Have you ever been to Northern Ireland? What did you do there?
We hadn’t planned on going to Ireland on this trip, but once we were in London and saw a cat-sit pop up in Portadown, we couldn’t pass it up. While we weren’t based in the more bustling nearby Belfast, it proved an excellent central point from which we could explore.
Continue reading “A Taste of Portadown”
What is the fanciest ferry you’ve traveled on?
When hopping the Irish Sea, we knew we’d need to take a ferry. We expected the standard, run-of-the-mill big boat with cars underneath and plastic benches for passengers up top. Perhaps an indoor area to escape the brisk wind.
But we were in for quite a surprise! Continue reading “A Taste of the Irish Sea Ferry”
What kind of traveler are you? Go-go-go-go-go, do as little as possible, or something in between?
Carlisle was an opportunity for us to relax for a little bit. We have this nasty habit of trying to squeeze in far too many activities into a short time-span, making fatigue and burnout real problems. One of the things we love about house-sitting is the fact that it forces us to stay put for a while – often in a less-popular city.
What is your favorite kind of architecture?
In Bath UK, two of the common attractions (besides the baths, themselves), are the Bath Circus and the Royal Crescent. Now, I’m a real sucker for patterns and symmetry, so I was excited to see them.
Continue reading “A Taste of the Bath Circus and Royal Crescent”
Have you ever visited a folly? Where was it?
When looking for alternate things to do in Bath, UK (besides the famed Roman baths swarming with tourists), we came across this unusual find: Sham Castle. It is precisely what it says: a complete fake. While the facade looks like a proper castle from the front, there’s nothing behind it. It’s missing a moat, a drawbridge, three other walls, and an interior.
Have you ever visited a public bath or natural hot spring?
Most people visiting Bath, UK do so to see its namesake attraction: the Roman Baths. Though entry is steep (about £20 per person, depending on season), it’s not something we could have reasonably skipped. Fortunately, it comes with an audio guide packed with a wealth of information about every facet of the space, including the history, the customs, and the architecture.
Some of the first things that come to mind when you think of Ireland are music and a pint of Guinness. However, there is so much more that will blow your socks off when you visit the island. From the traditional Irish pub to The Giant’s Causeway and more. Ireland is a place that we know we will revisit again, as there was no way we could see everything. For now, enjoy these 27 photos that will make you want to visit Ireland and Northern Ireland.
What “stupid tourist” moment have you had recently?
One of the highlights of Bristol is its Clifton Observatory and its similarly named suspension bridge.
We first scaled the hill on this particularly spectacular day to take in the views of the bridge and the gorge below. Many residents were picnicking atop the rise, and we just enjoyed the sun in the otherwise cloudy UK for a bit.
What is the oldest thing you have seen in person?
We couldn’t come to the UK without seeing the famous site of Stonehenge. It’s thought to be over 5000 years old and was once used as a burial site. It also marks the winter and summer solstices and could have had spiritual significance.. however, no one really knows for sure why it was built.
What’s a cool day-trip you’ve taken?
Most people bound for Stonehenge depart from London and stop off in the cute town of Salisbury. We came from Bristol, but since we had aspirations of catching sunset at the stones, we had plenty of time to kill in Salisbury.
