Today we left the Republic of Ireland and entered Northern Ireland. As we travelled north, the scenery changed from rocky and hilly to more plains like. The amazing green was still with us. The border into Northern Ireland was an "invisible border". There was no indication that we had crossed, but money was now Pounds, and we now travelled in miles instead of km.
Our first stop was (London)Derry. Derry is the second largest city in Northern Ireland, and the 5th largest in all Ireland. It's name comes from the old Irish "daire" or oak grove. While it's formal name is Londonderry, most nationalists refer to it as Derry. While there, Ronan, a local guide, took us on a walking tour along the city wall. He explained the challenges of Ireland and the "troubles" of the late 1900s (civil war). It was a very interesting presentation and has started to clear some of my confusion about the divisions in Ireland. While it is often referred to as Catholic and Protestant... and Presbyterian, essentially, the disagreement relates more to loyalty to Britain or loyalty to Ireland (The formation of the Republic of Ireland in 1921). Following the walking tour, we had the opportunity to visit City Hall and wander the streets a bit. The city hall is a dramatic, very ornate building, with amazing stained glass windows. It is home to an incredible pipe organ!
Nearby is also a "Peace" bridge. We even managed to find a rainbow crosswalk! After wandering the shops and stopping for a scone and cuppa tea, we headed back to our bus, to come upon a protest. (we soon learned that these are not uncommon in Northern Ireland). This protest seemed to be about the need for adequate funding for housing the most vulnerable.
Continuing on our travels, we next arrived at the Causeway of Giants. This is a natural rock and cliff formation that is absolutely incredible. It was named a world heritage site in 1986. The walk down to it was long, but was well worth it. Formations that looked hand carved jutted out into the ocean. Many people climbed the cliffs and rocks. Unfortunately, just before we arrived, someone had fallen and emergency vehicles were performing a rescue. It looked like they were ok, though.
More Info: Causeway of Giants
Before leaving the causeway, we took a group picture. As we continued on our way, we took a wrong turn and headed further into the country. It gave us a chance to see more of the countryside. After returning to our original route, we carried on to Belfast, where we settled in for the night.
Hotel: Stormont Hotel
Weather: mix of sun and cloud High 17c
No comments:
Post a Comment