Saturday, February 14, 2009
The Troubles in Belfast
On Thursdays I took a Black Taxi Tour thru Belfast areas where the Troubles primarily occurred, I will get photos posted soon, but slow internet is causing some issues.
Due to the troubles in Belfast during the 70's, 80's and early 90's there has been a series of walls erected separating parts of the city, separating the protestants and the catholics. These walls are still functioning today, the gates close every night, they open every morning, there is one gate that is automatic and operates all night (but it closes at night and will open upon request), there are no guards at the gates. The tensions are still there, I was taken by one pub on the catholic side of the wall that still requires a person to be "rung" in via a bell, if they don't know ya' or you are a known protestant, you probably ain't getting in.
The murals of Belfast are better at telling two-sides of the story of the Troubles than what I saw in Derry. The Unionists (protestants) murals may depict the effects of the Troubles on protestant families, Single Parent Families is an issue that resulted from the Troubles, homes being destroyed (this occurred to both protestant and catholic homes). Cromwell is the hero to the protestants and hated enemy to the catholics. Both sides have murals of their heros thru the years, most of those that are depicted in the murals have perished as a result of the conflicts. Many of the deaths have been the result of tit-4-tat reprisals between various organizations within the UFF or UDA or UDU (protestant) or IRA (catholic).
I wrote on the wall a request for Peace, Peace is the only Solution - Participate in the Peace.
The Troubles in Belfast
Due to the troubles in Belfast during the 70's, 80's and early 90's there has been a series of walls erected separating parts of the city, separating the protestants and the catholics. These walls are still functioning today, the gates close every night, they open every morning, there is one gate that is automatic and operates all night (but it closes at night and will open upon request), there are no guards at the gates. The tensions are still there, I was taken by one pub on the catholic side of the wall that still requires a person to be "rung" in via a bell, if they don't know ya' or you are a known protestant, you probably ain't getting in.
The murals of Belfast are better at telling two-sides of the story of the Troubles than what I saw in Derry. The Unionists (protestants) murals may depict the effects of the Troubles on protestant families, Single Parent Families is an issue that resulted from the Troubles, homes being destroyed (this occurred to both protestant and catholic homes). Cromwell is the hero to the protestants and hated enemy to the catholics. Both sides have murals of their heros thru the years, most of those that are depicted in the murals have perished as a result of the conflicts. Many of the deaths have been the result of tit-4-tat reprisals between various organizations within the UFF or UDA or UDU (protestant) or IRA (catholic).
I wrote on the wall a request for Peace, Peace is the only Solution - Participate in the Peace.
The Troubles in Belfast
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| Belfast Murals & Wall |
Ireland Immigration
I am going to backtrack a little about the trip.
Traveling overseas since 9/11 has introduced a great deal of security facade on the US side, both when leaving and when arriving from/to the US. On the other side of you travels you will have a variety of levels of security, some more stringent than the US some more lax. In the case of Ireland it is more lax, for example the Immigration form when entering the US, is quiet extensive in asking your name, where you live, what is your passport #, where was your passport issued, what are you bringing with you (cash, food, etc.), have you been on a farm; entering in to Ireland you filled out a post card with Name and Address, no passport info, no other questions. The immigration officer did ask how long I was planning on being in Ireland and/or the UK, and that was pretty much it.
Upon arrival in Scotland from Northern Ireland, after I picked up my luggage I did pass thru a small gauntlet of officers and a dog (a little scottish terrier), but that was it.
Basically, they did not seem too worried about their security, they take it seriously but that they have made the choice not to be too invasive into the citizens/visitors lives as they travel. It seems to work.
I still feel safe and I'm OK.
Here are some photos of three of the Hostels I stayed in.
Traveling overseas since 9/11 has introduced a great deal of security facade on the US side, both when leaving and when arriving from/to the US. On the other side of you travels you will have a variety of levels of security, some more stringent than the US some more lax. In the case of Ireland it is more lax, for example the Immigration form when entering the US, is quiet extensive in asking your name, where you live, what is your passport #, where was your passport issued, what are you bringing with you (cash, food, etc.), have you been on a farm; entering in to Ireland you filled out a post card with Name and Address, no passport info, no other questions. The immigration officer did ask how long I was planning on being in Ireland and/or the UK, and that was pretty much it.
Upon arrival in Scotland from Northern Ireland, after I picked up my luggage I did pass thru a small gauntlet of officers and a dog (a little scottish terrier), but that was it.
Basically, they did not seem too worried about their security, they take it seriously but that they have made the choice not to be too invasive into the citizens/visitors lives as they travel. It seems to work.
I still feel safe and I'm OK.
Here are some photos of three of the Hostels I stayed in.
