The reality is that “tomorrow is not better!” –
we head off for a tour to the Giants Causeway – the weather cloudy – overcast –
a chill in the air – “off early to beat the crowds” says the tour brochure –
indeed we are off early – off guided by nice – by polite – by cheerful guides
and agents – along the motorway to the Causeway – the weather deteriorates and
then deteriorates some more – by the time the Giants Causeway Visitor Centre is
reached it is distinctly inhospitable!
It is unclear as to whether or not Bernie's partner shares her enthusiasm!
The close encounter is undertaken and recorded and the haven that is the Visitor’s Centre reclaimed.
What the weather gods at the Causeway have
failed to understand is that there is nothing that they can produce that could
possibly dissuade Bernie from her objective of a close encounter with the
paving stones of Finn McCool or indeed the shoe that the infamous opponent of McCool left behind in his panic!
It is unclear as to whether or not Bernie's partner shares her enthusiasm!
The close encounter is undertaken and recorded and the haven that is the Visitor’s Centre reclaimed.
The Bus Tour resumes – the Rope Bridge
component observed from the café clouded in part by the mist rising from the
seas and partly by the steam rising from the delicious potato and leek soup
that we used an excuse to occupy the café rather than to tramp in the chilling
winds across the bridge.
Off to the Distillery at Bushmills – more than
a tasting! – three full tipples! – two single malts – one blend – too much
alcohol for an individual tourist! – I wonder if the dregs are recycled into
the blend for the distillery’s next encounter with a tour bus!
Back along the coastal route towards Belfast – “the
greatest coastal road in the world” says the taxi driver – “the great coastal
road in the world” says the tour driver - “attractive” thinks I - “I am not
sure that these people have been to coast of the north of Scotland!” thinks I.
Belfast's fascination with the Game of Thrones is overt - more of a draw card for Belfast than the Lord of the Rings is for our Kiwi neighbours! - challenges the Titanic for preeminence in Northern Ireland - even when not on a "Game of Thrones" tour visitors are exposed to photographs - to locations - to stories.
We stop at a Game of Thrones location - Glencloy - the steps - apparently the heroine enters the water in Malta - exits the water in Northern Ireland! - "it is filmed mostly in Northern Ireland" says the taxi driver - "it is mostly filmed in Norther Ireland" says the tours guide - "at least they are consistent" thinks I - "any scenes that show sunshine are shot elsewhere but otherwise it is shot entirely here" says they.
As if to disguise their bias towards all things related to the "Thrones" we are shown a memorial to Paddy!
Back into Belfast and dinner in the Hotel.
We stop at a Game of Thrones location - Glencloy - the steps - apparently the heroine enters the water in Malta - exits the water in Northern Ireland! - "it is filmed mostly in Northern Ireland" says the taxi driver - "it is mostly filmed in Norther Ireland" says the tours guide - "at least they are consistent" thinks I - "any scenes that show sunshine are shot elsewhere but otherwise it is shot entirely here" says they.
As if to disguise their bias towards all things related to the "Thrones" we are shown a memorial to Paddy!
Back into Belfast and dinner in the Hotel.
Spring is trying again but not with the fervour
that she had been showing in the last days of Scotland – we wander across the
road to the Jury’s Inn – we do what we have been instructed to do – by David
Parker - by Pam Milliken – we take a Black Cab Tour of the Murals of Belfast! – a
story of troubled times – in our case at least, told by a troubled soul – a
soul who is pleased by the peace but who still carries,perhaps not the hate, but
at least the anger of the traditional Irish Republican – as people who had been reassured, indeed, calmed and contented, by the taxi driver and the tour guide that “the
troubles are over” we finished the tour a just a little dismayed – we trust that
indeed “the troubles are over” but we
are conscious that their source still simmers away close to the surface and
ready for eruption.
We look at the Murals on both sides of the wall - we look at the walls that still exist almost 20 years after the Good Friday Agreement - we look at the steel gates along the Shankill Road that are still locked each night - we tremble.
“It is inevitable that there will be a single united Republic of Ireland on this island” says the driver – “ the population distribution is changing” – “we will achieve majority soon” – “the Good Friday Agreement requires a referendum on independence should one be asked for” says he – “we will be able to ask for one before too many years” says he! – the tour ends – “oh ye of little faith” thinks I about I – “why does this man make you feel uneasy”
We look at the Murals on both sides of the wall - we look at the walls that still exist almost 20 years after the Good Friday Agreement - we look at the steel gates along the Shankill Road that are still locked each night - we tremble.
“It is inevitable that there will be a single united Republic of Ireland on this island” says the driver – “ the population distribution is changing” – “we will achieve majority soon” – “the Good Friday Agreement requires a referendum on independence should one be asked for” says he – “we will be able to ask for one before too many years” says he! – the tour ends – “oh ye of little faith” thinks I about I – “why does this man make you feel uneasy”
