Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas


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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 105 – Dublin, Ireland

    Tuesday 22 February 2000
    Highlights:     The Easter Rebellion

    We walked down O’Connell Street and visited the General Post Office, site of the 1916 uprising against British rule.  The Rebels were not supported by the public at the time, and when defeated several of the leaders were excited.  However the public executions turned public opinion against the British Government and in 1922 the Republic of Ireland was formed.  You can still see bullet holes in the building and memorial paintings are everywhere to the heroes of the Easter uprising.

    That night we finally found a pub that has live Irish music.  They played one traditional Irish song followed by one American Classic since there were so many tourists.  We continued our happy Guinness tradition into the night.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 104 – Dublin, Ireland

    Monday 21 February 2000
    Highlights: Trinity College, the old Irish Parliament House, the fantastic Guinness Brewery. 

    We woke up to a beautiful day so good in fact we decided to chance it without our raincoats. Jon had a small dispute with a fellow guest at the hostel over which bed he should be in.

    We walked down to Trinity College which houses over 9,500 students.  Until the 1970s Catholics did not attend this Protestant institution, at first they couldn’t and later the Catholic Church forbade it.  The university was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I.

    The buildings are fantastic, a highlight of the University is the Book of Kells dating from 800 AD.  unfortunately it was undergoing repair work today which happens at a lot of historic sites but is necessary to ensure they still exist for future generations.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 103 – Derry to Dublin, Ireland

    Sunday 20 February 2000
    Highlights: Magnificent Murals covering the ‘Troubles’.

    We spent most of the day in Derry / Londonderry.  Early in the morning we again walked the wall, but this time looking murals of the Troubles. In Northern Ireland murals have become significant symbols, depicting the region’s past and present political and religious divisions. Belfast and Derry contain arguably the most famous political murals.  We managed to get a few good photos of them.

    Derry

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 102 – Derry, Northern Ireland

    Saturday 19 February 2000
    Highlights: Thieves in the Night, the Tower Museum

    During the night someone quietly entered our dorm room and stole my backpack.  After searching we reported it to hostel staff and later the police, not a great feeling :(.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 101 – Belfast to Derry, Northern Ireland

    Friday 18 February 2000
    Highlights: Queen’s College, Irish pubs 

    We got up early an started the second walking tour.  Unfortunately luck was against us and it rained heavily most of the time.  We walked past the Europa Hotel, the most bombed building in the world apparently and to a nearby Royal Ulster Constabulary (or police) station.  All the police buildings are like fortresses and the cars like tanks.

    The other highlight was Queen’s College which was built during Queen Victoria’s reign.  It is apparently based on Magdalen College at Oxford.  We then caught a bus a Derry.

    The name of the city, Derry or Londdonderry, causes controversy. It was originally renamed to Loddonderry in the 16th century to reflect close relations with London but Catholics call it Derry, as it was originally.  The Republican City Council changed it’s name to Derry but the city itself is still Loddonderry.  Your background (Protestant or Catholic) is exposed by what you call the city.

    We met a fellow Australian from Burnie in Tasmania called Kent.  Kent currently plays in the State Australian Football League for Burnie.  We all went out to find a pub that plays local Irish music.  Three pubs later we had drank three Guinness beers having an enjoy night out.

    Since the hostel did not take our credit card we had to use the little UK cash we had left.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 100 – Belfast and the Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland

    Thursday 17 February 2000
    Highlights: Giant’s Causeway, personal tour of Belfast. 

    We did a Youth Hostel Organised tour to the Giants Causeway.  Leaving from a different Belfast Hostel down the other end of town at 9.30 am so we had to get up early.

    Along the way up we visited a coastal castle, abandoned long ago, which sits on a cliff over looking the sea.  Part of the kitchen fell into the sea which encouraged the owner to move.  The magnificent views from the castle make it worth the visit.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 99 – Belfast, Northern Ireland

    Wednesday 16 February 2000
    Highlights: Walking tour of Belfast, City Hall, Guinness.

    Today we went on the Lonely Planet’s first walking tour of Belfast.  While this tour had frequent rain luckily for the most part it was while we were undercover.  The highlights of the tour included the leaning clock tower in honour of Queen Victoria’s husband and the tour of the Belfast City Hall.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 98 – Stirling to Belfast, Northern Ireland

    Tuesday 15 February 2000
    Highlights: Ferry crossing to Northern Ireland.

    After very little sleep we started our second last long travel day.  The American in our room was sick and coughing and an Asian kept talking in his sleep so I only got 2 hours sleep.  We caught the 9.30 am train to Glasgow and than a train to Stranneat.  From here we caught a ferry service to Belfast.

    The ferry cost £20 and basically had all the features including a McDonalds and Duty Free shopping.  The crossing did get a little rough and Jon did not find that very enjoyable 🙂

    We ended up staying at the Linen House Hostel, an independent hostel which only opened recently and cost £6.50 per night for a 18 bed dorm!  Luckily there were only five others in the room including 1 American girl and 2 other Australians and we stayed up to 2 am talking.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 97 Stirling, Scotland

    Monday 14 February 2000
    Highlights: Stirling Castle

    After a small breakfast we headed for Stirling Castle.  Today we had fairly constant drizzle and at times amazingly thick fog.

    Stirling

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 96 Edinburgh to Stirling, Scotland

    Sunday 13 February 2000
    Highlights: Royal Mile, Palace of Holyroodhouse, St Giles Cathedral

    We sent today walking the Royal Mile.  A road connecting Edinburgh Castle with the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

    Most of the attractions were shut until 2 pm as it was Sunday or we were not interested in the ones that were.  However we could admire the fine architecture of buildings dating from 16th century to present.

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