2 July: Day Eleven
Our Itinerary for the Day:
Derry
Derry or Londonderry...even the name of the town brings a debate. We were enlightened on the history of Derry by our local guide. Part of the tour was on the bus as we passed by political murals and the Bloody Sunday memorial. Then we got a chance to walk the old city walls. It was our first up-close look of the harsh history of Northern Ireland.
It was amazing how the weather seemed to reflect the mood of our sightseeing. The sun seemed to shine brightly on the days highlighting Ireland's natural beauty, and the clouds rolled in when we focused on the darker days of the history. Declan, when not leading Rick Steves' tours, spends his days in France as an artist and sculptor. As a result, he gave us a unique insight into the amazing artwork, sculptures, and memorials that we saw throughout Ireland. |
Bus Time with Declan
Bus time was never boring. The lush green country side rushing past the window was more than enough to keep us busy. Declan, however, also entertained us with music, singing, poetry, and history lessons. As we departed each overnight stop, Declan would play us music that represented the area. As we approached new towns, he would provide interesting history and stories. He surprised us with a few treats for the taste buds. Declan also knew when to give us quiet time (aka nap time) during the bus rides too!
|
Northern Ireland: Portrush
Portrush seemed to have two different areas. One area was the cheesy seaside carnival sort of town. However upon further exploration we found a quieter more picturesque area that was perfect to walk along. While our time here was quite packed full of sightseeing, there was time in the evenings for some lovely sunset walks. (And it stayed light far into the evening, with the sun setting after 10pm)