Northern Ireland | Belfast and The Giants Causeway
Have you been to the Giant’s Causeway yet?
Let it be duly noted that if you stand too close to the sea, you’ll be warned away. The Giants Causeway is manned by tour shepherds, and it’s not as though they’re killjoys, but apparently I was pushing the limits. In fairness, it wouldn’t have been great to get washed away.
Unlike a lot of places where you can readily put yourself at risk, they’re very safety first. And with good reason, since those waves and waves and waves are unforgiving. This image above was the last of my valiant efforts in landscape-photography-meets-proof-of-existence. Look: I was in a place, and it happened in real life, and there’s a photo to prove it.
There’s a tale about the giants themselves that you’ll likely know by now, but here let’s have it. Your Irish giant wanted to get into a fight with the Scottish one across the way. He built the Causeway so he could get over there for the fisticuffs, only he realises the Scots dude is a whole bunch more massive than he is. His crafty wife disguises him as a wee bairn, the Scottish guy’s like “Oh shit, if the baby’s that big I’d best not be getting into it with his Da,” so he smashes the Causeway again—leaving but the sea between the two. There it is.
Enough of that, because I have a friend who’s an actual giant (according to the height limit) and this was a special moment of homecoming for him. We touched the rock, we did the photos, we had whiskey for breakfast. Because that’s the tour you should be getting—breakfast whiskey at Bushmills is a must, as is Carrick-a-rede bridge. Now there’s a spot. Are you afraid of heights? I am only insofar as my body reminds me when it gets real, and this bridge here feels pretty real. Never mind the sign asking only 7 or so wander it in one go and your tourist party ignore that warning while you’re mid-way across. Yikes.
But what about Belfast? Great structures to host an impromptu photo shoot. Tons of fantastic alleyways to explore with artwork—and importantly—pubs. You can find stories all over the walls, lights on the waterfront, and some of the friendliest folk around.
We wandered into one spot, on a whim, and walked out with a collection of new friends. Not sure I know where else in the world you can do that so readily besides Dublin and Glasgow. Just be sure to visit the off licence early, since it’ll catch you out.
