大自然所創造的海岸屏風 The Natural Screen Built by the Invisible Hand

愛爾蘭環島遊(第3天) Round Tour in Ireland (3rd Day) - 愛爾蘭西海岸 West Coast of Ireland

這天，我們向愛爾蘭西邊的海岸進發。駕車從北愛爾蘭向南經N15公路，不知不覺便會進入愛爾蘭共和國(通稱愛爾蘭)，屬於歐盟國家之一，使用的貨幣便改由北愛爾蘭用的英鎊，變為歐元。開車約1小時，已可沿岸看到大西洋的波濤洶湧及遠觀Classibawn Castle。This day, we headed to the west coast of Ireland.  Going south from Northern Ireland over N15 highway, we soon entered the Republic of Ireland (or known as Ireland).  Being a member of the European Economic Community, the currency used was changed from Sterling Pounds to Euros.  After about an hour drive, we could view the wavy coast, facing Altantic Ocean and the Classibawn Castle.   

順序經N15，N4，N17及N18公路，駛車約三小時，過了Galway市不遠便可到達西海岸行程的第一個景點 ─ Dunguaire Castle。幸運地，本是陰天的天氣，在我們到達後開始放晴一陣子。不久，又再陰天，開始下雨，我們便趕回車上去。

Going via the highways N15, N4, N17 and N18, after another 3 hours' drive, we passed the Galway city and arrived the first visiting spot of the day's itinerary -- Dunguaire Castle.  Luckily, the cloudy weather turned to a short period of sunny time.  Just after a moment, it became cloudy and started to rain.  We ran back to the car quickly.

然後，再駛車往南行一小時， 我們便去到Lisdoonvarna 小鎮的Elements B&B.  它是一所兩層高的大屋，主人是來自英國伯明翰的夫婦Keith和Christina.  他們都非常友善且樂意幫忙，我們的房間都整潔、舒適，還在小櫃子上放了美味的自家製Biscotti餅乾。 在大屋的客廳，還放了一個小型天文望遠鏡，如晚上天氣好，可試試看星。

Then, we started another hour's drive to the south to arrive the Bed-and-Breakfast "Elements B&B" at the town Lisdoonvarna.  It was a yellow house of two storeys, with private parking and a back garden, run by the couple Christina and Keith.  They came from Birmingham, friendly and helpful, gave us a warm welcome.  The rooms were clean, tidy and cozy.  A glass of delicious home made biscotti was placed on the small cabinet as well.  A telescope was set at the common living room.  If the weather in the evening was good, people could try to looking at the stars.

主人翁還養了兩頭寵物狗狗，它們都很可愛、服從且安靜，一點都沒有騷擾到住客。Christina and Keith were raising two dogs at the house.  They were lovely, very obedient and quiet, not disturbing any guests at all.

放下行李後，由於距離晚餐還有點時間，我們便往附近走走看。
After settling down with the luggage, as there still had time before dinner, we drove to the nearby areas to have a look.

因五月底已是當地的初夏，比較晚天黑，我們更駕車上到Cliff of Mohers先探究一下，來到時已過七時半，但仍然很光亮，可清楚看到大自然所創造的海岸屏風。略為看看這裡的環境，例如要走的步道，為明天早上前來遊覽作準備。

As it was early summer at end May, sunset was usually quite late.  We drove up to the Cliff of Mohers and arrived after 7:00pm.  It was still bright enough for us to see the natural screen built by the invisible hand.  We briefly looked around there, exploring the trails to prepare for our visit in the following morning.

之後，我們便前往已用電郵提早預訂了的Cullinan's Restaurant.  可惜，因他們在訂枱記錄簿寫錯了時間，我們到達時還是要在偏廳先坐下等，約二十分鐘後才可安排入坐。Cullinan's Restaurant 曾榮獲不少獎項，我們享用了一頓很美味的海鮮晚餐，很滿足！

After that, we started to go to the Cullinan's Restaurant which we had emailed to make booking in advance.  A pity that all the tables were still full when we arrived, although we had reserved for a table because they had marked the wrong reserved time in the log book.  We were led to wait at the sitting area and they arranged a table for us after about 20mins.  Cullinan's was a award-winning restaurant.  We had a delicious seafood dinner for which we enjoyed very much and satisfied!

