luckykaa

Another wet day, for another Game of Thrones tour. This is the tour to the Iron Islands and various other locations. This time, our guide was named Brian. Another extra.

We ooohed as we zipped past the set for the Wall (didn't get a good look, sadly). We ahhhed as we saw the hill where the lad was executed in episode 1 (also didn't get close, because it isn't interesting). We did stop at the site where Arya crawled out of the harbour and visited the cave where Mellisandra gave birth to a shadow. Both short stops.

Next was a trip to the Carrick-a-rede. A rope bridge used for throwing unwanted greyjoys off. flickums showed how brave she is by crossing.

Schedule was very tight, so we had to rush back. Sadly the bridge only allows one-way traffic, and we had to wait for ages for people to get photos taken on the bridge... This meant Flick missed a bit of the tour because she didn't get back in time for the next meeting point. I offered to stay but she insisted I go on ahead to see the Baratheon tournament grounds from season 2 (where we meet Brienne) Flick eventually caught up with us before the coach left, and had a short time to admire locations.

Next stop was lunch. The pub had an iron throne, so we sat Flick's direwolf on it and declared it King of the seven kingdoms.

Next we saw the harbour that was used to represent Pike Island. Extremely recognisable. It's mostly 17th century, do the only set dressing they needed to do was thatch some roofs, and hiss the lampposts. Fine was sort though, and we didn't have a lot of time for photos.

This rush did, however, leave a lot of time for dressing up and pretending to be iron islanders on the beach. They had swords and axes and site's. That was fun.

The sure also asked a visit to the giant's causeway. Nothing to do with Game Of Thrones, but it was on the way, and it is fairly magnificent, so we had a stop there. This was one of the places I wanted to see. It's nice. Flick seemed a bit mystified by it all. There is a visitor centre, but that seems a little overpriced, since all people really want to do is see the rock formations. There's no need for the visitor centre at all, and it can easily be bypassed but they make it look like you have to pay.

Once again there was a bit of time pressure. The rule was the bus would return an hour later. Decided to just have a quick look at the causeway and return because I really didn't want to be in a rush again.

Flickums bought me a cuppa to drink while waiting. Bus came about 58 minutes after it had left, and so a few stragglers had to rush for it.

Two more stops. Mostly just photo opportunities of places that had been shot for scenes.

I enjoyed this, but didn't enjoy it as much as the other tour. The guide was spending to much time trying to be funny, and it didn't always come off. And I really felt the time pressure all the time tended to interfere a little.

Still, we enjoyed it and it was a nice way to wrap up the holiday.

Belfast has a Titanic Quarter. It contains the Titanic Exhibition centre, Titanic Studios, and Titanic house, amongst other venues named Titanic, that have nothing to do with the ship, except being near whet the ship was launched. One thing that does have a lot to do with it though is Titanic Belfast - the museum dedicated to the Titanic. 

We were stopped at the entrance to take a photo in front of a green screen. We ended up with a nice holiday snap, of us in front of the Titanic. The guy in the photo shop was complementary about Flick's R2D2 bag.

flickums was very brave and went with me on the shipyard ride. A ride in little cars that go around the shipyard exhibit. Flickums was a little scared because they do go write high. She also braved the glass floored display sowing the wreck from above.

Stopped for lunch. Flickums took a bit longer than she might have done because she had to geek about Game Of Thrones with the chap at the Cafeteria, who liked her T-shirt.

The front part was in surprisingly good condition. The back part less so. A helpful guide explained that the front was essentially full of water, and the back half was filed with air, so was crushed like a Coke can. 

The ticket also included a walk around the Nomadic - one of the tender boats that ferried first and second class passengers to the Titanic (third class were mostly kept a safe distance away from the delicate sensibilities of the higher echelons, and were usually transported by a different boat). 

It's nice to look around. Lots of information about the history of the boat.

Returned to town to acquire postcards, and for Flickums to get yet more Game Of Thrones tat.

Much lighter day than yesterday. 

I have a rule that each year, I should spend my birthday in another country. Other parts of the UK do count here, so this year, it's Belfast.

We waited a frustratingly long time in Manchester's budget terminal, before a very short flight in a cute little purple turboprop across the Irish Sea. We caught a taxi, and a very chatty taxi driver took us to our hotel. A fine place, a stone's throw from the city centre.

Only really had a short time, so spent the time wandering around the city getting our bearings, and visiting tourist tat shops. Git add far as Belfast City Hall, before deciding it was time to headback to hotel, and then go for dinner. flickums had found a fantastic little restaurant, and I enjoyed a "Trixie Firecracker" (mainly because it has a name similar to Flick's D&D character) and Trio of Duck. All very tasty. Followed up by heading to a Cuban themed cocktail bar, which seemed popular with Hen Parties... 

Actually there were quite a few Hen Parties, many on those pedal powered mobile bar things that are so popular in touristy cities. 

Decided Cuban bar was a bit loud so went on a hunt dir another. I liked the look of a Victorian themed bar, but it seemed a bit of a dive. Next option was Rita's. Sadly, Flick didn't meet the dress code. Jeans are apparently fine. So is a t-shirt. So it's a hoodie. So are my battered DM's, but light tan coloured boots are "too casual"  

Decided we didn't want to go there anyway, and found another place.

And that was it for the day.

It was a nice birthday