Derry Diary #5
3 July 2004
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Mild with showers but nicer than yesterday!

Belfast on the 'milk-run' bus. The day dawned with sun and beautiful cloud things. It should be OK in our journey across the island to Belfast and our 6.5 mile walking tour of the capital city.

Our bus was supposed to leave at 9.30, an express bus which would have landed us at the Europa bus station in 2 hours...but nooooooo I had to decide to take the 9.25 bus going to the same place but making a bazzilion stops along the way. "Aw it'll be fun. We'll get to see some of Northern Ireland's most beautiful scenery and little villages," I say to my charges. Well in a word it was soooooo long that most if not everyone, yes including me passed out.

We did, however pass through some beautiful towns like Strabane and Omagh. Matt saw two cows going at it on the way. Not something you see every day in San Francisco...well in most of San Francisco, anyway...but that's another story for another time.

When we got to Belfast our first stop was the Titanic memorial. I'm sure you all remember that the Titanic was built in Belfast. The memorial is on the grounds of the impressive City Hall. Right beside the larger than life statue of Queen Victoria is a re-dedicated monument to William Jefferson Clinton who visited Belfast in 1995. The small memorial was originally dedicated to the American's who fought in World War II. Recycling is always a good thing.

We went to a mall for lunch of local feed and wound up having a picnic on the floor of the mall. We did get a few strange looks, but considering how we look anyway, they were justified. There was a guy on stilts walking about dressed as a cowboy from a '40's movie. A little creepy. Initially, I thought he was a large cut-out leaning against the wall. Then he moved and he startled me.

Off we went up the Shankhill Road on the Loyalist side of the "Peace Wall" (a 20 foot tall wall separating the Nationalist and Loyalist communities). I guess if it works in Belfast it must work in other places...The red-white-blue bunting was everywhere and unfortunately there was no street fair this year. Those are always fun. We made our way through the barrier doors which were open this year to the nationalist side and continued our walk up the Falls Road heading toward Milltown Cemetery.

Milltown is a disgrace, overgrown and unkempt. Weeds blocking grave sites. We were all reminded of how the Derry cemetery is neat and well tended. Considering the historic nature of those buried in Belfast one would think that more care would have been taken in keeping it up.

We found Bobby Sands' grave, along with the other hunger strikers of the early 80's in a respectful monument area of the cemetery. There was a grotto and benches which added to the respectfulness of the site. Looks as if an organization is in charge of taking care of it.

This was the highlight of our 10 hour excursion this day.

The bus ride back was on the express. Inspite of having to face the Rosemount Hill (a killer walk if there every was one) we were in good spirits for our dinner of hot soup and sandwiches. Most of this evening was spent together laughing, telling stories and basically enjoying each other's company.

Mel gave the journal/prayer/reflection and she was right on the money. She talked about living in the now while we are here. Very impressive, as a matter of fact all these wanes from California are impressive.

Some shout outs from the S. I. Tribe:

Patti: Mom/Dad buy me something! Love to you all. Happy 4th

Val: oops...email my boss and tell him that I won't be back for the rest of the summer...I forgot to.

Andrew: Melissa, tape my favorite programs for me (e.g. Adult Swim) please

Janelle: Hi folks, send the home addresses of the Navarro's Mann's and Oma. (to this email addy) Happy 4th

Nora: Hi everyone. Hope you are having fun on the 4th. I'm having a blast. It is raining cats and dogs.

Matt: Happy 4th

Mel: Miss you all. Have a wonderful time in Murphys...think of me often.

Bobby:Hey, hope you are having fun in Tahoe...enjoy the fireworks.

Cal: (1) Steve, make me proud of you at the free throw contest at Needham; (2) Paula, hope you are having fun.

More later,

paul and Cal