other side of the car and the other side of the road!
Newgrange was built 5000 years ago in 3200 BC, before the pyramids even, as a burial ground. Through a narrow passage way, you enter a vaulted chamber made with large stones stacked in a circular pattern with each higher level overhanging the one below until a dome shape was achieved. The top stone sealed it off. smaller stones were used to fill any holes. so for millennia, it has stayed intact and dry. It was abandoned and became overgrown. It was discovered by the land owner in 1699 when he was searching for stones on his land. It had gone unnoticed and untouched for over 4000 years. It has a window above the front door that illuminates the burial chamber with sunlight on the morning of the Winter Solstice. there is an annual lottery for the chance to experience it.
After Newgrange we made our way to Belfast and checked into our hotel, Tara Lodge. We then walked around Belfast, had a pint at White's pub and then rode the Hop on Hop off bus part of the way around. The sun on us after that pint made us both hopelessly sleepy so we headed back to the hotel early. Tomorrow, we will be less jet lagged and will do a full day!
After a very smooth American Airlines experience (shocker!), we landed in Dublin around 7:20am, picked up our Kia from Sixt, finagled our two 35 lb bags into our tiny "boot" and headed out on our Irish adventure. The reason we're here is for Kristin Parr and Ciaran McNamee's wedding on July 13, but before that, our plans will take us first to Northern Ireland - first to Belfast, then to Portrush.
As we pulled out of Dublin, we decided to take Rick Steves' suggestion to visit Newgrange. Not only is it an ancient, yet well-preserved site, it's a relatively short drive and is good practice for driving on the other side of the car and the other side of the road!
Newgrange was built 5000 years ago in 3200 BC, before the pyramids even, as a burial ground. Through a narrow passage way, you enter a vaulted chamber made with large stones stacked in a circular pattern with each higher level overhanging the one below until a dome shape was achieved. The top stone sealed it off. smaller stones were used to fill any holes. so for millennia, it has stayed intact and dry. It was abandoned and became overgrown. It was discovered by the land owner in 1699 when he was searching for stones on his land. It had gone unnoticed and untouched for over 4000 years. It has a window above the front door that illuminates the burial chamber with sunlight on the morning of the Winter Solstice. there is an annual lottery for the chance to experience it.
After Newgrange we made our way to Belfast and checked into our hotel, Tara Lodge. We then walked around Belfast, had a pint at White's pub and then rode the Hop on Hop off bus part of the way around. The sun on us after that pint made us both hopelessly sleepy so we headed back to the hotel early. Tomorrow, we will be less jet lagged and will do a full day!
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| our Kia |
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| A Düsseldorf Altbier in the Charlotte Airport! |
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| Maybe the crematory? the bodies were cremated before being placed inside the burial chamber |
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| our first pint in Belfast at White's pub established in 1630 |
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| Charlotte airport sign |
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| Another unexcavated burial site across from Newgrange. the docent said there were 40 in this region |
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| The distinct façade of Newgrange. All three types of stones were quarried from up to 80 km away from the site - 5000 years ago!! |
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| My view as we were landing in Dublin |
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| Newgrange burial gounds |
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| David and I posed in front of the Newgrange entrance. See the elaborate swirls carved on the front stone. No one knows the significance of the swirls, but they are prevalent here. |
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| tells about Newgrange |
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| Inside White's pub in Belfast |
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