| Jul 20, 2006 - Derry
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 | | show all 4 | | the Catholic neighborhood in Derry | | mural in Catholic neighborhood | | burned out building in Protestant neighborhood | | |
| | This morning we headed to our guide Stephen's hometown of Derry, in Northern Ireland, or 'Norn Iron' as they pronounce it. This city has 2 names - the Catholics refer to it as 'Derry', while the Protestants call it 'Londonderry'. There are no longer any border checks as you cross the border, but you definetly feel that you are entering a different country. Everything seems different; the houses, the people, even the look of the countryside (this area has some of Irelands most fertile farmland). Derry is the only town in all the British isles that has it's entire medieval town wall intact, which encircles the old part of town. Stephen took us to the Catholic neighborhood where 'Bloody Sunday' took place. The sides of the buildings are covered with big murals depicting political scenes, some of which are pretty intense. We then walked up onto the old town wall and looked down into the Protestant neighborhood which is completely encircled by a wall and barbed wire. From the wall we could see the site of a huge bonfire which the Protestants light periodically, including an old fire station which had been burned down (ironic, huh?). We had the afternoon to explore the town on our own, and Candi and I met a nice older woman who had just moved back to Derry after 50 years of living in Britain. It was interesting to talk to her and get a Protestant's perspective of things in the North. She seemed pretty optimistic of the future, as she had noticed some big changes since leaving here in the 50's. As with everyone I have met in Ireland, she was very friendly and quick to strike up a conversation with us. |
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