2-3.10 Derry (Londonderry)

Most of you have heard the U2 song “Sunday,bloody Sunday”. It is one of those incidents that never should have happened. You can read about it in wikipedia, if youre not familiar with it.

I took this walking tour around the city, and free Derry. The tour guide was an ex-IRA member that had spent 7 years in jail for being a member of IRA. He told that at age of 12, there was no hand held weapon that he could not disassembly and assembly. The tour was great because it was from the point of one of those who were on the streets that day, and saw the tanks and British forces open fire against peaceful demonstration. Of course it was just one side of the coin, but still. When I listened his story about the events of bloody sunday my eyes just got wet. Couldn’t help myself. The funniest thing is that all around the world, we think that the happenings in Northern Ireland was a result of two different religions but the local people there say it’s the British trying to look after their interest there, that has caused the problems. In other words: Money.

Derry itself was a cool little town, “divided” in two, the bogside and the waterside. In fact it’s the second biggest city in Northern Ireland.

The last nigh at Derry was cool. Me, couple of Annas from the hostel and few more people went to pub, once again. There was two gentlemen sitting and drinking their Guinness. Some how they over heard that Im form Finland, and that’s when it started. “You fought the Russians well back in the WWII. What are you drinking? You drink vodka in Finland? Bartender, bring us some vodka”. There we were, couple of Catholic padres (priests) in their 60s or 70s and one non religious protestant from Finland talking about Ruskies during the WWII and drinking vodka and Guinness. Man, did I get blasted that evening. Thank you padres! And as they left, the other one bought me this “You are now entering free Derry” pin that I now proudly carry. All though, I wouldn’t wear the pin in the protestant areas of Derry and it might be little too risky to wear it in some other parts of Northern Ireland. Yay!