Sligo to Galway and in between.

 Mr X is a keen 'winging it' kinda person. Let's just drive and discover is his  motto. Ms X on the other hand likes some organisation (that must surprise those who know her) and enjoys having a sense of purpose towards a destination. Sligo ticked a few boxes in the end as for Ms X it was in the general direction needed to be taken for the Cliffs of Mohr.

The drive to Sligo included....

                   ...a moffee stop in Dungannon,

a stretch of the legs in Enniskillen, at the Broadmeadows docks,

 a visit to Belleek, the home of Irish Pottery where even Clinton, Charlie and Tiger had been recently.  

 

 and lots of lovely scenery.

Outside Sligo was Easkey, the ancestral home of the O'Dowd clan. Mr X was in his element examining one of the 10 remaining O'Dowd castle- ruins.

   

 

Ms X enjoyed the local surrounds where the film 'Calvary' had been shot as the pair had just seen this movie whilst in Edinburgh.

One night in the pub in Sligo, some local Sligonians engaged the travellers in conversation, telling them they had to take  'The Green Road' after they had passed Eastey.They told them they couldn't miss it. They did!  They also told them they had to go to Clarenbridge after they passed Galway to make sure they had a bowl of the famous Seafood Chowder at the famous 'Paddy Burkes. That landmark they found. However it was just after noon and Paddy's seemed to be closed with no sign of life.

So they waited

and waited. Across the road, Mass had just finished and the congregation started coming out. Mr X predicted that many would head to the pub and he was right....... Seamus seemed to be following his usual path from Sunday Mass to Paddy Burke's pub however he too, found the door locked. He then asked our travellers why the door was locked and of course they were no help so he soldiered on up the street. After a while the two were about to throw in the towel and continue on their journey when Ms X suggested walking around the side to see if there was another door. There was and they entered only to find many locals already sharing some Guinness and craic, including their friend Seamus!!!! Thanks for your assistance with that.....seems the old Paddy Burke had forgotten to unlock his front door this morning.

The renowned chowder was eaten and the verdict?  The Sligo chowder was much, much better. This one far too creamy and they need to put Seamus on the payroll to open the front door.

Back on the road to Galway with lots of lovely little towns visited along the way.

 

 

Their entry into Galway was through the back way  through Salthill. Fantastic. So so picturesque.

 And their little B&B B overlooking Galway Bay just made it perfect. They had many options for dinner that night but Mr X spied a century old golf club up the street that overlooked the water and that was where they did an 'uncle gorden' and enjoyed a great meal. 

The Galway Bay promenade reminded them of Beaconsfield Parade where everyone enjoys the surprising emergence of the sun. The next morning it was full of families, couples, joggers, dogs but surprisingly no roller bladders or skateboarders. The other thing that the Brightons and Southamptons could take a lesson from their neighbours across the water is the placement of their amusement parks. In Galway they keep the pier for all things things oceanic. And our travellers appreciated that. A top place to visit if you are in Ireland.

Belfast for Beginners.

Growing up, both Mr and Ms X had heard and read media reports of the conflict in Ireland, or more specifically Northern Ireland. Hearing about it and having an understanding about it are two different things. They could tick the box for the first but definitely not the second.

A walk around Belfast was the first eye-opener. Lots and lots of businesses closed and lots of 'For rent/Lease/Sale Signs'. Everywhere was clean, however it wasn't a place in which you would choose to walk alone.

A stop at the museum had been suggested to provide a quick ' Belfast History for Dummies' session.

 

Not a lot of success there. It seemed to jump from the Ice Age to the potato famine to the 1900s..... Hmmm, a bit missing however a mould of St Patrick's hand was impressive.

                 

The next day it was time to call in an expert. 'John' the tour guide picked up Mr and Ms X as part of the Black Cab Tours and personally drove them through the streets of Belfast explaining the conflict, or 'The Troubles' as they are known as.

There are specific areas within Belfast for the past and present warring-factions to reside in and then other areas that are known as mixed areas. There are schools and pubs that either the Protestants (loyalists) attend and  likewise for the Catholics (republicans). There are hidden rules for this city to abide by - hidden for the outsider but well known to those in the community. 

We were driven first into the Shankill area- the Protestant/ Unionist/ Loyalist area. 

The area was bleak and dismal with evidence still remaining of 'The Troubles' of the past and plainly of the current ones. The local school and Nursery school looked almost prison - like.  Houses proudly flew the Union Jack and pictures of the Queen adorned windows.

As Mr amid Ms X walked around the streets it appeared at first like a ghost town, however they felt there were numerous sets of eyes watching them from behind their curtained windows. Their guide, John confirmed this would have been the case.

All through the area, murals appeared on walls, on sides of shops and houses, each telling their own intriguing stories.

  

They each told a story and John briefed us on each.

Some were memorials to the area's deceased heroes whilst some told of previous battles.

  

Next stop was 'the Falls' - the Catholic/ nationalist/ republican sector. Murals were very much part of this area but this community also chooses to highlight other countries' struggles that they believe they have a strong connection to through their International Wall.

