Belfast, Stranraer, and Edinburgh

After two days in Belfast, we made our way across the North Channel to Scotland. Belfast was much more spread out than Dublin and we spent our time there, for the most part, resting and making use of our day pass on the bus. Our campsite (caravan park as they call them), was located right next to an olympic sized hockey rink, so not difficult to find at all. We did not get too much sleep there, given the fact that our tent, which claims to fit two six-foot men, doesn't fit two five-foot nine-inch women, as well as the fact that the site was right next to the highway. However, in spite of those minor inconveniences, we made many good memories and spent the time that we weren't sleeping laughing, and probably waking up the rest of the campers trying to get some rest. We spent our second day there driving out to Lady Dixon Park, which I think was on the East side of Belfast, and wandering about in the rose garden. It was very peaceful in contrast to the city. In the morning, we had an excellent Irish breakfast at Maggie May's on Botanic Avenue and the next day headed for the ferry dock to sail across to Scotland.

We arrived in Stranraer yesterday and missed our bus to Edinburgh, but gladly spent the next five or so hours waiting for the next bus by sitting on the beach between the harbor launch ramp and the sea wall. Stranraer was quiet and quaint and the beach we sat on was covered with beach glass, so I had great fun collecting some while Melissa made a shell necklace with shells and twine she beachcombed. Edinburgh is huge and quite busy as we have arrived in the midst of one of the largest art festivals in the world. I believe there are several other festivals taking place as well, so it is quite packed, but everything is beautiful and we are taking many pictures. We only have about ten minutes left here in the cafe and then are off to do some exploring. Tomorrow, we head up to Ft. William to meet up with Stephen Bean, our Scotland contact and will explore a day or two in that area before heading back to Ireland. Melissa loves it here, as do I, though I am eager to get back to the Emerald Isle and see the west side!