Drummond Derry

... of photos on the thousands of hexagonal columns and it was so clear that we could see scotland. we had a picnic lunch there before going to carrick-a-rede rope bridge. we were really lucky with the weather cause they close it if its too windy or wet. it was a really beautiful walk to the bridge and we could see more of scotland from the island. the bridge wasn't as scary as i thought it would be! then we drove back to derry, through some really pretty countryside, to get ready for halloween<br>

... some amazing stories. it was dark by the time we got there but it was very dramatic to see it at night. we walked up onto the walls and then down onto the bogs where all murals and the bloody sunday massacre was. it was quite haunting, just looking at everyones faces while he was talking you could tell that they were all pretty shocked. we went for a very cheap (compared to dublin) dinner with most of the tour group and then got an early night cause of our very early ...

... side, drawing a comparison between the Nazis and the Israelis (and by extension, Jewish people) as if they are one in the same. It's offensive, it's hard to look at, and I would go as far as to say it's unacceptable. I also was able to bear witness to an orange march, which is put on by a pro-Britain unionist group where they march down the street in full regalia (roughly 900 times a year), just to assert their presence and "superiority" and I guess to make the Irish feel ...

... 20,000). There are still about 400 Protestant folk who still live on the Catholic side, behind huge barbed wire fences, and they get pelted with rocks and bottles of urine on a daily basis. There continues to be conflict in Derry - it was origionally settled by Catholics, then during the reign of Elizabeth I, the land was given off to Protestant English folk (Derry is technically known as Londonderry). Nowadays, the Protestants are happy to be part of the UK, however the Catholics want ...

... for awhile for the people of northern ireland, riots, bombing and such and there was always the threat for it. Today things have calmed down but back then you couldnt pass a street corner without seeing security or british army solders with automatic weapons. Because we were there for this traditional parade, (which the catholics, the ones i talked to atleast didnt much approve of) we got to see a taste of what things were like during the bad times ...

... going with some kids sitting around it. Ha. It was just such an experience. And just to mention, Casey and Kevin were dressed as Doc and Marty from Back to the Future, and they looked amazing !! So, the train came at five forty in the morning, and we were back at school by seven. My clothes smell like burnt wood. I'm tired. I have no candy. Ha, but I have amazing memories. Last night was really adventurous ... it turned out to be a ...

... Right outside of the old city walls is the part of the city most people have heard of through the news as an extremely dangerous neighborhood, the Bogside. During the conflict, most of these people owned firearms and actively engaged in warfare from day to day. Now, murals on a lot of the buildings commemorate those who have died and there is also a sign announcing "You are now ...

... between Ireland and the UK. After a few days of enjoying smoke-free bars and restaurants (at least Adrian and I enjoyed it, Kate's a smoker) we were back in the land of smoky public places. After dinner we headed into town to a local pub where we were promised there would be a traditional Irish band. And this is the great thing about Ireland. As backpackers, we generally don't care what day of the week it is when it comes to our decision to go out. It's not as ...

... bonus about us being in a city officially part of the United Kingdom &#8211; a nice tight-**** lunch special was easily found in a J D Wetherspoon&#8217;s chain pub inside the city walls. <br><br>Once back in the car and traversing further to the north-east, the middle of towns such as Coleraine and Bushmills were drowning in pro-British sentiment. Union Jack and Hand of Ulster flags hung from every building and lightpost without ...

... troops again. We're still headed north on N15, the Dartry Mountains on our right and to far to the left is Donegal Bay. Eowin pulls off at Bundoran for a scenic view of the blue bay and an almost view of Sleive League, the highest cliff face in Europe in the distance. Bundoran, he tells us is a very popular waterfront town on Donegal Bay. Lots of pubs, nightclubs, beach cottage rentals ...