Giro D'Italia & The North Coast of Ireland

 

In May, the Giro D'Italia commenced in Northern Ireland. We decided to fly over for the weekend as the race went straight through Ben's hometown. I had no idea what to expect from a cycling race and it was over in 90 seconds - blink and you could miss it! Disappointingly it was pouring with rain in the morning as the race travelled from Belfast up through the North Coast of Ireland and back to Belfast. However, we were incredibly lucky as the sun came out on the Saturday afternoon as we headed up the coast, perfect for walking, relaxing and admiring the stunning vistas.

Warsaw!

For a town that was largely destroyed during WWII, there is a strong spirit of hope and resilience. It is a town that was deliberately annihilated by the Nazi's as a repression of the Polish resistance. After the war, the Old Town was meticulously rebuilt to create an exact replica of what stood before. It was a beautiful place full of colourful houses, lively squares with hidden streets to explore.

Highlights of the trip include:
*Walking Tour - we participated in the both the Old Town and Jewish Walking Tours. These tours were incredibly informative and interesting
* Uprising Musuem - this musuem provides a first hand account of the thousands of Poles who fought back against the Nazi forces in 1944 for a heroic 63 days of resistance.
* Lazienki Park - a peaceful park in the middle of the city, stroll through the park enjoying the peacocks, feeding the red squirrels and admiring the magnificent Palace on the Water.