Monday, September 30, we drove to Belfast by way of Newgrange, a 5200-year-old passage tomb. Newgrange was really fascinating. At the winter solstice, the passage and chamber are aligned with the rising sun, so the place is illuminated. There's another tomb nearby that's even bigger, and our tour guide said it's a must-see. Next time.
Crossing the River Boyne on the way to Newgrange:
I tried to get artistic with cobweb pics.
We got some food from a food truck by the entrance. I admired a Warbler & Wren truck in honor of my special little Wren bird.
We checked into our Airbnb in Belfast and then hurried to a DC Tours walking tour about the Troubles in the city center. The guide was absolutely incredible. For over two hours, he rattled off dates and details about the origin of the Troubles, the back-and-forth attacks by the IRA and the Protestant paramilitaries and police, etc. The tour was fascinating and devastating, and I cried a lot. Hooray for Rob and Anna for booking that tour. It was so enriching.
According to Anna, who has a better memory than I do, this mural was painted last year after a young reporter was killed in a riot. One of the darts bears initials for the IRA; the other for the Protestant loyalists.
This clock tower was built in the 1860's on marshy, reclaimed land and now leans four feet off the perpendicular. It was damaged in 1992 in a Provisional IRA bomb explosion.
Went to Wagamama's for dinner that night, which reminded me of study abroad in London.
1 comment:
Seriously - that tour was a real highlight. Makes me rethink my anti-tourguided policy.
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