I drove for the first time today! We went to Grianán of Aileach, in County Donegal, Morgan and my first trip into the Republic of Ireland. The Grianán of Aileach is a ring fort, dating from approximately 600 A.D.
I had expected to title this post "Stay left, stay left, AAAH ROUNDABOUT." But on the approach to Grianán of Aileach, I found myself facing something else. We were headed uphill, on a road only about half again as wide as the car, when out onto the road popped two ... sheep.
Conversation in the car:
Steve: "Just keeping going. They'll move."
Me: "I don't want to hit anyone's livestock."
M: "Mom, if you hit them, they won't be anyone's livestock. They'll be someone's deadstock."
Thanks, M.
The sheep apparently had been through this before. They came forward until there was a convenient shoulder on the road and then crossed safely. We continued up to Grianán of Aileach and enjoyed the fort, as well as beautiful views of Donegal.
I later drove us to the Tesco and back and was glad to see only roundabouts, no livestock or deadstock.
Peace Bridge (25 June 11)
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Giant's Causeway and Bushmills
Giant's Causeway was absolutely beautiful. Pictures I had seen didn't do it justice and I'm afraid my photos won't either. I'll write more later but, as a start, here are the photos.
Update (13 June 2011)
I had seen video footage of Giant's Causeway on Rick Steves. I had seen others' photos. But nothing (including my own pictures) captures how stunning Giant's Causeway is or how big it is. There are several rock formations, of different heights, all with the hexagonal columns. One of Steve's MN coworkers who recently finished a short term assignment here, after visiting Giant's Causeway, described it as the best kids' playground and M certainly agrees. M climbed and explored each bit of rock.
On the trip out to Giant's Causeway, M told us that before we even knew we were coming to Northern Ireland, his class read and acted out a play based on the folk story about the creation of Giant's Causeway. He said that in the play, the giant says "Now I can get to Scotland in just three steps!" M and his classmates thought that was very funny! A brief version of the legend can be found here.
Click here to view these pictures larger
Update (13 June 2011)
I had seen video footage of Giant's Causeway on Rick Steves. I had seen others' photos. But nothing (including my own pictures) captures how stunning Giant's Causeway is or how big it is. There are several rock formations, of different heights, all with the hexagonal columns. One of Steve's MN coworkers who recently finished a short term assignment here, after visiting Giant's Causeway, described it as the best kids' playground and M certainly agrees. M climbed and explored each bit of rock.
On the trip out to Giant's Causeway, M told us that before we even knew we were coming to Northern Ireland, his class read and acted out a play based on the folk story about the creation of Giant's Causeway. He said that in the play, the giant says "Now I can get to Scotland in just three steps!" M and his classmates thought that was very funny! A brief version of the legend can be found here.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Exploring the City
We've been taking advantage of the local buses to explore more of the city. On Wednesday we went to the Tower Museum and walked the city walls. The Tower Museum has two main exhibits: a history of Derry and an exhibit about La Trinidad Valencera, a ship from the Spanish Armada that sunk outside Derry in 1588 and was excavated in the 1970s. Both exhibits were well done. We learned were that Derry means 'Oak' and that Springtown, the part of town where Seagate is, was formerly a World War II American naval base. I also enjoyed the short film about Derry as a seaport for Irish sailing to North America. M liked reading about the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). M wrote a few postcards when we got home.
Yesterday, we headed back to St. Columb's Park. In the afternoon, we rode back into the city and walked along the river. Steve met us at the end of the footpath and we all had dinner at Chilli's. Dinner was yummy.
And, today, we rode the bus back in to pick up some odds and ends for the townhouse. Steve met us for lunch at the cafe at the top of Austin's department store. It was a clear afternoon and the views from the restaurant were well worth the cafeteria lines. After Steve headed back to Seagate, M and I walked to the Derry Central Library and got library cards. We both found several books -- even though we're also both in the middle of great reads on our Kindles! :)
This weekend, the plan is to drive to Giant's Causeway tomorrow and for me to practice driving in town on Sunday. "Stay to the left, stay to the left, stay to the left."
