However our first stop for the
day was the town of Derry, with a violent history of civil unrest. We took a
walking tour around the town, learning about Northern Ireland’s links to
England, and ‘The Troubles’ as they were called. This referred to a time of
fighting between the Catholics and the Protestants over their independence from
England.
Although fighting has almost
completely ceased in Derry, the scars and reminders linger all over the town. A
series of painted buildings housed touching and haunting murals, capturing the
horrors of The Troubles.
Derry also has a big wall
which encourages lots of marching, whether for protests and acts for change, or to commemorate
events and people. This wall was also the site of the first ever catwalk,
supposedly. Those more well off in Derry liked to dress up in their Sunday best
and parade down the wall, showcasing their style and flair. Naturally, we had to have our own photo shoot and practice our walks on
the runway.
Mwwaaahh
After driving through the bog
side, we came across the Giant’s Causeway. A collection of thousands of
hexagonal and the like shaped rocks, leading out towards Scotland. It is said
that the Causeway came about from the days of the giant, Finn McCool. We heard
countless stories about Mr McCool during our time in Ireland, and they all
began with, “There once was a man, a horse of a man. And his name was Finn
McCool.”
Part of the Giant's Causeway
Depending on who is telling
the story, the Scots or the Irish, you will hear a different version of events.
But both stories involve the biggest giant from Ireland, Finn McCool, preparing
for battle with the biggest giant from Scotland, Fingal. It is said the
distance from Ireland to Scotland was too big for Phil McCool to jump, so he
created the Causeway in order to make the leap a little more manageable.
It wasn’t, of course, formed
from volcanic rock.
Giant's Causeway
Giant's Causeway
I enjoyed climbing on the
rocks, revisiting my days exploring Hanging Rock with my dad and the rock pools
at the beach with my sisters. So what if I was racing little kids across the
rocks? And winning?
Dora, Dora, Dora, the Explorer!
The next adventure for the day
was crossing the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge onto a small fishing island. The fishermen
used to fish for Salmon on the island over a few months of the year. Instead of
sailing back and forth every time, they built a small rope bridge connecting
the mainland to the island. After the fishing season was over, this bridge
would then be let down, removing access to the island.
The Mainland
The bridge however has now
been reinforced and is a popular tourist destination, although only eight
people can still cross the bridge at one time. Indiana Jones, eat your heart
out.
Raiders of the Lost Island (Ireland?)
From the island
Nikki Labourne and the Temple of Salmon
Tired after a long day? Us?
Never!
Pulling into Belfast for the
night we got dressed and ready for our last night on the Shamrocker Tour with
our tour group. A delicious Chinese dinner, two bottles of wine, an interesting
walk down the streets of Belfast and we were at Laverty’s Bar.
Shit got cray.
Ready for our last night on tour
Poor Ashii didn't realise how small she was
One of our tour guides, seriously
Baby Guinness is good. Wine is good.
More Baby Guinness
Our bus driver, Paddy Wagon
At 2am when the bar closed, we
were all dressed up with nowhere to go. Apparently everything in Belfast is
long closed by 2am. Determined not to be beaten, we walked a few blocks to see,
ok maybe everything is closed.
But you can’t stop us. Party
in the hostel! Beanbags were moved, bottles of cider were brought out and we
partied into the early hours of the morning. To this date Livi’s Belfast
hangover has been her worst. But so worth it, this will be one day to remember.
Nap time, did we forget to book beds again?
And as for the Leprechaun?
I’m not one to kiss and tell, but David the Irishman was Irish, and looked nothing like a leprechaun. Need I say more?
Nikki, Nikki, Nikki the
explorer. Vaminos!
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