 
 

As a reult of the agreement that was signed in 1998 there have been Peace Walls constructed separating these communities. 10 metre high walls with gates in between that are locked each night so that there would be only one entry point into each area each night making it easy to identify any people who are unwelcomed.

THIS IS HAPPENING NOW IN 2014!!!! 

Ms X adds to the messages on the republican peace wall......

The blue fence opposite is the peace wall on the loyalist side.

These two areas are the main segregated areas in the city and the places where the most violence occurred and still occurs although there are pockets throughout the rest of Belfast as well as Derry.

Will this conflict disappear with the next generation? John reassured us that it wouldn't as traditions are passed on in Northern Ireland and this tradition shows no signs of  becoming obsolete.

John summed it up 'it's a trust issue'. 'Its not about religion' he said, 'it's about national identity. One group identify as English and the other as Irish'

Oh how lucky to live in Australia.

Endearing Edinburgh in the wind and rain.

'You'll love Edinburgh' Ms C and Ms A had both told our travellers. Both siblings had toured Edinburgh on separate occasions and had both enjoyed the place immensely. They had talked it up so much that the bar had been set quite high.

Now the weather can play a big part when you are travelling. Sunshine can perk you up and give you the energy required to put in a long day of sightseeing. On the other hand, rain or wind can can have the opposite effect. First impressions are also important. They are hard to shake.  Mr and Ms X encountered grey skies, wind, rain and cold during their first day in Edinburgh. Not a good start.

                                       

The UK is full of castles so Edinburgh Castle had lots of shoes to fill. Mr X thought it was "impressive, inspiring, awesome and everything he imagined it to be". 

Ms X thought it "was huge and picturesque on the hill however had lots and lots of war related displays so it was hard to keep the focus". And it was cold and rainy and the war stuff was all indoors so it did provide a respite.

Hollyrood Palace is another haven when it's cold and windy and rainy. So when Ms X suggested that as the next activity, Mr X wasn't complaining even though they were not into the royals and a bit over palaces. The idea of the indoors was inviting however, walking the Royal Mile yet again that day wasn't that attractive a proposition. The two had already walked from their B&B to the castle!  They soldiered on.

No, that's not the castle, it's the palace. They just both happen too be grey and gloomy. Remember it's cold and rainy and windy.........

............ And then it's a new day and the weather changes and the sun comes out and Edinburgh looks grand.

 

You now want to stroll in the beautiful gardens, walk through the Closes (laneways) and you are even happy to pose with random people.....

                                                        

You suddenly decide that you haven't had enough of the Royals so you even choose to visit queenie's old royal yacht Brittania that's docked there......

 

 

....... although you then complain about all the wasted money on that floating palace!

 

Edinburgh is a great place with lots to see, do and experience. It even has a statue and pub that is a tribute to the memory of the amazingly loyal 'Bobby'.

       

So next time you are visiting Edinburgh Ms and Mr X, stop complaining about the weather! Make sure you stay again at Fraoch House where you can catch up with Gareth and the new ’Mrs Gareth' as well as the wonderful Kat because that is a top place as well.

                                                           

St Andrews, the HOME OF GOLF, Scone Palace and some espionage.

Before leaving lovely Perth and heading further north, we made our way to Scone Palace (pronounced skoon)

Mr X showed our Aussie seniors cards that one can purchase when 55.....they are always hit and miss as far as their acceptance rate in Aus but over here..... not a problem. The only problem was the man at the ticket box apologised profusely for not enquiring earlier if I had a seniors as he said he was flabbergasted. Would never have believed I was that old as I looked like a wee bairn!  Mr X on the other hand he believed

                   

              Not a bad place to hold this year's Christmas celebrations.

On to Skoon where we discovered that Lord Mansfield and his clan held ownership of this place. Now Ms X's cousin is into the family tree and not sure he is aware of the claims that we all may have on this place.....or is he keeping this a family secret?

                Mr X looking for his skoon rock for his collection.                           

So you get the picture about Scone Palace..... Robbert the Bruce, Macbeth and Mel Gibson......sorry, William Wallace were all crowned here on the special stone. This is a fake one as we were to see the real one in Edinburgh castle and now the Mansfields laying claim to the whole place.

Onwards and upwards towards St Andrews.......Mr X, please take over.......well, what an extraordinary place. Fancy being at the home of golf and you, as a visitor, can walk straight across the fairways to the pavilion whilst people are actually playing golf. And not only that, but one guy had his dog pulling his golf buggy along! This would never happen at Medway. Just ask Bill Clinton.

      Mr X looking for another rock!

              

Heaps of people playing. Surface not as good as Melbourne's sand belt courses. There were five courses interweaving everywhere, as well as an 18-hole putting course. I could only imagine how hard theses courses would be to play with even the slightest mount of wind. Ms X and I had lunch overlooking the course. One of us at least could sense the history of the place! The intrepid travellers couldn't resist heading down to the beach, site of the filming of 'Chariots of Fire'

                                          

  That's all Mr X's shopping purchases from the Golf Pro Shop that they are holding! 

The day finished off with a surprise visit to .....

         And this was built for the COLD WAR, Ms X's favourite!

 And you you know how she loves all things spies and secrets......

What a top Mata Hari she would have made!