The 16th century Strangford Castle is still a private residence.
Resting at the edge of Strangford Lough.
From the southern tip, the lough appears small but it is actually 15 kms long and
almost 4 kms at its widest point. 
Lunch and a Guiness. |
EXCERPT FROM SARA’S JOURNAL October 10, 1998
Belfast
Kristina’s living room looks like any student house. It's a
rowhouse situated beyond Belfast's Ormeau Road. It looks identical to the several dozen
others lining Ava Street. The room is cozy when Fergal lights the coal fireplace.
The four of us pile into Alfi and drive to the Strangford Lough just
south of Belfast. It is a salt-water-fed and large. The towns surrounding smell like the
sea; Killyleagh, Strangford, Portaferry. Throughout the afternoon we drive to each and
walk around the lake's edge. We have lunch in a pub in Strangford. It is the antithesis of
our poisonous experience in London. Rich has his first Guinness in Ireland. Creamy and
bitter. At four o’clock the school lets out and the pub fills with rosy-cheeked
boys. They order pints and shoot the breeze like they're in a pizza parlour.
Fergal catches a bus to his hometown of Derry to attend a wedding this evening.
Kristina takes us to a famous and favorite bar called The Bot (The Botanical Inn).
She shows us around and points to the place at the bar where she and Fergal first
met. He's a student and she's a backpacker and they can't resist each other's
friendly gaze. Tonight hosts a young and studenty crowd comprised mostly of young
men. They are all well-groomed with scrubbed faces and short, neat hair. They leisurely
scan the room. The girls at The Bot are dolled up and ready to dance.
Hair and eyes and legs and breasts cruise the bar in search of a suitable partner.
As the evening matures we are witness to the popular U.K. sport of public snogging.
Perfect strangers lock mouths. It's a sea of twisted heads and roaming hands and
we're wondering how they control the cold sore virus in these parts. |
Vikings sailed into the lough and noticed the strong tidal currents through the
strait-hence the town's name -"Strong-fjord".
The small village of Strangford across the bay.
Slow sloping hills surround Strangford Lough supporting many forms of agriculture.
Mr.Funny's runny honey colourful marketing captures our attention. |
