Derry and Belfast

So...I'm a bit behind on my blog posts, as this post is still about Northern Ireland. Whoops!

After seeing the great outdoors of Northern Ireland, we went to Derry and Belfast. A quick fact in case you did not already know: Northern Ireland is separate from Ireland; Northern Ireland is part of the UK and still under British rule, while Ireland is independent. Because of this, there's still some tension (mainly with the older generations): some people are Unionists/Loyalists (they like the British rule) while others are Nationalists (they want to be separate).

The first city we went to, Derry (or Londonderry according to the British), had a ton of history to it, so our visit consisted mainly of tours and stories. People's views of British rule are expressed all throughout Derry...primarily via wall murals.

Hmm...I wonder how they feel about the situation?

With Allie on the Catwalk...This exact location would be where the word "catwalk" originated. According to our tour guide, you are always allowed to do 2 things on this road: "Strike a pose and shake your a**."

One of the most photographed murals in the world

A touring DVD of Northern Ireland was being made in Derry, and our group is so cool that they included our group in the making of it :)

After a day in Derry, we went to Belfast. We had more free time there, and I really liked the city...it had history to it, but was also kept up pretty well. We went and saw the botanical gardens, a museum, an amazing mall with a tower that overlooked the city, and a leaning clock tower (I called it Belfast's "Leaning Tower of Big Ben"). Oh yea, and we FINALLY found an authentic, traditional Irish pub with live music! :)

Did you know that the Titanic's frame was assembled in Belfast?! I had no idea...

In front of where the Titanic was built

This pose was inevitable...

Cool Mr. statue man...

At the Botanical Gardens...

The pictures of the polar bear above and the birds below were taken for, and are dedicated to my mother :)

The busses in Belfast are...pink. Sweet. :)

The mall

The mall's tower that overlooks the city

Belfast's "Leaning Tower of Big Ben"

My only 2 pictures from our traditional Irish pub find...and then my battery died :(

I'd choose God's Creation over man's creation any day...

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet…O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” –Psalm 8:1, 3-6, 9

Early Thursday morning, we left Dublin and rode in a bus for about 4 hours to Northern Ireland. I didn’t realize how much pent up energy I had from spending all day everyday in a stuffy classroom and then on a bus. As we reached our destination, the bus turned a corner and everyone stared out the window to amazing sights…rolling green hills, a vast ocean, steep cliffs leading to the ocean, and sheep grazing nearby. It was incredible.

Our first stop was called Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge, and as soon as I stepped off the bus my pent up energy began to release itself and I realized just how much I needed to be outside. My friends were the exact same way…we were all SO happy to be outside. We ran some, walked some, laughed loudly, pointed and “ooed and ahhed” at just about everything in our path and took pictures like crazy. It was the funnest moment of my trip thus far. I was reminded of how absolutely breath taking and stunning God’s Creation is. The pictures below don’t do the location justice, but at least you can get a small glimpse of my experience ☺

This first location that we stopped at featured a rickety bridge that crossed over to a cliff-island. Thankfully I’m not afraid of heights, but even those who were terrified of heights made the trek across! Going over was fine, but coming back was quite more than a breeze…literally. It was SO WINDY. I took a video and attached it below, so you can get an idea of just how crazy it was.






Some of that pent up energy beginning to be released....




















The image above made me want to start singing "Climb Every Mountain" from the Sound of Music :)














After the bridge, we went to a place called Giant’s Causeway. Once again, the landscape was incredible. These rock formations were absolutely crazy! There was some legend and geological explanation for the unique shapes of the rocks, but I didn’t need an explanation…we serve a creative, matchless God. Period.

A cathedral, a jail, and...a mummified cat

Yesterday we did a bit of touring. We saw inside Christ Church Cathedral, and also visited Kilmainham Jail with our history class (Ireland led numerous rebellions against the British in order to gain their independence...they rebelled and failed each time until they finally won their independence in 1922, but all the leaders in the previous rebellions were thrown in Kilmainham Jail and often executed). On the bright side (literally), it was an absolutely gorgeous day...I even walked around outside without a coat on for awhile :)


Christ Church Cathedral


If you remember, I had posted a picture of Erin and I in front of Christ Church Cathedral in my first post...but it was snowing. Now less than two weeks later, it's sunny and nearly 50 degrees :)






Perhaps you were wondering what the "mummified cat" was all about in my title? According to Christ Church Cathedral, "The one, presumably chasing the other, became trapped in an organ pipe in the 1850s and were mummified. They are referred to in James Joyce's 'Finnegan's Wake' where someone is described as being, '...As stuck as that cat to that mouse in that tube of that Christchurch organ..." I found this to be so hilarious...hopefully you are as amused as I was :)


Inside Kilmainham Jail