Sorry for the delay in updating. Internet connection has been difficult to get for long enough to type up an email. We've finished our Ireland tour and we're now in Edinburgh.
Ireland was really pretty and fascinating. We stayed in Belfast, Derry (both Northern Ireland), Galway, Annascaul, Kilarney and visited lots of little places in between.
- Drogheda - St Oliver Plunkett's relics, including his severed head...
- Monasterboice - an old monastery and graveyard
- Belfast - Taxi tour into the more "dangerous" areas with a local explanation of events during the seventies and tensions that are still running high now. That was a real eye opener.
- Derry - Tour with a local around the city walls, looking at the history of the town. Also looked at the murals on the walls of the catholic area. On the way to Derry, we stopped at the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and the Giants Causeway while it was raining. Some of the other people got reallly wet after being caught down at the bridge when the heaviest downpour hit. Giant's Causeway was fun - and slippery. We had a poke around the pools at the edge and saw a couple of little fish, as well as looking at the rocks.
- Galway - Stopped at Knock on the way to Galway; a sight where there was an apparition of the Virgin Mary at some point and at the grave of WB Yeats. Stone ring, Strandhill
- Annascaul - Castle with the curtain wall intact (look up name), stopped at a beach (water was cold, but refreshing), limestone exploration down the coast a little way - some interesting fossils. Stopped at Cliffs of Moher. The weather cleared up just as we were arriving, which meant some great photos.
- Killarney - Didn't have time to do much in town, as Kate and I took the opportunity to go horse riding! It was great fun.
- Last day was back to Dublin via Blarney Castle (to kiss the Blarney Stone, and a bit of an exploration of the grounds. I went into the "dungeon" tunnel. It was wet and damp, but really fun. We also explored a cave that was in the rock under the castle. One back in Dublin, we went for a tour of the Guinness Storehouse at St. James' Gate, and a pint of the black stuff.
We have another day in Edinburgh tomorrow. I'll probably do the free walking tour and go to some of the comedy shows, then its off on another tour (yay...?) on Tuesday.
I'll put some photos up tonight :)
Alla
- Cross posted to http://mytimefortravel.blogspot.com -
On Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 2:51 PM, Alison Troup <alison.troup@gmail.com> wrote:
11/08/09We've headed north from Belfast and stopped at the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and Giant's Causeway, both are really beautiful and dramatically different coastlines despite being just around the corner. It rained for most of the morning, but once we got to the causeway it stopped, but it was still cloudy.
Sent from my iPod
Begin forwarded message:From: Alison Troup <alison.troup@gmail.com>
Date: 11 August 2009 9:06:20
To: Alison Troup <alison.troup@gmail.com>
Subject: Holiday UpdateHello all!
We've started on our paddywagon tour. Yesterday we left Dublin for Belfast, stopping at Drogheda (to see St. Oliver Plunkett's relics - including his head) and Monasterboice (an old monastery with two large Celtic crosses.
Belfast was interesting and eye opening. We went on a taxi tour of West Belfast with running commentary from the driver and stopping in the catholic and prodestant areas to look at the murals commemorating people and events relating to the fighting. There is a wall with gates that close at night between two areas that are exclusively prodestant and catholic.
We went out for dinner with the rest of our tour group last night and then had a bit more of a look around town close to the hostel. The Uni's main building is amazing.
We're headed for Derry tonight via the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge and the Giants Causeway.
Alla
- Cross posted to http://mytimefortravel.blogspot.com -
Sent from my iPod
--
Alla
