SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19TH - SLIGO - DRUMCLIFF - BELLEEK NORTHERN IRELAND - DERRY - GIANTS'S CAUSEWAY - BELFAST

"A fascinating day today: the grave of native son and poet W.B.Yeats in Drumcliff; Belleek Pottery, renowned for its exquisite Parian china; Derry, one of the finest examples of a walled city; and the awe inspiring Giant's Causeway, composed of thousands of strangely symmetrical basalt columns jutting out to sea. Overnight in Belfast."

STORMONT BELFAST

Big kilometres today and lots to see. We crossed from South to North Ireland. Euros to pounds….. Kilometres to miles…crazy ……not even a sign to say you were in one place or another.

A stop at Yeats grave (some debate whether it is in fact his body in the grave). His wife is there though.

 

Next to the Belleek pottery factory. Although it is not my style of pottery it was interesting to see the factory in operation, and some of the beautiful work they create there.

 

One of the reasons the factory as located there is the river flowing nearby and the reflections in the water were really striking.

On to Derry called  Londonderry to some. There were no real signs of the conflict that had been here but I still think that some tension must run there at times. Derry is a walled city and we walked up to the city (of cause photographing the walls).

Noticing several police around when we stopped at a café for lunch, we heard music and what should come marching by was an “Orangeman parade (plus bands). They have these parades regularly to “induct” into the Orangemen the younger members or “apprentices”.

Couldn’t help thinking that if any violence was going to erupt it might be during the parade!!!!! But they marched by and we finished our scones.

We walked to the central square popping into the many second hand shops we found there! Back to the bus past a multi-story shopping centre similar to anything at home (but including a Marks and Spencers)

 

On the Giant’s Causeway…spectacular, photos give a small idea of the scenery. We walked down and back to the area which is a UNESCO World Heritage site with over 40,000 basalt columns over 60 million years old. I sat and took in the view while Henry leapt from pillar to pillar. Unfortunately it is a very popular tourist attraction so people photo bombed from every direction!!

Countryside all the way to Belfast was green and stretched for miles. I can't believe how many sheep and cows there everywhere are in Ireland! 



HOW CAN PLANTS SURVIVE THIS ENVIRONMENT?





THE VISITORS CENTRE NESTLED INTO THE HILL

Countryside all the way to Belfast was green and stretched for miles. I can't believe how many sheep and cows are in Ireland!


JUST COWS!



JUST A FLOWER!