This past weekend the entire group went to Giant’s Causeway and Carick-A-Rede. Giant’s Causeway was a national park where all of the rocks were in the shape of large cylinders. We were able to climb the rocks and look out into the ocean. Also, we were able to climb to the top of a mountain to look down at the ocean and see the rocks. At Carick-A-Rede, we hiked up hills to get closer to the ocean. Once we were getting close to the ocean we were able to cross a rope bridge that allowed us to stand on a large rock in the water. It was so beautiful and peaceful. It felt as if we were the only people for miles.
On Sunday, a few of us went to a city in Northern Ireland called Derry. This city was the home to many recent troubles in Northern Ireland, including one specific trouble, Bloody Sunday. While we were there Dr. Galezewski took as on a tour of the murals. (In Derry there are 12 murals that are painted around the city. These murals depicted scenes from the troubles and the Catholics fight for Civil Rights). It was very moving to see these murals and to show how much pain the people of the North of Ireland have dealt with over the years.
Overall, this past weekend I was able to see outside of Belfast and to experience a few other parts of Northern Ireland.
Lauren Czechowski