Stage 3 – Sligo to Galway

What can I say about Sligo? Well, it’s got a very interesting history as one of the ports of departure from the Irish fleeing from famine. Other than that, we really only slept here in an effort to stay on schedule and be closer to Galway. It turns out that the hostel we stayed in was on the main dock where everyone boarded the ships. The wall of the hostel contained many accounts of the passages and quite a few stories showed the level of poverty these people suffered. Most children didn't have shoes and all only had the thread bear clothes they wore. No one had luggage. Some arrived naked as they ate their clothes during the passage.



Right, so (Irish expression that means, that really sucks, but...) onto the famous seaport of Galway we went, pulling into the city around 10 am. It was a typical looking European seaside landscape. Charming, with a center square, skinny one-way streets, sidewalk cafes and pedestrian only walkways. So, we stop for a latte, of course!

After securing a hostel for the night, bunk beds again - what a drag! - We take in the sites. First up, Lynch Castle, then Eyre Square, Browne’s Doorway, the Salmon Weir, St. Nicholas Cathedral , and the Spanish Arch & Medieval Walls. This was all before lunch. The castle in the center of town had been converted into a bank and being Sunday, was closed. Oh well, no big deal onto the square where Brian grabbed a map from the tourist booth and went, ah ha, ah ha, and left. Oh we snapped a few pictures for your pleasure.

The Salmon Weir (an amazing fish ladder) was really cool and fun to walk around. We stopped in to St. Nicholas’s to say a quick pray to the patron saint of sailors! Yeah, you heard right, it couldn’t hurt and if it was good enough for Christopher Columbus who went there in 1477, then it was good enough for us! As we strolled down the river walk back towards the center of town, we watched the ducks and the wee ones fight the current and the locals fish for steelhead and Salmon. The Boys caught one while we were there. At the end of the walk, we came to the Spanish Arch and Medieval Wall. Really not much there and we had to re-read the Lonely Planet book again to understand the significance, which eluded us and still does. However, our understanding is these were gates that the Spanish used to bring goods in to the city. The Spanish armada fleed north, away from the Britsh fleet after their defeat and many damaged vessels came ashore in Ireland. The Spainsh and Irish quickly formed a bond as both hated England.

Anyhow, we were hungry so we stopped into a pub for, you guessed it soup and soda bread. Being in a seaside-fishing town, we also had to have the salmon special. Still, they have nothing on Brian’s cedar plank salmon. While we were there, it started to rain, but up until this point, the weather in Ireland had been brilliant! Anyhow, we meet this nice young couple that explained the game of Gaelic football to us so we hung out and watch 2 matches. Brutal sport with a soccer ball and football tackles.

That night we went for a drive along the coast, out to Salthill. This is a promenade starting by the Spanish Arches in Galway, going out about 7.5 miles west. Since it was raining, we drove it. Pretty. We constantly forget it is the middle of summer here as the high temp is right around 70 but seeing kids swimming in 58 degree water always brings us back.

Being hungry again, it happens frequently, we consult the good book for a dinner spot. We pick out an inexpensive fish and chips place, locally world famous for specializing in salmon chips. I peeled off the deep fry to reveal tender fillets. It was soooooooooo good. Fishy, fishy, fishy, kitty likes. It was so good Brian bought the t-shirt. Then it was off to the pub to watch the US vs. Brazil in the Confederate Cup soccer finals. US up by 2 goals in the first 15 minutes only to lose in the second half. We were the only ones cheering for USA. Thanks Bush. Back to the hostel, we’ve got a busy day tomorrow.

Enjoy the pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/katnbrian/sets/72157621687031810/

Stage 2 – Derry to Sligo

Okay, okay, I know, we are way overdue on these stories and unfortunately are running out of time and internet. So, I'll be uploading several stories at once. Sorry about that! ~Meow

So we decided to stay at hostels because things are very, very expensive here. We are using British pounds in the north and Euro’s in the Republic. $1.62 = 1 pound, and $1.42 = 1 Euro – OUCH! The youth hostel’s run about 32 to 44 pounds a night. We are not in Mexico anymore, Toto! Oh, this includes breakfast, which is toast and jam. Good, but it’s no full service thing!

The wall around the city!

Anyhow, off we go to explore Derry. First up, a walk on the Derry city walls. This is a real fortress wall with cannons and iron gates. It was first used in 1615 and until the IRA and British army signed a peace accord. Following the Lonely Planet guide, we take in the sites of the city. It was really cool and we both liked this city very much.

