Frenchy in Ireland

Brrrrrrr, cold bro! Actually, not that cold really but a little bit like NZ, really cold inside the house, not talking of the bathroom or the kitchen! You need some motivation to go and get your breakfast and have a shower!

I've been really lucky on this trip. We had a fantastic saturday, sunny as, and Louise, my ex work mate from Nz, a lovely Irish girl, took me to the Giant Causeway, a famous and amazing geological formation.
Funny how different places located at the opposite sides of the work can look alike. This one did look like some of the places I've been to in NZ. Quite wild, nice track on the top of the cliffs with a fantastic look out over the sea and the costline; I absolutely loved it!














What a shame really that the days are so short... and with the difference of time, it is getting dark at 4pm, 4:30pm in Ireland!!! Revolting!
We drove back along the coast while it was still day light, had a glimpse at an old castle whole main asset is its location and enjoyed a really nice sunset at the Carrick a Rede rope Bridge (not sure of the name thoug, too complicated!): a suspended bridge which was closed but which track leading to it offered a really nice view over the shoreline and the bridge itself.

The sun gone, it was about time to go back to the warmth of the car, head back to Belfast where we had a fantastic dinner. I had a little bit of hesitation about having scallops, the ones I had eaten in NZ being unbeatable to me, but honestly, these ones were delicious, and the NZ white wine, a Riesling made in the Marlborough area, was just superb!







Sunday was spent in town, having a look at some Christmas markets, where I found a lovely binny, made by an old lady, to protect me from the cold of Ireland.
Of course, we ended up eating all we could at the stands offering some free tasting, and they were heaps of them! Irishcoffee, buttermilk cakes, cheese, chocolate...



Just before the night falls onto us, Damian, Louise's boyfriend took us for a drive to visit the famous places where the riots and fighting between catholics and protestants had taken place not so long ago. I admit it was quite of a surprise for me to discover all the propaganda paintings made on the walls of houses. The most impressive mas definitely the wall built to separate catholics from protestants living on each side of the street. The height, length and look of it shocked me.






Well, this visit was short but good. Good enough to make me realize how far one can get to defend a cause, how slim the border is between fighting for one's beliefs and terrorism : who can really judge of it except those being affected by these acts of violence?
Damian told me that although his Mom was not a strong catholic, she could not help feeling sympathy at the start for the cause...
So where did it all begin, who was right and who was wrong at the start before everything ends up in acts of terrorism?

I am too ignorant of the facts to take position on this. All I can say is respecting each other, respecting our differences, our believes are the key of peace.
And it is not only with people we don't know, but also and first with people who are maybe the closest from us, our partner, our family, our friends, our workmates...

I strongly believe that our differences are what makes the relationship with people so interesting. Imagine a world with people who are just like us? Boring...
Mmm, although in my case, this would be the paradise if everybody was just like me! :-)))

Just kidding...

Anyway, this was the message of the day of Saint Sophie, peace and love! Amen!