Where I’ve been:

• Fist time in London 2013
• Northern Ireland (Sligo, Derry, Belfast ) 2015
• London & Winchester March 2018
• Summer in London 2018
• London passing by 2024

First time in London 2013

June 19, 2023/BCtravelblogger/ Edit

Tour of the Northern Irealnd

Organized tour by: https://www.paddywagontours.com/

Day 1: Dublin – Connemara – Galway

Stop in the Connemara National park

Depart from Dublin going to the West of Ireland passing by the beautiful Connemara. On our way across the midlands of Ireland, we take a comfort stop for refreshments before arriving in the enchanting village of Cong. Famed by John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara in the film Quiet Man, the village is home to Ashford castle, a regular haunt of the rich and famous and a wedding venue for a host of international stars. We have time to visit Cong Abbey before continuing our journey through the wilderness of Connemara. We enjoy the unique landscape, beautiful lakes, valleys and mountain scenery. Gaelic speaking, this area still maintains many of Ireland’s traditional ways, however it was deserted during the dreadful famine times of 1845. to 1851. We arrive in Galway mid afternoon to ensure that we get the most out of this cultural city. We have time to explore the Spanish Arch and ramble around colorful shop street with its many street performers, seafood eateries, and quaint Irish bars with wonderful musicians. A great night of real Irish entertainment is always a highlight of Ireland’s traditional music capital.

Day 2: Galway – Sligo – Derry

The beach in Strandhill

After a great night in Galway, we set off through parts of Connemara to the Museum of Country Life. Here we are introduced to the Irish way of life that has existed in this rugged and beautiful part of country since 1800s. Our lunch stop today shall be Ireland’s premier surf venue and beach at Strandhill, County Sligo. We watch some of Ireland’s finest breakers roll against our Atlantic shores before heading off through the poetic heartland of Ireland, W.B. Yeat’s country. We visit his final resting place in Drumcliff Abbey, and admire the beautiful Benbulben referenced in many of his poems. Our final stop of the day is a blast from the past, at the portal tomb of Creevykeel dating back to the pagan years in Ireland that gives us an insight to our earliest inhabitants from the stone age and their rituals and burial ceremonies. Our overnight tonight is in the 2013 European city of culture, the most historic city of Derry.

Day 3: Derry – Donegal

Panoramic views of 5 of the counties of Ulster

Begin today with an excellent in-depth walking tour of Derry’s walls (1613.) and the well known Bogside district famed in the U2 song “Bloody Sunday” after the tragic events of January 1971. Onwards to Grianan of Aileach a hilltop fort, 3000 years old with panoramic views of 5 of the counties of Ulster and legendary stories from every era of Irish history. Glenveagh National Park, Ireland’s premier National Park is our afternoon destination. Here we take the opportunity to enjoy nature with lakeside walks and a visit to Glenveagh Castle. Then back in derry for the night.

Day 4: Giants Causeway – Belfast

Giant’s Causeway

Today we cruise the beautiful North Antrim Coast. We initially with a photo-stop at Dunluce castle, once a stronghold of the McDonald clan of Scotland after we visit the Northern Ireland’s highlight the Giant’s Causeway with its 37,000 basalt columns who’s tops form stepping stones leading from Ireland to Scotland and famed in the legend of Fionn MacCool. Our next stop is the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge (seasonal, cross at your own risk by making a small charitable donation to the National Trust, the UK registered charity that maintains the Bridge), once a bridge used by the salmon fisherman to net their catches today it is hugely popular with international travelers and sightseers. We continue along the coastal route, with fantastic views and photo opportunities of Whitepark Bay. At the end we visit the Dark Hedges, famed by the Game of Thrones along with views of Ballintoy Harbour and after to Belfast for our final night of the tour.

Day 5: Belfast – Dublin

Group tour pic in front of the Titanic museum

We begin the day with Belfast’s number 1 visitor attraction, the Titanic Experience. Here we learn all about the ill-fated ship, from how she was built, to the people who built her, and the complete story from her inception to her tragic demise. After this wonderful experience, we take a city tour of the highlights of Belfast including City Hall, Queen’s University, Botanic Gardens and much more. You will have plenty of time for lunch, shopping and/or a Black Taxi tour of the political murals and of course the Peace Walls which divide the Catholic Republicans from the Protestant Loyalist communities. Then it’s off to Dublin where we stop en-route at Monasterboice to view the Celtic crosses and Round Towers of this early Christian site. This tour drops at Dublin airport at approx 4pm where I took the bus to Carlow where my host parents collect me.

• My Third time in Uk was on March 2018 to visit one of my best friend in Winchester

During my Exchange year in Riga, before easter holidays I went 4 days in Uk to visit one of my best friend from high school Chiara, that she’s living in Winchester for her master degree.

DAY 1 – 24.03.2018

( Winchester cimitery )

I will never forget the beginning of this holiday for what I can remember!

Was all week of party because there were the Riga fashion week so I was super exacted and busy and the day of my flight was Saturday at 6/7 so Friday night of course u went out for parting and after I just pass to my house for take the luggage actually for do the luggage with the flash my roommate they was sleeping and after I took immediately the taxi to the airport with the make on from the night.

Omg I remember anything of the flight I just know that I lended in Luton and there I took two different busses and I arrived in Winchester around 10/11.

She was waiting me there, both of us totally fucked up from the night before, we went to the campus of Winchester we had a quick lunch there and then we went to sleep all afternoon.

For the evening we get ready to the party in the city at the club called Pitcher & Piano, and then we come back home to sleep.

DAY 2 – 25.03.2018

( me and Chiara little stop in Primark )

We sleep in the morning and then we went to the Thiland restaurant for the lunch and in the afternoon we met with her friends and we walked around the city taking pics.

Then we go back to the campus we had a dinner in her residence and we get ready to the karaoke night.

DAY 3 – 26.03.2018

( Southempton, shopping centere )

We woke up in the morning, and we went to took the train to Sothempton which is around one hour and then we did a bit of shopping there and we visit the city and the port till the sunset time and then we come back home.

DAY 4 – 27.03.2018

( Me and Chiara on the way to Stansted Airport )

We woke up and we took the train to London, and there we arrived in Waterloo and we took the undergroud till Liverpool street and then from there we took the train to Stansted Airport, where Chiara she was going to take the flght to come back in Italy for the easter holidays and me I was taking the flight was 5 pm to Riga which I arrive there at 9:30 pm I took a taxi to the Valdemara residence, and then I went to Selvaggia house where there was also Perla to have a dinner all together.

• My fourth time in Uk was on 13th July 2018 to 16th of September 2018 that I lived and work there

Italy, London, Bali & back to Australia 2024

August 3, 2024/BCtravelblogger/ Edit