Ramada Da Vinci's Hotel Derry

... the next day! saturday was halloween and when we got back after our day out we all got dressed up and went down the the street party, its one of the biggest halloween parties in europe. there was a big parade and a fairly impressive fireworks show. then we went to a very packed pub. everyone's costumes were so amazing, they go all out in derry! i went as a gypsy, but there were plenty of vampires, bugs, penguins, witches, more vampires! it was a really fun night!<br>

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"< br><br>We're standing on the edge of Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, facing out toward endless ocean and we're all sharing a cathartic scream out into the sea. The wind is blowing strong--so much so that every so often you have to kneel down and let the gale pass, and the rain is coming in horizontally, but I wouldn't have it any other way. This is how the Causeway is meant to the be seen, so you feel like you are conquering something, a ...

... those who know me know that crossing the bridge would have involved me crying and possibly wetting myself. The winds were blowing at at least 40 miles per hour (you do the conversion) - in a nutshell, it was mighty windy! <br><br>The off to the Giants causeway - which is a section of beach, said to have been a bridge between Ireland and Scotland for two warring giants - evidently there was a lava explosion eons ago and the settling, cooling lava resulted in octagon/hexagon ...

... 2 ½ hour walk they had planned for today. Good for them!<br><br>The first stop today was the Grianan of Ailigh (GREEN-in All-ya), a stone fort that&#8217;s at least 4,000 years old. Much of it was restored in the 19th century, but the bottom section is original. It stands on a hill from which can be seen Derry, and Loughs Swilly and Foyle on a clear day. We had some clouds and a lot of wind, which kept us from trying to find the holy well that&#8217;s somewhere on the property ...

... Now why couldn't the driver have told us that. Better yet, why didn't we think to check the opening hours of the museum. So unfortunately I can't bring you one of the better sites off the beaten path here in Derry but that's life. I guess we can all google it and look online for more.<br><br>I am going to go out on a limb here and assume you've heard U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday by now. We've all heard it a million times but have ...

... pub and it was good. There was even one song that I recognized. I guess it must've been a song my Dad had on one of his folk CD's. It was a nice night though. It's strange that myfirst night in a hostel is the first night whenI've had time to sit down and actually write a proper post without feeling rushed. Truth of the matter is that I'm depeserately homesick. Friend sick really to be more to the point. It's so awesome here and I love the fact that I'm seeing something different ...

... thought I was!)I really appreciate all of you who have followed my blog and have sent emails and messages while I was away. It made it so special being able to share my adventures with everyone as I went along. I would recommend Australia to anyone and fully intend to go back at some stage to work but that will be after a lot of thought and organising. For now, until my next adventure, bye bye and thanks for dropping by. :) Ax

... our way out of town, we walked through the Fountains, the Protestant neighborhood, which also features a few murals, much smaller, but similarly beautiful. Whereas Free Derry was very open and we were greeted with a lot of smiles and saw a lot of kids playing in the yards, the Fountains are a much quieter neighborhood - people peeked at us through windows and across the streets, but no one spoke to us or even smiled. We didn't see a soul under ...

(Originally published at http://www.troysgonewalkabout.com)<br>< br>To me the only indication that we had crossed out of the Republic of Ireland and into the United Kingdom was that the speed-limit signs suddenly switched to miles per hour. But, given all the political turmoil over the allegiance of the six of the nine counties of Ulster that make up Northern Ireland, that was some signal that peace is more of a reality now than it has been ...

... modern lobby Richmond Shopping mall, a multi level mall with department and specialty stores is less than a block away. The location is what sells this hotel, as it is the only hotel within the walled city. Food Services: The Bistro at the Tower. Bright and modern, light woods, family size tables, and tables for two. The food, service and presentation was a 4 ½ * Menu is in file, along ...