Day 10: Dublin -> Legenderry via Belfast

The day began with a drive back up into Northern Ireland. We were introduced to the city of Belfast with a driving tour all around the city. It was amazing to actually go into and drive around a city that, not long ago, wasn't ever included on tours like ours. You could see remnants of The Troubles throughout the city, such as the still mostly segregated Protestant and Catholic communities. It was strange to me to see that this was still going on after so many years and you could still pick out who belonged to which side by the flags that flew in each area (the Irish flag in the Catholic areas and the Union Jack in the Protestant areas). The main separation for these two peoples is seen with the Peace Wall. This wall was erected to keep the peace where the two communities touched. Nowadays, the wall is covered in art and graffiti that calls for peace in this struggle and in struggles around the world. We stopped at the wall to add our names and messages to the wall like thousands have before us.

We then drove around the city looking at the murals that fill almost all the walls and the sides of buildings. They depict images of Belfast's troubled past and things happening all around the world. Our guide told us that a lot of the murals change every couple of weeks depending on what is happening in the world.

Next we drove a little bit out of the main part of the city to see their parliament building, which was situated on endless green grass; a very dramatic change from where we were just driving around.

We then headed for the shipyards where we got to see where the Titanic was built and where it first touched ocean water. We also got to see on of the original tug boats that pulled the Titanic out of the harbor.

Next we had the opportunity to go into the new Titanic museum, but Jordan and I, and a few other people, decided we wanted to see downtown Belfast instead and have a chance to walk around. We did get to see the building that the museum was in though, and it was pretty amazing. The sides look like the movement of the ocean and from above it looks like a giant white star for the company that built the ship, the White Star Line.

Then it was time to explore downtown for a bit. Which, for us, included eating lunch (and having some amazing hot chocolate) at a great coffee shop.

After a couple hours it was time to pick up the others from the Titanic museum and then head off to The Giant's Causeway. This spectacular natural occurrence was formed by volcanic activity in the area, although I like the version of its formation that includes a giant. Here's the story:

     The Causeway story tells us that an Irish giant by the name of Fionn mac Cumhaill (or Finn McCool) lived happily on the Antrim coast with his wife Oonagh until he discovered he had a rival in Scotland known as Benandonner. Finn was frequently taunted by Benandonner from afar and on one occasion Finn scooped up a clod of earth and hurled it across the sea at him but missed.
       Finn finally challenged Benandonner to a proper fight and decided to build a causeway of enormous stepping stones across the sea to Scotland, so that he could walk across without getting his feet wet. But as he approached and caught sight of the great bulk of Benandonner, Finn became afraid and fled back home, with Benandonner hot on his trail. The story takes a humorous twist when Finn asks his wife Oonagh to help him hide. Clever Oonagh disguised Finn as a baby and pushed him into a huge cradle, so when Benandonner saw the size of the sleeping ‘child’, he assumed the father must be GIGANTIC. Benandonner fled home in terror, ripping up the Causeway as he went in case he was followed.
       The story concludes that this is the reason that the Giant’s Causeway exists in north Antrim, with similar columns at Fingal’s Cave on the Scottish island of Staffa.

While there, we found one of the column walls that was filled with coins in the crevices. One of the guides that was wandering around told us that you make a wish and then place a coin in a crack. So, of course, we had to do it!

Next, we were off to Legenderry! Yes, you read that right. The town isn't actually named that, but we were advised to call it that if anyone asked us, because this was another city Protestant and Catholic separation. Technically this city has two names: Londonderry for those ally themselves with the UK and Derry for those that wish to be reunited with the rest of Ireland. So to avoid confrontation, we called it Legenderry, which is actually something that a lot of people call it.

Our time here began with a city tour with, in my opinion, the greatest tour guide ever! His name was Ronan and he was amazing at bringing the culture to life and really showing us this city's troubled past and bright future. First he took us along the old city walls where we got a good vantage point to see some of the separated communities.

We then walked down into an area called the Bogside, which was filled with murals dedicated to the Troubles and Bloody Sunday.

Then we traveled back up into the main part of the city to see a bit more of the "downtown" area of Legenderry before heading to dinner and our hotel.

Overall, a great end to a very exhausting, interesting, and history-filled day.