This morning as we left Belfast, Henry explained to us-
The Scots know what they want and will take anything else they can get their hands on.
The Irish (as Oscar Wilde said) don't know what they want, but they'll fight you for it anyway.
We drove again through beautiful rolling patchwork farm lands with trees and hedges as their frames. In Scotland everything is orderly, in Ireland, they don't like being told what to do and everything is a bit more ragged. Hedgerows aren't as neat, but they are lush and many shades of green and very pretty. This independent attitude came with the immigrants to the United States when it was still just colonies and played a big part in the Boston Tea Party.
We saw lots of raised bog land which is where residents cut turf to use to heat their homes and cook. They dug and cut squares which were quite wet and the consistency of butter. They would then dry it till ready to burn. It worked more like wood than coal and gave off a nice glow. It has a distinct smell which makes the Irish think of home. Cutting turf is now very restricted.
We stopped in the mist on the cliffs to take pictures. Henry told us the story of Robert the Bruce becoming discouraged in his fight for the freedom of Scotland and he hid in a cave on an island off Ireland's coast. While there he watched a spider trying to spin a web in the wind and he had to start over time and again. The spider was finally successful which gave Robert the Bruce the motivation to carry on and he returned to Scotland renewed.
We traveled on to the Giants Causeway. The story has it that two giants, one in Scotland and one in Ireland, had never met each other, but loved yelling insults back and forth. The one in Scotland decided to go after the one in Ireland and built a causeway of rocks over the sea to him. The Ireland giant's wife told her husband to dress like a baby and get into the cradle. When the Scottish giant knocked at the door, the wife said she was sorry her husband was out for the moment, but he could come in and see the baby. He saw the baby, and fearing what his father must look like, ran back to Scotland destroying the causeway as he ran. What was left is now what we see as the Giant's Causeway.
It was a beautiful stop and a brisk hike. We could have stayed there long climbing rocks and hiking trails. We made the most of every minute and were one of the last to jump on the bus. I am going to sleep for a week when I get home. Can't waste time on that now!
As we drove down out of the mountains, a sweet version of Danny Boy played. Very lovely.
We stopped in the Victorian town of Derry. We walked the city wall and went off by ourselves. We stopped in an old pub for soup and met up with several others. Great fun.
We drove on in Donnegal County through rich, fertile farm land up to more mountains. This seemed more like the Scottish Highlands. Soon we were singing It's a Long Way to Tipperary and Cockles and Mussels. It cracks me up what a little music will do.
Here's a phase that is an example of the Irish people's dislike of rules - You don't park a car in Ireland. You abandon it. People just stop and get out.
More woods, pines, streams and deer crossing signs. Nice.
We stopped at Beleek China and saw a film on the incredible craftsmanship and skill in the making of china. It was very interesting. Besides regular pieces, they make delicate woven china baskets of different sizes with tiny painted flowers. I got the least expensive, beautiful little mug with the Gathering 2013 slogan of a "Hundred Thousand Welcomes" written in Gaelic (Cade Mile Failte) with little painted shamrocks. It is a mug to cherish. Now to get it home.
We stopped in the Valley Shannon, Ballyshannon, to see the church, St. Columbos, and graveyard where William Butler Yeats, who wrote beautiful love poems, is buried. The church dates back to the 6th Century. Hard to concieve. It is still a working church and it was fun to look at birthday names and see the programs. It would be fun to attend a service in this pretty little church.
Exhausted once again, we stopped at a quaint hotel, with a fire going in the lobby.
We unpacked, met for a Guiness, had dinner, a short walk and snuggled in. We wonder how we can be so tired after sitting on a bus, but it is just so much to take in and we go at it with zest and determination not to miss a thing!
We unpacked, met for a Guiness, had dinner, a short walk and snuggled in. We wonder how we can be so tired after sitting on a bus, but it is just so much to take in and we go at it with zest and determination not to miss a thing!
