Last Leg of the Trip

For our last leg of the trip we flew from Edinburgh to Belfast.  Again, this was a regional airline with very strict baggage weight requirements.  We had really lightened our load by giving away stuff and mailing things home.  Once we got on the plane, Bill and I gave each other a fist bump because we didn’t get charged for overweight luggage.  However, I have been very insulted that they always feel the need to put a big orange “Heavy” sticker on my bag.  Glad they didn’t make me wear one around my neck!

Our plane was very comfortable and spacious.  We were on schedule and Roberta and Owen were going to be waiting to pick us up in Belfast.  Life was good – for a few minutes.  I had never heard the term “bird strike” before; however, I do remember the pilot having a crash landing in the Hudson Bay because of a bird.  Well, we are in this great airplane going full speed down the runway almost ready to lift off.  The plane stops so hard my head hit the seat in front of me.  It then slides and turns slightly sideways on the runway.  I thought we had hit another plane and my children were going to collect on the insurance money.  However, a “very large bird”, according to the pilot, had flown into one of the engines.  They pulled the plane over and several emergency vehicles pulled up to check the damage.  The pilot walked down the aisle to make sure everyone was OK.  I asked him how long this would take because I had a ride waiting for me in Belfast. I told him I really needed to get in touch with them so he gives me his cell phone to call.  We ended up having to wait for another plane to hitch a ride.  And I didn’t even take my Xanax for this flight!

Roberta and Owen had our day planned so that we would go to their house by way of the coastal road that is at the very top of Northern Ireland.  I have been there before and it is a beautiful ride.  However, the weather was not cooperating and it was raining hard.  Our first stop was the Giant’s Causeway which is the most visited site in Northern Ireland.  It is a formation of hexagonal stones that cannot be found anywhere else on earth.  It is quite a steep walk down there and back.  It was cold, windy and rainy which was not a great introduction to Northern Ireland for Bill.  We walked down and I said there is no way I am walking back up so we took a little bus back to the top.  We spent about 15 minutes at this most memorable site.

Rainy weather is something you expect in Ireland so we plugged on through.  The rain stopped for a while and we were able to go to a beach on the North Sea and to the top of a mountain.  Bill declared that this was the prettiest part of Ireland.
This was my seventh trip to Northern Ireland but Bill had never been so we had to play tourists for him.  We took him to the city of Derry/Londonderry.  We had a very interesting bus tour and walked the walls around the old city.  They have recently built a “Peace Bridge” which we also walked.

When I first came to Northern Ireland 11 years ago, there was unrest between the Catholics and Protestants.  The British had troops in the country and it was not really opened up to tourists.  Now that there is a semblance of peace, the tourists are there.  There were busloads at the Giant’s Causeway and they are invading Derry.  I liked it better when I was the only weird accent there.

Naturally, my favorite part of Northern Ireland is the people.  I have been fortunate enough to make friends there but could not visit them all on this short trip.  Some of the young people from there who have spent time at my home have babies now so I felt like an honorary grandmother.  My adopted Aunt Nettie in Omagh fixed us a wonderful meal and we had a great visit.

Poor Bill was pretty lost in all conversations – not only are the accents difficult to understand but everyone talks at the same time.  He had a pretty blank expression on his face most of the time and replied yes to everything they said.  For example, “Bill, where did you go today?”  His answer, “Yes.”  “Bill, what kind of work do you do?”  Bill’s reply, “Yes.”  “Bill, what kind of beer do you like?”  Bill: “Yes” etc……..

I am very grateful for my friends in Northern Ireland and their continued hospitality.  They really should be tired of me after 11 years!