Derry...moo!

Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Ahhh, not a pleasant morning...good thing we had a greasy full English breakfast to prepare us for the day. Today we took another walking tour (self guided) after we of course found a camera shop and replacement camera strap for Heather. We decided to take a walk into the West end of town where there is continuing political unrest between the Catholics and the Protestants. We were assured that it is in fact safe in that area of town but we were on guard and kept to ourselves. It was a pretty sketchy part of town anyhow. Along the route that the lady at the tourist centre told us to take, we were able to see and take pictures of these huge murals painted by local artists. The murals were all different but were a dedication to the unrest and troubles that have plagued Belfast for many years. It was really cool to see and we got a bit of an explanation from Neil at the hostel after we returned about what really went on and what it`s like today. Very interesting!!! We wandered around Belfast for a little while, grabbed some food from our new favourite grocer (TESCO`S)!!! We then stopped into the Crown pub for a pint and caught a bit of Tennis on the tele. Haha. The Crown bar is one of Belfast`s oldest pubs and is a traditional style pub with really neat stained glass throughout and booths around the bar that were like little rooms. It was also a really neat place. It was here that we came to the conclusion that there is a good chance that my left foot has been broken. The story for this one starts back in Edinburgh, on the pub crawl, we ended at some club that was really neat. It had different areas that were cave like and the end one had ``old school`` music like Aqua and hanson and backstreet boys, which ended up being our favourite. So during one song that everyone was particularly enjoying, some really drunk girl in heels was jumping and just so happened to land on the top of my foot...TWICE before I was able to shove her off. It really wasn`t too bad and did get a pretty nasty bruise but didn’t think much of it. I clearly wasn`t thinking properly because for the following few days, I was getting what I thought were `cramps’ in my feet nearing the end of the day and having to stretch them without much relief. So it dawns on Heather today that maybe the cramping is actually pain and it`s not my arches that are hurting but rather my `broken foot`. I am thinking that she is probably correct in this thought as the bruise is still as blue and big as ever and after walking all day, my left foot does get really sore. So I suppose we will have to see what comes of it but if it is in fact a broken bone or two in my foot, it will not likely heal too quickly of at all as we have no plans of taking it easy and staying off of it. Great!! Oh well on we went to pick up our packs and head for our first train ride. Our Eurorail passes are finally coming in handy and we can use this really expensive piece of paper instead of paying for buses. Tonight we are heading into Derry, just for a quick visit before we head to Dublin tomorrow for CANADA DAY!!! Woot!! We have been warned to collect alcohol in Derry before heading to Dublin as the prices in Dublin are ridiculous. Pints of beer cost 7 or 8 euro...good thing the economy isn`t booming right now or that would be way worse than it already is.
Wednesday evening...
We arrived in Derry and again didn’t have a set plan of how we were going to get to our hostel. Google maps couldn’t locate the train station for us to get directions so I got directions from city centre, hoping it was close to the train station. It’s a really good thing that Irish people are so friendly and helpful. The guard at the train station, put us on a bus for free to bring us into town, where another traveller (a middle aged man from Derry) overheard our situation and offered to help us get to where we needed to be. The kind man walked 10 minutes in the opposite direction and took us right to the doorstep of our hostel. It was amazing!!! We had read in our handy travel books that Irish people don’t give directions, instead they will take you where you need to be. Well we got a fully guided walking tour of Derry on our way to Paddy’s Palace (hostel). When we arrived there was a lot going on, a bbq, lots of people checking in, there was a tour group there etc. So although we were exhausted and planned on having a quiet night, we headed down to tesco’s to grab a few beers before heading to the pub. A group of us headed, in the rain, to Fodder’s pub where a local Irish band was playing. It was a really good vibe yet pretty small. We met 3 Irishmen who were out celebrating their mates birthday. They were something else!!! After a few pints and well after midnight, we headed back for some much needed sleep. I should mention we had our first passport scare. The guys that we met at the pub said Paddy’s Palace had a reputation for things going missing...that freaked us out a bit but thought nothing of it. When we got back though we thought we better make sure our things were untouched. MY PASSPORT AND MONEY WAS GONE!!!! We left it locked up in our room and it was nowhere. So I am unpacking my bags, (and heathers) frantically looking for it and low and behold it fell out of my pack and was under Heather’s bag sort of tucked under the bed. Phew!!! It was a lesson in keeping your valuables safe, that’s for sure!!! So off to bed we went and tomorrow was Derry day or more importantly, Canada Day!!!