有用網址 Useful websites:
Dunguaire Castle - http://www.shannonheritage.com/DaytimeAttractions/DunguaireCastle/
Elements B&B - http://elementsbnb.com/ or http://www.booking.com/hotel/ie/elements-guest-house.en-gb.html
Cliffs of Moher - http://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/
Cullinan's Restaurant - http://www.cullinansdoolin.com/index.cfm/food/

..... 待續 to be continued .....

北愛爾蘭海岸的奇石 The Interesting Rocks at Giant's Causeway

愛爾蘭環島遊(第2天) Round Tour in Ireland (2nd Day) - 北愛爾蘭海岸 Coastal Line of Northern Ireland

行完吊橋，我們繼續行程前往另一主要景點 ─ Giant's Causeway.  只需15分鐘車程便可到達。
After visiting the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, we continued our journey to the next main tourist spot - Giant's Causeway which could be reached in 15 minutes by car.

其實，在Giant's Causeway遊覽是不用入場費的，但如果欲參觀那裡的遊客中心(內有展覽廳)、享用中心的設施包括停車場、咖啡店、取得導覽圖、音頻導覽機等等，則需要購買門票(成人9英鎊，預先上網購票可減1.5英鎊)。這裡的停車場是只提供給有購買門票的人士使用。有些人會把車停泊於附近的小鎮Bushmills Village，然後坐巴士到Giant's Causeway。
In fact, admission tickets were not required to visit Giant's Causeway.  However, if one would like to visit the tourist centre and use the facilities, eg. exhibition hall, cafe, car park, guide map, audio guide, etc, admission ticket (£9 for adult; advance online booking is £1.5 less) were needed to be purchased to enter the centre.  The car park there was solely for people who have bought admission tickets.  Some people would park their cars at the nearby town, Bushmills Village, and then took the bus to access Giant's Causeway.

由於行畢Carrick-a-Rede吊橋過來，還未午餐，我們便把車開進遊客中心旁的Causeway Hotel，因在這裡消費用餐(要保留單據)，便可把車停泊在酒店的停車場。它正位於遊客中心後，之後前往Giant's Causeway的起點也只是步行一、兩分鐘而已。
As we had not taken lunch after visiting the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, we drove the car into the car park of Causeway Hotel which was just a door step next to the tourist centre.  As we were spending at the hotel restaurant (remember to keep the receipt), we could park the car at the hotel.  Since the hotel was just behind the tourist centre, we, after lunch, could walk to the starting point of Giant's Causeway in just one to two minutes.

在酒店餐廳，點了幾道菜，包括典型愛爾蘭菜式Irish Stew，還有愛爾蘭著名的Guinness啤酒。這裡用餐不算便宜，但我們就是把免卻門票的幾十英鎊用在這頓午餐上。

At the hotel restaurant, we ordered a few dishes, including the typical Irish Stew as well as the famous Guinness Beer.  Lunch at the hotel was not inexpensive.  But, we just spent the savings from buying the admission tickets, on this lunch.

Blue Trail (Picture from www.nationaltrust.org.uk)

由於我們可以逗留的時間不太長(約一個半小時)，所以選擇了較短而最多人行的藍色步道。這是一下斜的步道，約步行三十分鐘便可到達Causeway stones.
Since we were not staying very long at Giant's Causeway (about one and a half hour), we had taken the short and most popular trail, ie. the Blue Trail.  This was a trail walking down the slope to access the Causeway stones in about 30minutes' walk.

順著步道落斜，可欣賞沿途的海岸風景。落斜約一半路程，便會見到「駱駝」石。

When walking down the slope, we could view the seashore scenery.  When it was half way down, "The Camel" Rock could be seen.

繼續順著步道下行，很快便可到達怪石嶙峋的Giant's Causeway - the Causeway Stones.  這裡的石大多都是六角形，有些整齊地排列成一大塊伸出海邊的「平」，有些高高低低地形成了一山丘及峭壁，不少遊客喜歡攀上山丘及峭壁拍照，由於臨近海邊，且陰天有雨，石面濕滑，攀上石上險象環生。

We continued to walk down the trail and arrived the Giant's Causeway - the Causeway Stones where we could find a lot of rocks formations.  There were plenty of hexagonal rocks; some of them laid tidily forming a "flat" pathway reaching out to the sea while some of them formed small hills or cliff.  Visitors liked to climb up to these small hills and cliffs to take photos.  As it was nearby the seaside and the weather was cloudy and rainy, climbing up the rocks was quite dangerous.

