Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Traveling around the world has its advantages. People are able to see so many different cultures and historical sites. Traveling to Northern Ireland has been a wonderful experience for me, because this great land is filled with a variety of green territories, and relaxing shores. Northern Ireland has a great amount of very beautiful land but Castle Ward, the Strangford Lough, and the Mount Stewart House seem to be more unique than the rest.
The first place that I visited was a gorgeous 700 acre estate named Castle Ward. The most interesting aspect is the dual architecture of Victorian and Gothic styles between the inside and outside. Inside this 18th century mansion are rooms with richly decorated walls covered with massive oil paintings 8 feet high of old members of the Ward family that once lived there. Old Victorian style furniture fills every room, also toys that the children once played with and clothing once worn by the family are all neatly placed as if the family still lives there. Outside is a completely different décor compared to the inside. Gothic statues are surrounded by green foliage and fountains that looks like the burial ground for the devil. Off to the side of the formal gardens is a tall stone tower house that has deep cracks from unsuccessful battles. Victorian saw and corn mills, along with a full farm house are still in use today. On the outskirts of the property is a studding overlook at the rocky shores of the Strangford Lough.
The second place I visited was the Strangford Lough which is the largest water inlet in all of Northern Ireland. This body of water is unique for the different type of habitats. It starts from a narrow 18 mile long ridge that has high sloped mountains shooting straight down in to the water like the lough was carved deep into the earth. Because of the narrow shape, the currents are deadly fast. From that point there is a massive area filled with mudflats where a variety of marine life lives....
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