October in Northern Ireland - Oct. 17, 2010 - The Adventure Continues

This is where I spend some time each Monday with a group of ladies who have been meeting to swim together for many years.  It is out in the middle of the country, built behind a private home but rented out for various groups.   I am appreciative of the chance to meet some ladies here. They have been a great source of advice - like where to buy a warm coat; where to find a good doctor; where to get a hair cut, etc. 







School begins for children at age 4 in Northern Ireland.   I walked by the playground just as the 4's were on their way home.  They do full days every day but Monday when they go home at 1pm.            I love the childrens' school uniforms - they all look so cute - at all ages.  There is also so much red hair about.  I asked the parents if I could take a few photos of the kids playing in their uniforms. 

Big sister with her school uniform and the little sister, not quite ready for school yet. 

Every town we have driven through has a nice playground for kids.  They are always fenced and some overlook the Irish Sea - what a great place to spend time swinging and playing. 

This was an interesting kind of merry-go-round which several kids could ride on at the same time.  There was some discussion about whose turn it should be.  That seemed very familiar. 

Parents and Grandparents are there to pick up children after school.  There are no school buses for primary students.  The local school has an after-school program as well for parents that are working. 

Some of the Movilla High students were invited to a fancy reception at City Hall in Belfast because they were involved in a project to refurbish an old greenhouse area in the school.  They had received a grant from a lottery fund and along with other projects, they were invited to an evening to showcase the results of the funding.  It was held in a gorgeous ballroom in City Hall. 

Here is Dave just making his way into the central rotunda
of the City Hall.  It was an impressive building built in the late 1800's.  At the time many people opposed the money being spent on it, but it is a city treasure now. 

We went to the Waterfront Theatre in Belfast to hear the Ulster Symphony play.  It was quite a new building and beautiful.  You can see we were in the nosebleed section, but the music sounded wonderful even there. 

One of the beauties of fall - hydrangea in so many different colours.  This plant was a lovely fuschia colour with purple-blue centers. 

This beautiful beach with sand dunes behind it was on the Irish Sea near Cloughey.  It was a beautiful sunny, warm fall day. 

Here we are back in Portaferry, looking at the town from the ferry.  The ferry ride is only 10 minutes to get across to Strangford. 

Just south of Strangford is Castle Ward, a castle built by Lord and Lady Bangor.  The story goes that they had trouble getting along and they had strong ideas of what their castle should look like.
So, this side is classical in its design - as Lord Bangor wanted it.  

How I wish I could take all my students for a ride in this "Cinderella-like" carriage.  It was there at the castle giving rides for 2 pounds during the Pumpkin Fest. 

Here is the other side of Castle Ward - very Gothic in design to suit Lady Bangor.  She had come into their marriage with money so was able to make some decisions about what she wanted.  The inside of the castle is built and decorated with the two distinct styles as well. 

 I loved the colour of the leaves both on the vines and on the ground near this doorway in the stableyard. 

























This photo doesn't give an adequate sense of the hundreds of people who were there for the Pumpkin Fest.  They had many food stalls and artists with tables of crafts and art and musicians and activities for kids.  In the British tradition, there were also oodles of dogs that came along with their families to enjoy the day!

Here is another look at the carriage with the horses. 

There was a huge pumpkin pile where you could choose a pumpkin and then go into a tent to carve it. 

Castle Ward has extensive grounds and so we took a walk up a hill to the Temple - it wasn't so very fancy but had a wonderful view up Strangford Lough. 

This was just one of many families heading home after a good day at the Pumpkin Fest.  It was a great place to take children as there was lots of room to run, lots of activities, two great playgrounds, a farm yard and things to see. 

Here is part of the Farmyard which was open for people to see the animals and look about. 

All good things meet their end and so we headed home driving a different route along the Lough.  There was a beautiful sunset over the Lough and we had to stop and take a few photos. 

Perhaps these Prairie People were missing seeing the wonderful skies that we see on the Prairies.  It was a lovely end to a great day.