M's comment on being caught in a couple of brief rain showers this week: "Of course, you're going to get wet in Ireland. Well, if you stayed inside all day, you wouldn't. But then you wouldn't get to see St. Columb's Park and a bunch of other awesome stuff, so that wouldn't be good."
Yesterday, we headed back to St. Columb's Park. In the afternoon, we rode back into the city and walked along the river. Steve met us at the end of the footpath and we all had dinner at Chilli's. Dinner was yummy.
And, today, we rode the bus back in to pick up some odds and ends for the townhouse. Steve met us for lunch at the cafe at the top of Austin's department store. It was a clear afternoon and the views from the restaurant were well worth the cafeteria lines. After Steve headed back to Seagate, M and I walked to the Derry Central Library and got library cards. We both found several books -- even though we're also both in the middle of great reads on our Kindles! :)
This weekend, the plan is to drive to Giant's Causeway tomorrow and for me to practice driving in town on Sunday. "Stay to the left, stay to the left, stay to the left."
M's comment on being caught in a couple of brief rain showers this week: "Of course, you're going to get wet in Ireland. Well, if you stayed inside all day, you wouldn't. But then you wouldn't get to see St. Columb's Park and a bunch of other awesome stuff, so that wouldn't be good."
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
St Columb's Park
Steve went back to work today. M and I walked down to St. Columb's Park, about a mile from our townhouse. The park is huge and has walking paths, soccer fields, and two large playgrounds. We found the "big kid" playground first. M climbed to the top of a tall teepee and along a long rope net, while I watched and took pictures. The "little kid" playground was around the next bend and still had great climbing ropes, ladders, and a huge slide. After playing we came home for lunch and plan to spend the afternoon at home, doing some laundry and unpacking.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Our first day (6 Jun 2011)
M and I arrived last night. Uneventful travel = my favorite. M was very excited that the newsstand in Heathrow's Terminal 1 had Match Attax cards. Steve picked us up in Belfast and then we went to dinner at Icon, just 5 minutes from our townhouse.
Steve took the day off today to show us around town and to help us run some errands. I got a cell phone and we picked up some groceries. We walked about a quarter of the way around the city walls. Later in the afternoon, we went to Kilfennen Park, which is about a 5 minute walk from our townhouse. Steve and M brought a soccer ball and practiced passing and defending.
Steve took the day off today to show us around town and to help us run some errands. I got a cell phone and we picked up some groceries. We walked about a quarter of the way around the city walls. Later in the afternoon, we went to Kilfennen Park, which is about a 5 minute walk from our townhouse. Steve and M brought a soccer ball and practiced passing and defending.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
3 kinds of mango tonight
M had a mango lassi and mango ice cream at India Palace tonight. Then we came home and logged into our library's language learning center (Mángo!) to learn a little about the Irish language. In lesson 1, we learned about greetings:
"Dia duit, cen chaoi a bhfuil tú which is the formal way to say "Hello, how are you?"
and the informal "Haigh!" (which is pronounced like and means the same as the English "Hi!").
The pronunciation for the formal greeting is not at all what I would have expected. It's:
Dee-u rit, ken khee u WIL too?
"Dia duit, cen chaoi a bhfuil tú which is the formal way to say "Hello, how are you?"
and the informal "Haigh!" (which is pronounced like and means the same as the English "Hi!").
The pronunciation for the formal greeting is not at all what I would have expected. It's:
Dee-u rit, ken khee u WIL too?
First Photos
M and I are excited to be getting on a plane on Saturday and starting our adventure. Meanwhile, Steve has sent photos of his first couple of weeks...
The slide show has photos of our townhouse, the Foyle River in Derry and Grianan (a ring fort), and Malin Head in County Donegal.
Click here to view these pictures larger
The slide show has photos of our townhouse, the Foyle River in Derry and Grianan (a ring fort), and Malin Head in County Donegal.
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