在這裡參觀完後，為節省時間，我們就乘坐來回藍色步道的巴士走原路回去起點處，巴士收費為每人1英鎊，班次頗多，約為15分鐘一班。
After visiting the stones, in order to save time, we had taken a bus ride back to the starting point.  The bus runs to-and-fro along the blue trail and the fare is £1 per person, with frequency at about 15 minutes.

之後，我們便開車前去Dunluce Castle。車程大約只需10分鐘。
Then, we drove to the Dunluce Castle which could be reached in about 10minutes.

有關這座中世紀城堡的記載始於十四世紀，估計是建於1300-1500年間，它傲立於懸崖邊，以吊橋連接。有傳聞它的部份建築曾崩塌並跌入海中。
This medieval castle was mentioned in the history of 14th century.  It was estimated to be built during 1300-1500.  The castle stood at the very edge of cliff, connected to the main land by bridge.  Legend stated that part of the castle, at the edge of the cliff, collapsed and fell into the sea.

有用網址 Useful websites:
Giant's Causeway - http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/giants-causeway/
Dunluce Castle - https://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Dunluce-Castle-Medieval-Irish-Castle-on-the-Antrim-Coast-Bushmills-P2819

..... 待續 to be continued .....

在北愛爾蘭海岸挑戰畏高症 Facing the Northern Ireland Coastline with Acrophobia

愛爾蘭環島遊(第2天) Round Tour in Ireland (2nd Day) - 北愛爾蘭海岸 Coastal Line of Northern Ireland

St George's Market

第二天的早上，我們先到St George Market看看。從Apple Apartment步行去，只需十數分鐘。這是一個週末市場，大部份的攤檔都是星期五、六、日才營業。

In the morning of second day, we first walk to the St George's Market which could be reached in less than 15minutes from Apple Apartment.

在市場內見到橫額，原來這市場被選為2014英國最佳大型室內市場。
There was a banner in the market, showing that St George's Market was voted as UK Best Large Indoor Market in 2014.

這裡除了有蔬果海鮮凍肉等攤檔，亦有很多熟食小店及餐廳，還有不少是標榜自家製的食品，如果醬、蜜糖、麵包蛋糕等，更有售賣各式家庭用品及衣物的攤位。
Apart from the fruits & vegetables, seafood & meat stalls, there were a lot of delicatessen and restaurants.  Some counters sold home-made products like jam, honey and bakery.  There were also stalls for households and clothes.

回去寓所的途中，我們見到Albert紀念鐘樓，還有寫著是貝爾法斯特最古老房屋的McHughs。
On the way back to the apartment, we found the Albert Memorial Clock as well as McHughs which was written as the oldest building in Belfast.



退房之後，我們便出發去探索北愛爾蘭的海岸Causeway Coast Way。
After checking out, we started our journey to explore the coastal line, Causeway Coast Way of Northern Ireland.

在到達海岸之前，我們先經過The Dark Hedges。從貝爾法斯特到The Dark Hedges約一小時車程。這裡是一條兩旁種了櫸樹的林蔭大道。陽光充沛的時候，可見到光線從青蔥的樹葉滲透過來，若是陰天，這裡就會好像披上了一層詭異的氛圍。

Before arriving the coast line, we first passed through The Dark Hedges.  From Belfast to The Dark Hedges, it took about one hour by car.  The Dark Hedges was an avenue with beech trees along the two sides. On sunny days, sunshine seeps through the greenish trees.  On a cloudy day, it may look strange and mysterious.









在這裡附近的The Hedges Restaurant，我們點了些飲品及小吃，不是特別出色，但因今天的行程可能會較遲才吃午餐，還是在這裡吃點東西較好，並借用那裡的洗手間。
There was The Hedges Restaurant nearby at which we have ordered some snacks and drinks as we expected that lunch would be quite late on that day; also, we took the advantage to use the toilets there.

