The Ham Nomads

2 Jul 2014. <GB-NIR> Belfast —

Belfast Castle

Again at Craigshill. After a slowish start, with Susie writing letters and packing up parcels for posting, went into town, posted everything, and then bussed our way out to Belfast Castle and Cave Hill Country Park. This nineteenth century property was built by the 3rd Marquis of Donegall in the Scottish Baronial style. Completed in 1870, it far exceeded the initial estimate cost of £11,000, and the Donegall fortune had diminished substantially. The completion of the project was funded by the son-in-law of the Marquis, Lord Ashley (heir to the title Earl of Shaftesbury), who ultimately inherited the property. The 9th Earl of Shaftesbury became Lord Mayor of Belfast in 1907, and Chancellor of Queen's University in 1908. The family presented the Castle and the Estate to the City of Belfast in 1934. The Estate is now a public park, and the Castle is open to the public, but more importantly a venue for weddings and receptions — while we were there they were setting up for a wedding reception tomorrow.

Having walked up to and around the castle, we went into the restaurant for the now regular coffee and scones (and to rest our feet!). Went outside and into the Cat Garden — there's a tradition that a white cat always inhabits the castle, and this garden has nine references to cats within it — we found most of them (mosaics, topiary, statues...). Then we walked back to the main road to catch a bus back to the City Hall.

Off to the Movies!

Victoria Square Dome

Walking around the city, and into the shops, Susie was reminded that she had promised Warren a day at the movies for his birthday, so we went round to Victoria Square and the Odeon Cinema just in time to go in to a 3d screening of How to Train Your Dragon 2. Most enjoyable, particularly as Valka (won't tell you who she is — spoiler alert!) is voiced by one of our favourite actresses, Cate Blanchett. In parts of the movie, there were rocks that could well have come from the Giant's Causeway!

Weather was deteriorating as we came out, so we decided to go straight back to the van. As we got there, it was just beginning to rain — it didn't set in, but was just enough to have been a problem were we still out exploring. Settled in, had tea, made our plans for tomorrow.

Distance driven — today, nil; to date, 3,495 miles ( 5,625 km )