Belfast
From Glasgow we hopped a train and then a bus to the shores of the Irish Sea, where we jumped on a ferry that would take us to Belfast Northern Ireland. The train was fun, the bus comfortable, and the ferry wonderful.
After reaching our port in Belfast, we rented a car that would accommodate the six of us as well as our luggage. This vehicle would serve us throughout northern Ireland and Ireland itself. Soon we found ourselves at the jury inn in downtown Belfast. Just two blocks from our hotel, we discovered the Crown Bar.

The Crown Liquor Saloon
The Crown Liquor Saloonis so unbelievably rich in colour and design that each time I turned around I found something new to catch my eye that I had not seen before. Where else would you find a burnished primrose yellow, red and gold ceiling, (Mona & I thought that a similar ceiling would look nice in our kitchen), a floor laid in loads of little mosaic tiles, walls with raised patters on it, interesting wood carving throughout, ornate mirrors, & wooden columns.
Dating back to 1826, the uniqueness of this Pub was the ten differently-shaped private and elaborately carved wooden boxes, lettered from A to J. In these comfortable and cozy booths with doors, we found gunmetal plates for striking matches, and an antique bell system. I was told these are common in Victorian houses, where servants were employed, which alerted bar staff to your liquid needs. (We went to the bar and ordered our own) It's a nice place for people who prefer to drink quietly and unseen. Definitely one of the highlights of my Belfast visit.

Tollymore Forest
On the way to Tollymore Forest we stopped in the town of Rathfriland and had lunch at its downtown Homeland Dinner. Then, on to Tollymore

Tolleymore Forest
Tollymore is a wonderful place to just stroll along the trails that follow the Shimna River. Here I was in my comfort zone, a forest of trees. Here too I saw Spruce and Oak, common near my home. Less common to my part of the world, were the eucalyptus. I saw the strange Monkey Puzzle tree, which I had not heard of or seen before.