XV BLOG Toto Travels
25 May, Wednesday
Scotland Today!
We had breakfast at a little self-serve cafe in Spires shopping center by the Fitzwilliam Hotel
Next we just moseyed around central Belfast to Customs House, Big Fish, Donegall Square, and City Hall. Sadly there was not time for the tour of Belfast City Hall, although we walked through and did our own little tour. Then back to the hotel to check out and wait for time to leave for our train trip.
Mike walked down to Ulster Center while I checked email.
Our Cabby to Central Station was chatty and wanted to know where we were from. He said he was raised in Belfast right under that hill (pointing up the street to the visible hill).
Belfast was quite lovely, we stayed near the rail station and were in the heart of downtown Belfast. It is definitely another city that is tourist friendly.
Had a cuppa coffee at Central Station waiting for train to Larne Harbour.
The train, an older and slower one, provided a great ride was beautiful scenery - I do repeat myself about that, along the coast, parts were hilly and, of course, lush greens. Old houses, some obviously not well kept, but mostly a lovely slow ride with many stops including Carrickfergus and Whitehead which looked like beautiful towns.
Arriving a little early, we decided to go to lunch at Larne Harbour Ferry Port, and it was really good - "vegetable broth" which was actually a delicious broth- based soup full of barley, carrots, onion, and some other veggies greens. The baked potato was smothered in local Irish cheddar-oh my!
On the ferry the Captain said the ferry ride would be pretty rough and he was so right! Ugh. Mike said I was the color of my olive green jacket, and I felt like it.
At Troon we were met by George MacDowall. His wife, Laura, is a good friend of my friend, Betty Jones. Betty spent a year in Irvine, Scotland on a teacher exchange where she and Laura became dear friends. I had met Laura before and was looking forward to visiting with them. My priority this trip is the western highlands, but I would love to come back and see Ayrshire.
George shepherded us to Hertz at Prestwick Airport to pick up our car. It is a red Kia Venga and and quite a bit nicer than the one in Ireland. George carefully instructed Mike in the ways of driving in Scotland, then showed us to our BnB to leave our bags and introduce us to his friend and our BnB host, Margaret Duffy. Margaret and George chatted a bit while Mike and I took our bags up and used the loo.
Then we were off to dinner in his car at the MacDowalls. George and Laura were the ultimate hosts. The evening was wonderful, it felt as if we had known them a long time. Laura had prepared a delicious dinner of sole and accompaniments. Their daughter Emma was there and it was so nice to meet her. George and Laura told wonderful stories and provided a delightful evening. Laura even called our mutual friend, Betty, and we talked to her for a few minutes. Then Emma drove us back to the BnB with the impish Margret Duffy who is around 80 and has way more energy than I. She was just a grand hoot! And her BnB is a darling wee home that has been in her family for a long time and she has a story for every item there.
A very long day, it was midnight before we were in bed. Whew!
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