Belfast, Northern Ireland

In this episode, the FAQ is: Using QR Codes. Are they safe?

Today’s Destination is: Belfast, Northern Ireland

Today’s Misstep: My leaky water bottle was in the overhead bin on the airplane.

Travel Advice: Secondhand stores in Belfast are good deals.

FAQ: Using QR Codes. Are they safe?

Answer: When you open a QR code, pay attention to the context and the brand because it could contain a virus or even worse. Be careful when accessing websites on your desktop, laptop, tablet, watch, or phone. Preview the destination before you go there.

 A QR code from a reputable source is more likely to be safe. It is best to proceed cautiously if you find a QR code in an unsolicited email or on a random website. Criminals have placed stickers over legitimate QR codes in public places like bus stops.

Today’s destination: Belfast, Northern Ireland

https://visitbelfast.com/

The best part of Belfast, in Northern Ireland, is outside the city and exploring the countryside if possible. See the Giants Causeway, a national treasure of 40,000 hexagonal basalt stone columns that are 40 feet tall along the coast. These were formed 50-60 million years ago.

For perspective, there are 70 million people in the UK and 2 million people in No Ireland. The UK left the Left EU, but there is still a Land border with Ireland. The overall goal is one nation across the island. It’s been mostly peaceful since the 198 Belfast Peace Agreement on Good Friday.

The forecast usually calls for rain, so bring your gear.

I booked a tour that included many of the Game of Thrones locations, and I have never seen the films, so I was not very impressed. However, I'm told that scenic, narrow roads and unusual serpentine beech trees made this series memorable. It’s an atmospheric tree tunnel and a little bit spooky; on my tour, with Patrick as a guide, we made many stops for castles, caves from 400 million years ago, Bushmills’s Whiskey factory, churches, and pubs.

Castle at Carrick Fergis 

https://discovernorthernireland.com/things-to-do/carrickfergus-castle-p674971

I have relatives from Northern Ireland’s Counties Leitrim and Louth, and my grandparents used to vacation along the Antrim coast and Glens National Landscape, a legacy of the Ice Age. I felt a tug of my ancestors here as I walked around a few graveyards in the countryside.

I enjoyed Queen’s University, the Botanic Gardens, the Ulster Museum, and Saturday Food and Craft Markets in the city. The Troubles Museum at Queen’s University was really good. Its full name is the Museum of the Troubles and Peace. It’s worth your visit, and it’s free.

http://museumofthetroubles.org/

You can read about the conflicts between the English and the Irish. I heard about them growing up, as my grandfather was born in Ireland. I can have dual citizenship, which is very common among the locals here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_Museum

On my next trip to Belfast, I will visit the following:

Titanic museum 

Black Taxi Cab Political Murals Tour

The Crown Pub

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/the-crown-bar/visiting-the-crown-bar

Sandy Row: What is it? It’s part of the turbulent history of Belfast.

https://belfastmedia.com/the-turbulent-19th-century-history-of-belfast-s-sandy-ro

Maybe by then, I will have watched Game of Thrones.