Thursday, May 25, 2017

Badgers, Loughs and Belleek

We had a full day today as we visited the far west of Northern Ireland. In fact in our travels today we crossed over the border from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland four times! It is so strange to be on a road that crosses over the border back and forth with no checkpoints of any type.

But let's back up to last night. In the forest across from our cottages there are badgers. Travis found a fresh badger sett yesterday afternoon, so we set up a trail camera I brought with us on the sett last night to see what we might see. The pictures tell the story!!

In the morning we explored a new location on Lough Erne - Castle Caldwell Forest. This location has the ruins of a 17th century estate house that was abandoned in the mid 1900s. It is amazing the way a place like this can degrade and the forest reclaim it in less than 100 years! It sets me in mind of where Jesus Said we should lay up or treasures in Matthew. The site sits on a peninsula on the lough and is very beautiful.

After our explorations in the forest, we headed in to the little town of Belleek. For lunch we headed to the local pub (actually the best place to get food in most towns). We have been coming to the Black Cat Cove on every trip and enjoy talking with the owner (you can see her in the picture serving us the left). The meal was fabulous and with full stomachs we headed to tour the Belleek factory.

Belleek is famous for its Parisian china, which is made totally by hand - no automation at all. The students were not sure what to think going in to this (some had imagined a "mom &a pop operation), only to be awed by the artisans who do the work here. Every time I visit I stand in awe at the work that goes in to each piece. They have been doing this for 160 years, and the tools and process has not changed much over that time.

That took us to the end of the day, a quiz on what they have been learning over the last few days and beginning to pack up to head to our final destination in Northern Ireland, Strangford Lough on the east side of the country. We may not have internet connections there (where we are staying is a new location for us, so we don't know), so don't worry if you don't here from us as frequently as you have.

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