I really don’t have a lot to show you today as we spent most of the day on the bus making our way from Derry in Northern Ireland to Galway on the west coast. I wish I could have gotten a picture of the art installation at the border. It is called the five giants or “Let the Dance Begin” There are five oversized figures playing musical instruments in a roundabout where the checkpoint crossing from Northern Ireland used to be. The figures were built from the scrap metal that resulted when the checkpoints were dismantled. Yet another celebration of the peace now prevailing on the island.
We traveled through countryside that gives meaning to the word bucolic with cattle, sheep, cottages, stone fences and even the odd potato field. We did have a brief stop in Drumcliffe to visit the gra
ve of William Butler Yeats. I found myself more interested in the Celtic crosses in the cemetery including this high cross dating to the 9th century.
We had a guided tour through some of Yeat’s favorite landscapes, including a short hike to a waterfall near this lake. Though he was born in Dublin his grandparents lived in County Sligo which is considered to be his spiritual home. After hearing some of his poems read and recited I would like to hear more and will be looking for 
a book of his poems to bring home as a souvenir.
We proceeded to the town of Sligo for a hearty lunch of Sea Bass with the requisite mashed potatoes. Vegetables were served family style and we nearly had to fight for the broccoli and cauliflower sprinkled in amongst the carrots and parsnips. We are now ensconced in our new hotel in Galway and tomorrow promises to be a big day exploring the Connemara Peninsula.