Friday, September 7’Th

Bye-bye Giants Causeway. I'm leaving at 11 on route 172 to Colerain. From there it’s a train to Derry/Londonderry.

What you call the city is determined by religion. If you are a catholic it’s Derry – If you are a protestant it’s Londonderry – if you don’t care you can call it Slash-city.

Of we go for a closer look at Derry. It's mainly in the city-center and on top of the 2 km long city-wall around central parts of Derry. The wall was built between 1614 and 1619. There are 4 original gates, and then 3 made later. The gates were in use as late as “The Troubles” to keep people aside.

The major part of Derry is catholic and Irish. On one side of the wall is Bogside, the main catholic part – on the other side a small protestant community called Fountain. It can be recognized by the colors on the curbs – red, white and blue – like Union Jack.

Along the wall there’s also some interesting building. Like the Guildhall. It was built in 1890, but IRA bombed it a few times in 1972. Now it’s is restored and looks like a fine church. Unfortunately it is closed for the day as I get there.

A little bit about the weather by the way. It’s very nice – but better than you could expect. It's 23 degrees Celsius today – according to the locals the best summer day this year. Sometimes you have to be lucky.

Saturday, September 8’Th

Plans for today were to take a bus to the northern part of Donegal, Ireland – known as Malin Head. But we are outside tourist-season, so there are no busses this weekend. That gives me an extra day in Derry, but that really doesn’t matter.

Second tour of the day is Bogside, the catholic area west of the city wall. This was where Bloody Sunday took place on January 30’Th 1972, where 14 demonstrators were killed by the British armed forces. It was also in this neighborhood the problems between the catholic’s and the British were toughest during the 70’s and the 80’s. Now the area has been renovated, but you will still find your murals around. Most of them are about Bloody Sunday. And of course you will find the most famous of all monuments from “The Troubles” – the words “You are now entering Free Derry” painted on the side of a house. The house has gone – but the wall with the words is still here.

Rest of the day is at Saddlers House, and a few football-matches on the TV. The dog Bertie guards the place. The only time I have seen the dog move, was when it just slightly lifted the left eye-brow when I arrived. The host seems to believe that in case of a burglary Bertie would sleep right through it.

Sunday, September 9’Th

The book on this trip is Pete McCarthy’s funny “McCarthys Bar”. It’s also about a travel around Ireland. This morning I read this sentence “I will go outside, wander around aimlessly and see what happens”. That is what I will do today.

But honestly – I’m a bit on the lazy side today. Maybe inspired by Bertie, that spends his whole day sleeping at the B&B. You have to take a little care of the stupid dog – he sleeps everywhere – even on the stairway – and if unlucky you might risk stepping on him – well he probably wouldn’t notice. And if you here a strange sounds in the hallway – down worry – it’s just Bertie snoring.

2 small walks are what I do today. First I take a decent walk along River Foyle and later at more uninspired walk around Derry City Center. I even go to the local shopping-mall. Lunch and Dinner at a local pub that is almost as personal as a McDonald – but they have a good offer – and as you might have found out, I’m a good fan of good offers. “A roast and a pint” for £ 5.99.

Back at Saddlers its time for some book reading and Formula 1 and World Cup Rugby on the TV. There’s a lot of fuzz about the Rugby among the Irish – at the pub they were watching one of the matches cheering their heroes - against Somalia or something – no sorry Namibia it was.