update #6

Date: Sunday

31 Aug. , 1997 10:29:06 (PDT)

Subject:

Update Number

Six-

Belfast

RTW Travels

Belfast, Northern Ireland, 12:35 PM Sunday, August 31 at the Bishops Restaraunt and Cafe - I just had my first free refill of coffee in 4 months!

We are staying in dorm rooms at Queen’s College in a beautiful residential neighborhood near the botanical gardens. Going to Bishops Restaraunt, we walked for about four blocks in a misty rain with a British army patrol in full camouflage, with unslung automatic rifles. The four young soldiers worked their way down the street, two on each side of the road, about 20 yards apart. They peered behind hedges, stepped in and out of doorways, stopped and looked around very intently. We hurried to get in front of them, somewhat disconcerted. We both thought to say “good morning” as we passed each one, but somehow it didn’t seem welcome. The “peace process” at work!

It’s a dreary day in Belfast and we just heard the news that Princess Di was killed in a car crash. We’ve been totally amazed at the way the press hounds the royal family and sensationalises every trivial thing about them. Everyone here is talking about the crash and seems a bit stunned.

We spent the last two weeks in Scotland -a fabulous country. While in Edinburgh for the Arts Festival, we caught a few offbeat plays or comic entertainment or something. Walking through downtown during the festival is like walking through a 10 ring circus. We were surrounded by dancers, mimes, firebreathers, actors, singers, bagpipers, and hucksters - all trying to get our attention so we would come to their performance. And of course, we had to work in time to continue our taste testing of local beers. We had hooked up with Gary Wendt for this week of the trip. It was wonderful to see and chat with someone from home. Gary is a brilliant gossiper and shared all. Now we know everyone’s secrets from the last four months. After Edinburgh we drove to the isle of Islay (with help from a car ferry) where there are seven distilleries in a twenty mile radius. We taste tested frequently and often. ML’s appreciation of Scotch was not deepened - she mostly just watched us drink (not!). Wild, rocky and wind blown, Islay has a mystic quality - even when you are sober.