Here we are in Derry (also known as Londonderry), on our way to Belfast tomorrow. The restaurant where we had dinner was the site of not one but two “hen parties,” the Irish equivalent of bachelorette parties. We’ve noticed that when people go out on the town here, they really glam it up — the girls all wear the most amazing stilettos, along with an extra-full face of makeup and loads of perfume. We wondered if they were aghast at Katey’s jeans, hoodie, and Keens. Or perhaps … they were jealous of her level of comfort. Steve thought they might have gotten one look and decided “She must be married.” Isn’t he just adorable?
Another thing we’ve noticed that is different between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland is the accent. Northern Ireland has a strong connection with the United Kingdom and was settled by Protestants from Scotland, Wales, and Britain. Not only is the language slightly different, but they use the pound (£) as currency, rather than the Euro (€).
Anyway, we logged a good 7+ miles today hiking up Slieve League, the highest sea cliffs in Ireland (three times the Cliffs of Moher) and among the highest in all of Europe.
At the risk of being repetitive, the views for both the drive and the hike were again spectacular, giving lots of time for rest breaks while Steve did his best to capture the grandeur around us with his camera. We know, though, that photos won’t do justice to the real thing.
On our way driving up to the cliffs, we actually got lost for the first time. We just looked at it as another chance to see something we’d otherwise have missed. For example, where else would we attempt to pass a van in front of us, only to have to think twice because a sheep is moseying across the road?
The Wild Atlantic Way has been a highlight of our sightseeing here. It is a drive along the Western coast that has included the Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, & Donegal, and includes these photos.
Tomorrow, we’ll explore Derry and head to Belfast. It’s a wild night outside, being a Saturday and a bank holiday weekend, so hopefully we’ll get some decent sleep. Pub closing time is technically 11:30 with some bars having a late license until 1:30, and we still hear music at 12:15am, so we’ll see. “Air conditioning” here means opening the windows, so we may have to turn off our air con. to get some sleep. 🙂
Katey & Steve Rish in Ireland 2016 