Travel to Northern Ireland Wednesday, August 8

 The view of fields lined with low stone walls and sheep and cows and woods and hills was what Lynn says, "41 shades of green". That is a gift to my eyes.

After a pit stop in Sligo we rode on to Donnegal for lunch. In the coach Lynn talked to us about many things Irish, and specifically what we were seeing and where we would be stopping next. Additionally we have listened to her talk about the education systems, North and Republic,  health care, retirement,  voting,  driving, and drinking laws in both countries. Interesting is that a person must place the letter L in the front windshield whike learning to drive, until s/he passes the driving test.  Then, after the test is passed the letter N for novice must be in the windshield for two years.

We found a place for lunch in Donnegal.  The afternoon coach talk was about what things are going to be different, now that we had crossed over the border into Northern Ireland.  Signs, miles not kilometers, pound Sterling currency, and use of "wee" often in conversation, i.e. "would you like a wee cup of tea?"

In the city of Derry we picked up a local guide, Tony, who guided us through the old city gates and by the old city walls and who then led us on a walking tour and talked about "bloody Sunday" January 30, 1972 when English soldiers killed and injured around 30people who were participating in a peaceful demonstration against the internment of people without cause. After a 12 year investigation it was determined that the English soldiers did nothing wrong.  That release prompted further pressure on the government which brought in an outside, neutral investigation. The conclusion was that the police were wrong to shoot at the demonstrators. PM David Cameron came and personally apologized saying there is no justification for the unjustifiable. We also heard about leaders in the Civil rights struggles, 1968-1998 and of the positive work of US President Clinton and negotiator George Mitchell, and of the continuing involvement, in the civil rights struggles  y Hillary Clinton. She is the current chancellor of Queen's College in Belfast.

We also visited the city hall and the display of honors received by Nobel Prize winner David Hume; his awards from the MLK Non- Violent Awarsand the International Ghandi prize were also exhibited.

And now for something completely different we are in the beach resort town of Portrush. As wexwalked with friends from our group to locate a place to eat supper we watched our guide, Lynn, swim in the Atlantic Ocean. "Once you are under the water it is fine,"she says.