Food Trailer - Shaved Ice

Waxhaw, NC  2023

 

Still-walking Scarecrow

Waxhaw, NC  2023

I believe this stilt-walker is actually a lot more stable than he appears.

 

Autumn Wreaths

Waxhaw, NC  2023

 

Autumn Treasures Festival

Waxhaw, NC  2023

 

Titanic Experience, Belfast, Northern Ireland

 Our final two nights in Ireland were spent in Belfast, Northern Ireland, which is ruled by Great Britain.  The city has a troubled past being on the forefront of strife during a time in Irish history, referred to as "The Troubles".  There are constant reminders around the city of these times but peace has prevailed since the Good Friday Agreements of 1998 ended most of the violence.  

Belfast is also the site of the shipyard that built the Titanic. There is a great exhibit there that tells the story of Belfast and the building of the Titanic.  It is well worth visiting if you get the chance.  The museum itself is pictured here.

Belfast, Northern Ireland  2023

The building looks like a giant star from above.  This point of the star is built to the same dimensions of the bow of the Titanic, giving visitors a sense of how big the ship was. 

This is the site of the slip where the Titanic was built.  The outline of the ship can be seen marked by a metal rail.  Just to the right of this slip,  there was another slip where the Olympic was built.

Finally as a point of interest, next to the Titanic Experience are Titanic Studios, shown here.  This is where the TV series "Game of Thrones" is filmed.  

That's all from Ireland, for now.  I'll return to regular programming tomorrow. 

Giants Causeway

County Antrim, Northern Ireland  2023

It is estimated there are over 40,000 columns of basalt in this geological formation.  The columns formed 40-60 million years ago by successive lava flows and cooling.  It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986

 

Celtic Cross

Drumcliffe, County Sligo, Ireland  2023