A boro just outside of the walled part of the city & the site of the Bloody Sunday conflict.

More Derry pic's here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/katnbrian/sets/72157621688491898/

Side view of the castle

Sticking to our stringent schedule, we depart around 10:30am and head towards a little town called Dunfanaghy at the North West of the country. Missing all the places that were suggested to us because Brian drives like an Indy car racer, we stumble upon a huge National park and scenic drive. We detour to take a look at the Glenveagh Castle & grounds.

Glenveagh National Park

We took the castle tour, which was really neat and interesting. The castle itself was located directly on it own Lough (Lake) and 25,000 acres. The castle has been owned by Americans, so its been modernized. It’s so green here.

To see more photos of Glenveagh click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/katnbrian/sets/72157621686731138/

Donegal Castle

Right, off to Donegal and another cool Castle. We arrived right at 5:15pm, in time for the last tour. Now, this was such a cool castle but totally different. It was like something right out of a Robin Hood movie. I totally can picture myself living here. It comes complete with secret passageways built inside the walls itself. Did I mention the walls are 7 ft thick? Yeah, so cool. Honey, …..

For more pictures of Donegal click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/katnbrian/sets/72157621689048898/

After a quick bite to eat at the Castle pub on the square, our usual of soup and soda bread – yum, so good (at least the Irish can cook, even if they are British - ya, weird oxymoron), we head off to the city of Sligo for the night. Sligo is a seaside, shipping town famous as an exit port for some of the most destitute famine victims of the 1800’s.

Tour de Ireland- Stage 1

Day One on the road right round Ireland, the plan is to go from Newry to Belfast. Stop for a quick lunch and some sightseeing, then onto Giants Causeway at the North, and ending in Derry (Londonderry) for the night.

Right, so things never really go as planned and this day was no different. First, we slept in, then took advantage of the wonderful breakfast that came with the room. This was no continental thing either, full on order off the menu and eat off the breakfast bar too, good – mmmmmmmmmm. Fully tanked up, we took full advantage of the health club and I even managed to get a mini workout in the lap pool. Brian took a steam, cold plunge, and a hot tub. It was fabulous and most refreshing. However, by time we got out of there, it was 1pm!

Belfast City Hall

Off to Belfast! Luckily it was only an hour away from Newry and we only went the wrong direction once! Pulling into the city, we stopped first for a quick bite to eat. We were starving. Choosing something from the good book, we stepped into a pub called the Crown. It was packed. Brian got a pint and I ordered a Snake bit (half cider, half Guinness). After speaking with some people we decided to go for fish and chips at another place but on the way back to the car, noticed the time, and decided to detour into the nearest spot. Trying to get back on schedule, we just drove around Belfast, looking at the sights. I was a bit unimpressed but then again we really didn’t spend much time here.

Downtown Ballycastle

Heading north, we hit the coast at Ballycastle, which is a town not a castle as I previously thought. Oh well, stopped in for another quick pint and some unsolicited bar man advice, and off we ran. Stopping only to snap a picture of the coast, and of Scotland, which was only 20 miles away (that could be clearly seen). It was already 5:30pm and some of the attractions we wanted to see closed at 6pm, we think? Oh, did I mention that because we are so far north, it doesn’t get dark until around 11pm, and the sun comes up at 4:30am, and it wasn’t raining! I guess it rains here a lot. Like ever other day, all year round. Anyhow, hustling we make it to Carrick-a-rede by 6pm. It is posted that it is open till 7pm, but it’s not open. This will be a reoccurring thing we run into in Ireland – strange! Bummed that we are not able to go across the swing bridge, we take a few minutes to snap some more awesome pictures of the coastline. Enjoy!

Ballycastle - you can clearly see scotland in the background!

Castle ruins along the north coast

Carrick-a-rede- site of the famous swing bridge

Next, we run to Giants Causeway, a natural phenomenon at the top north east end of the island. This was incredible. It looked like a quasar video game (made up of pentagon blocks), like the one from 1980’s arcades. At 8pm we leave and head to Derry, or what the Brit’s tried to re-name Londonderry. Oh ya, we are in the north, you know the UK, even though it's Ireland. This is the town/site of Bloody Sunday. It is also one of the last walled cities in Ireland. We arrive at 9:30pm ish, secure a hostel to stay at, and promptly turn around and leave our room at 10pm to get some supper at the only place still open. Wow, did I tell you this staying light out til 11pm is really screwing us up? What time is it? J Enjoy the photos!

Brian sitting on Giants Causeway

Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/katnbrian/sets/72157621380029871/