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| Hostel Environments |
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Belfast revisited
Well Belfast was not the best of Ireland for me, but I did make it out and about to see a number of the sights; Queens University was just a block away which included some botanical gardens, walks along the river, and I did take a taxi ride thru the troubled part of Belfast. I will post pictures some time, maybe this weekend.
Queen's University Botanical Gardens
Queen's University Botanical Gardens
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| Queen's University Botanical Garden - Belfast |
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
First impressions of Belfast
Oops!
should have stayed in Derry for another day.
Maybe my attitude will change tomorrow.
should have stayed in Derry for another day.
Maybe my attitude will change tomorrow.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Relaxing in Derry
Well the past couple of days have been more relaxing than they have been adventurous, which is one of the things I was wanting from this part of my adventure, some quality relaxation.
I have been out late the past couple of nights enjoying several musical enclaves of Irish music, Peador's and Sandino's. There is no doubt that the majority of the songs being sung are about, peoples' rights, solidarity, and making things just.
The area that I have been staying in is a few blocks away from Bogside, the area of Derry (that once was a bog) where most of the catholic immigrants were forced to live. By forced I am describing a fact that for years (1830-1920) the unionists government was in control and as such had control over what properties were sold to which individuals, if you were catholic you could only buy property in Bogside and as the catholic population grew other areas such as Creggan were opened for development, but only due to severe over population.
I have always been a supporter of democracy; a "government of the people, for the people, by the people". It seems that governments, either knowingly or out of ignorance, make horrible decisions about how the people should be governed. In the case of Derry, there have been many issues, but it seems to have been primarily started due to lack of just representation within the government, in fact they governing powers ensured this fact by gerrymandering the districts.
This part of Ireland, specifically Derry and Bogside, have had generations of greater than 20% unemployment and it continues to day, with in excess of 25% unemployment of the working population. The one thing that I have found interesting is that the people from Derry know what they need; being present in the moment and enjoying it, love of family, friends, community, giving & helping, laughter & enjoyment, ... hmmmm! wealth is not in their list of needs.
I have updated the pictures in the Album "Free Derry Murals & Bloody Sunday", the link to this Album can be found below in the "Free Derry Corner" post.
Also, I did take a walk out to the city cemetery and around. I did not find any relatives of my family (that I am aware of), I needed my Aunt Joey there to help out with the genealogy. The earliest graves that I found at this cemetery were from the early 1820's when Bogside was being developed.
Tomorrow I will leave for Belfast. I plan to catch the 11:30am bus.
I have been out late the past couple of nights enjoying several musical enclaves of Irish music, Peador's and Sandino's. There is no doubt that the majority of the songs being sung are about, peoples' rights, solidarity, and making things just.
The area that I have been staying in is a few blocks away from Bogside, the area of Derry (that once was a bog) where most of the catholic immigrants were forced to live. By forced I am describing a fact that for years (1830-1920) the unionists government was in control and as such had control over what properties were sold to which individuals, if you were catholic you could only buy property in Bogside and as the catholic population grew other areas such as Creggan were opened for development, but only due to severe over population.
I have always been a supporter of democracy; a "government of the people, for the people, by the people". It seems that governments, either knowingly or out of ignorance, make horrible decisions about how the people should be governed. In the case of Derry, there have been many issues, but it seems to have been primarily started due to lack of just representation within the government, in fact they governing powers ensured this fact by gerrymandering the districts.
This part of Ireland, specifically Derry and Bogside, have had generations of greater than 20% unemployment and it continues to day, with in excess of 25% unemployment of the working population. The one thing that I have found interesting is that the people from Derry know what they need; being present in the moment and enjoying it, love of family, friends, community, giving & helping, laughter & enjoyment, ... hmmmm! wealth is not in their list of needs.
I have updated the pictures in the Album "Free Derry Murals & Bloody Sunday", the link to this Album can be found below in the "Free Derry Corner" post.
Also, I did take a walk out to the city cemetery and around. I did not find any relatives of my family (that I am aware of), I needed my Aunt Joey there to help out with the genealogy. The earliest graves that I found at this cemetery were from the early 1820's when Bogside was being developed.
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| Derry City Cemetery |
Tomorrow I will leave for Belfast. I plan to catch the 11:30am bus.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Derry City Wall Walk
On Saturday morning, I took a walk around the city wall that was built to protect the city from all sorts of invaders, it did not seem to work too well since almost every time the people of Derry were overrun by the invading forces. In the map below look for an oval in the middle of the map, Magazine on the northwest, Artillary on the southeast, for an outline of the city wall.
View Larger Map
View Larger Map
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| Derry Cathedrals & CIty Wall |
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