Derry Girls. I have heard a lot about that show, but I have never watched it. I've enjoyed one of the stars, Nicola Coughlin, in Bridgerton, but no, never Derry Girls. Perhaps I should have. There was a lot on this morning in Derry that made reference to the television show, and there were definitely some among us who were fans.
I got up in the morning and made my way past the town's central square
over to Starbucks to begin my day. We had a walking tour of Derry ahead, and then a drive to Galway with a stop planned. A day that would be spent largely in the bus, the countryside rolling by. Can I confess that I put on a napping music playlist during some of that later drive and let the verdant areas slide past my closed eyes?
If you know me, you know how very well I can nap. Anyway, Starbucks on a wet morning.
Ah, but I had brought an umbrella with me to Ireland, so by the time we got in the bus to drive around Derry before the walk, we were safe from being rained on.
We had a local tour guide, Tony, join us.
A charmer of a man, a talker. We drove outside the walls first,
and once again were told a very cursory overview of what we were seeing related to The Troubles. I once again let that pass without comment and without photos. If we're not going to be confronted and ask to reflect, then I don't want to otherwise engage. You know that. Moving on....
We came back inside the city walls
and began the tour on foot.
Derry, I should add, is the only walled city in the UK with a complete set of walls. We didn't walk the full length but rather walked part of it, Tony pointing out things like the cannons
and churches
and more.
He spoke of the history of the city like the apprentices who closed the city gates when the deposed Catholic king of England tried to invade with the support of the French king. We finished in the same central plaza where I had passed through in the morning.
A good walk before getting on a bus, which we did almost right away, taking us south and back into the Republic.
Lunch was at a rest stop - no photos, it was fine enough for a light bite and a chance to buy a bit of Irish junk food. As we continued south, we stopped in County Sligo
at Atlantic Sheepdogs for a fun little demo.
The wind was bitter, and a rain blew through (leaving a rainbow afterward),
but Ben was a very good boy indeed,
and Martin was an engaging host.
Sheep!
I love dogs, and so I was delighted to see the demonstration.
Another longish stretch (for Ireland - the distances would be considered as modest here) and then we rolled into Salthill, essentially a beachside bedroom community for Galway. The last hotel
of the trip and two nights there. I got a little glimpse of Galway Bay
from my room
but a better glimpse before dinner from a quick stroll across to the seashore. Lovely sunset.
I'm posting the dinner photos because I have them, but I cannot say it was an especially good meal. The hotel dining room seemed to be staffed with students from the local university, and although friendly enough, they didn't provide the most polished service. Ah well. The soup was fine,
the pork was hammered,
the dessert was inoffensive.
Harsh, but true on those. The company more than made up for it, and I took a boulevardier from the hotel bar to my room to wind down and look forward to a last full day in Ireland.
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