Summer Holiday Day 12: Portaferry & Belfast

After a stroll around Ardglass this morning, we set off for our first destination of today, Portaferry. Papa's Great Grandfather Hugh Johnston was born in Portaferry. We timed our arrival at Strangford well to get the ferry across the mouth of Strangford Lough with very little waiting. We parked up and walked along the seafront and then up the hill to St Patrick's, then looped round into the town itself. There is a lot of development going on at the moment with new paving in the town square. 

Then we drove up the Ards Peninsula, with great views across Strangford Lough, a very scenic route to Belfast. We checked into the Hilton and set off exploring the city.

First was St Malachy's, where Papa's Grandfather Bernard Creany was christened before his family emigrated to Scotland. A very ornate church, quite spectacular, particularly the ceiling. The old baptismal font where Bernard was christened is still there, in the entrance.

Then a walkabout, heading to City Hall for this photo then exploring and getting a feel for the city itself. A very different feel to Dublin. More like Glasgow with Dublin more like Edinburgh.

We had a nice dinner in Zizzi's in Victoria Square before heading back to the hotel to take in the election results, or at least the exit poll. A Labour landslide!