2018-10-09 The Troubles

The group left the Bed and Breakfast at 6:30 am to catch the ferry to Ireland.  It was a few hours ride and gave them time to eat breakfast.  (Debbie did see some napping).  Once they landed, they went to their flat in Belfast.  The flat had a younger theme which incorporates purple, pink and zebra print.  The pictures give you a true sense of the apartment dynamics.

Debbie and Larry were excited when they found that the flat was right next to a new gas station (think Circle K).  It was a combined grocery and gas store.  Debbie used the ATM to withdraw some British pounds but found it was the Bank of Ulster notes which confused her.  Joyce tried to convince Debbie that it was Funny Money.  Debbie panicked and frantically tapped out an inquiry on her phone.   Interesting fact (especially if people are telling you it is Funny Money).  The notes are legal currency, but technically not legal tender anywhere (including Northern Ireland itself).  Issuing banks have been granted legal rights to issue currency, and back the notes with deposits at the Bank of England.  Confused?  Just know that it spends like regular money.

Next was the traditional “Let’s ride an exploratory bus” to give the group time to introduce themselves to every person within 50 feet of the bus stop while they figure out which bus to get on.  Eventually,  off they went to City Hall on the bus after having made numerous friends.  (Tourists on a city bus are a rare sight).  The four ate lunch at  City Hall and then took a tour.  Debbie was sad that they did not have hot dogs available.  She did however get the hardest piece of bread possible.  (Debbie says that you could build a house with it and those Irish people are tough to eat that bread).

Now, we are going to deviate here from our regular format to talk about “The Troubles”.  We did not have a good feel for “The Troubles”, Northern Ireland or the feelings that still exist in today’s world.  What are “The Troubles”?  It is Northern Ireland’s sectarian strife that happened almost 40 years ago.  It was between the Catholic Irish nationalists who favor unification with the the Irish Republic  to the south and the Loyalist Protestant paramilitaries who supported continued British rule.  It was rather shocking to see how uninformed that we were and sad that this is still an issue.

TO try to understand the Troubles, we took a black taxi tour of sites involving the Troubles.  We think that most of the black taxi drivers are former IRA members.  The tour began with Jason, our driver, telling us that in 1988 he was outside talking with a friend and was shot 3 times by the nationalists.  Jason then went on to give us a tour of important sites in the 1970’s troubles.  We didn’t know that there is a Peace Wall that separates the Roman Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods that still exists.  We remembered the hunger strikes from the 80’s but it is still a living breathing issue in Ireland.  Did you know that the last major hurdle for Brexit is the Irish border?

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On a final note,  Jason and his taxi are sometimes used in movies.  He recently finished a movie with Blake Lively.  He has a picture with Blake.  We are certain that he will be showing other people his picture with us.  He very kindly took us back to our flat so we did not have to make more bus friends on that day.

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