只需再一個小時的車程，便是行程的下一站，即是那天我要面對的考驗: Carrick-a-Rede吊橋。
The next stop was the challenge for me, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, which was reached with another hour of drive.

從停車場先步行數分鐘至入口，在這裡可購買過橋「路票」，每成人是5.9英鎊；其實如不打算過橋就可不用買票。但最好是在入口就決定會否過橋，因買票後要再行大概20分鐘才到橋頭，到時才確定要過橋，便要走回頭路去買票。
From carpark, we walked a few minutes to arrive the entrance and purchased the tickets (5.9pounds for adult) for crossing the rope bridge.  No ticket was required if people do not want to cross the bridge.  It would be better to decide whether to cross the rope bridge at the entrance.  There was a path of another 20 minutes' walk to reach the starting point of the bridge.  If people decided to cross the bridge at that point, they would have to walk back to the entrance to buy tickets.

前往吊橋的小路都是沿海的，可以邊行邊欣賞海岸風景。The path to the rope bridge was along the coastline and people could enjoy scenery while walking to the bridge.

由於吊橋只有一個人行的闊度，同時間只適宜同一方向的人龍走過，橋頭有工作人員幫助協調人流。吊橋連接著Carrick小島，離水面約30米，其實並不是很高，但對於這個膽小畏高的我，已經夠挑戰性了，幸得同行的友人前後包抄，我在橋上就只塑著前行朋友的背，後面的朋友輕搭我膊頭，我才克服，走過橋來回一次。哈哈!！目標達成！

As the width of the rope bridge was for one person only, there was a staff to administer people's traffic.  The bridge was connecting to the small Carrick Island and was about 30m above sea level. In fact, it was not very high but was enough to scare me, an acrophobia timid person.  Luckily, with the support of my friends, two of them walked in front of me and one behind me.  I stared at the back of the friend in front of me while the friend behind tap on my shoulders.  I finally overcame to walk to and fro the rope bridge once.  Yeah!  Mission was completed.


Useful websites:
St George's Market - http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/tourism-venues/stgeorgesmarket/stgeorgesmarket-index.aspx
The Dark Hedges - http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/The-Dark-Hedges-Armoy-Ballymoney-P27502
The Hedges Restaurant - http://thehedgeshotel.com/restaurant/
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge - http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Carrick-a-Rede-Rope-Bridge-Ballintoy-Ballycastle-P2829

..... 待續 to be continued .....

貝爾法斯特市的美麗 The Beauty of Belfast

愛爾蘭環島遊(第1天) Round Tour in Ireland (1st Day) - 北愛爾蘭‧貝爾法斯特 Belfast at Northern Ireland

Queen's University

入口 Main Entrance

參觀Titanic Belfast後，我們便到訪有160年歷史的Queen's University.

After visiting Titanic Belfast, we had gone to Queen's University whose heritage stretched back 160 years ago.

The Great Hall

.

入口大堂內有馬賽克玻璃窗。

The mosaic windows located at the main entrance lobby.

學生會 Student Union

城市會堂 City Hall

參觀Queen's University 後，只需幾分鐘車程，我們便到達位於貝爾法斯特市中心的百年歷史建築 ─ 城市會堂。
After visiting Queen's University, we drove for a few minutes to the City Hall, historical buildings of over 100years which located in the heart of Belfast city centre.

城市會堂旁駛過的旅遊巴士
Tour Buses next pass-by City Hall

從城市會堂向河邊方向走，可找到司法法院。
Walking from the City Hall towards the river side, there was the Justice Court.

在河邊，近橋頭可見到那巨型的女孩雕塑。
At the river bank near bridge, we had seen the large girl statue.

時近黃昏，我們在日落前驅車到位於山上的貝爾法斯特城堡，在這裡更可以從高處腑瞰貝爾法斯特市。
We drove to the Belfast Castle which sat on the hill slope.  From the castle, we enjoyed a panoramic view of Belfast city.

眺望貝爾法斯特 Panoramic view of Belfast

有用網址 Useful websites:
Queen's University - http://qub.ac.uk/
Belfast City Hall - http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/tourism-venues/cityhall/
Belfast Castle - http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/tourism-venues/belfastcastle/

.....待續 to be continued.....