My 3 months fct grant around europe.
Translated by 
Rocío Saavedra Requena
— 14 years ago
Original text by
Nicolas Delgado Abad
6 0
Tags: Erasmus experiences Derry,
Derry,
United Kingdom
Well, firstly I want to say that I've already wrote an experience, but it was rubbed out (it was my fault, nothing to do with the website), so I'll try to write it again as precise as possible.
First of all, the city in which I stayed was located in Northern Ireland, what is known as Ulster. This zone is famous because of the conflicts between Catholics and Protestants, so this is the most characterictic of this place.
In the city there are 100.000 inhabitants. There are enough pubs and discos not to get bored (at least not in 3 months), and the people are very friendly. It's also interesting to know the culture and the history.
In the cultural respect, the most interesting thing that this city has are the walls (both the medieval walls that surround the city and the those dedicated to the conflict between Catholics and Protestants). I've to say that it's not an unsafe city; although, you have to know more about it. People drink like fish and sometimes they fight, but you won't see anybody stealing anything or something similar.
The city is divided into two parts: the “city side” and the “waterside”. Nowadays, it can be said that in the waterside is where there are more Protestants. In the city side is the historical centre and also the current town centre.
There are 3 commercial centres: Richmond, Foyleside and Quayside. These commercial centres are similar, but in the Quayside there are more “Tescos” (the cheapest place you can find here to eat and so on, like Carrefour in Spain).
If you want to eat, there are many pizzerias, “fish and chips” and oriental restaurants. I recommend you the “Paolos” if you want to have pizza, they are really good. Futhermore, the most typical food here (even more if you're fostered) is the potato, potato and more potato.
In Ireland the potato is very traditional, so they cook every kind of dish with them (For example the Irish stew). We don't have to exaggerate so much because many families make a lot of pasta, currys, but it depends on where you go. Generally, meat is cheap and quality, and fish almost doesn't exist.
As pastimes in the city there are almost only pubs. However, it isn't 100% true because in the city there are many parks in which you can sunbathe or drink beer, that's what people here do haha! But that happens only when it's sunny. There are also cinemas, and the Derry's pitch, where you can see a football match, although it isn't really followed, even there, because there aren't big leagues.
The weather is REALLY RAINY. I went there at the beginning of April until the end of July and it wasn't as bad as it could had been. It's also true that I come from Alicante and the weather there can't be best (at least in Spring), but sometimes it's rainy and cold.
The weather can change quickly. I've arrived to the gym when it was rainning and I've got out half an hour later and it was sunny. The advantage is that you'll see the rainbow many times, and the disadvantage is that you'll have to take the umbrella always with you or to resign yourself to never take it(that's what finally you'll do).
I’ll say something critical. In my opinion, transports in the city aren't really good. They leave every hour from different points of the city, so you can be watiting for you bus a long time. It isn't funny when it rains. In my opinion, in such a rainny place, it should be prepared for it, but everybody has a car and not many people go by bus, so... I used to live in Creggan, and I haven't used the bus many times.
As an advantage, it isn't a very cold place (at least during the Spring and the Summer). Sometimes it's 10 to 13 degrees, but it's bereable. When it rains, it's worse :D
Besides, in the city there are many gyms and so on. Nearby Creggan there is a gym called “Pulse” that costs 25 pounds per month. There is also a swimming pool near the Saint Eugene cathedral.
And now, let's talk about PARTIES.
I'm going to divide this topic into several sections...
- Typical pubs:
*Peadar O'Donnells: this is the most famous one (it's full on Saturday). Everyday there is a live concert at 10. It's decorated with Irish motifs. It's a nice place to talk or to enjoy folk music. Maybe it's a little bit tourist, but you can't be there without going to visit it.
*Sandinos: this is a famous place. It's good. It's decorated with revolutionary motifs, Che's pictures and so on. It's a place where many people get together. Upstairs tere are folk concerts on Sundays (very recommendable) and downstairs sometimes there are good concerts. I don't like this place a lot because the people are older, 30 or more, so it isn't what I like.
- Pubs for dancing or discos:
*Metro: the most famous one. You don't have to pay for coming in. It's not exactly a disco, but people go there to dance, so they play the typical songs. Many young people dancing and downstairs the older people. It's pretty good because, as I have already said, you don't have to pay for coming in and you can go out to meet people and so. It's very interesting, honestly. It's located in the city centre.
*Sugar: This is more like a disco. It's near “Metro” and the ticket for coming in costs 5 pounds. It's a place for partying. Music is danceable and the people really want party, more than in “Metro”. It's really advisable, as I say, it's probably one of the best places of the city.
*Red Rooms: This is a disco strictly speaking. It’s in the waterside, so it took me a while to go there (it's far if you have to cross the river and so). The entry ticket depends on the day -6 to 8 pounds-. Different artists, such as dj's, go there. This place is always full with young people, most of all. If you want to go to a disco, go there, you'll like it.
And, in general terms, this is everything about Derry. It's really convenient if you want to know about the history of this place. In many cases, it's current history because if you stay there for 3 months you'll notice that the 30 years ago problems among people still exist. You'll notice it only if you talk to them and you get familiar with them. In this place, people will be really hospitable with you. You'll enjoy a unique and authentic environment. You have to discover it. Are there better places? Maybe yes, but this is unique and, mainly, AUTHENTIC.
First of all, the city in which I stayed was located in Northern Ireland, what is known as Ulster. This zone is famous because of the conflicts between Catholics and Protestants, so this is the most characterictic of this place.
In the city there are 100.000 inhabitants. There are enough pubs and discos not to get bored (at least not in 3 months), and the people are very friendly. It's also interesting to know the culture and the history.
In the cultural respect, the most interesting thing that this city has are the walls (both the medieval walls that surround the city and the those dedicated to the conflict between Catholics and Protestants). I've to say that it's not an unsafe city; although, you have to know more about it. People drink like fish and sometimes they fight, but you won't see anybody stealing anything or something similar.
The city is divided into two parts: the “city side” and the “waterside”. Nowadays, it can be said that in the waterside is where there are more Protestants. In the city side is the historical centre and also the current town centre.
There are 3 commercial centres: Richmond, Foyleside and Quayside. These commercial centres are similar, but in the Quayside there are more “Tescos” (the cheapest place you can find here to eat and so on, like Carrefour in Spain).
If you want to eat, there are many pizzerias, “fish and chips” and oriental restaurants. I recommend you the “Paolos” if you want to have pizza, they are really good. Futhermore, the most typical food here (even more if you're fostered) is the potato, potato and more potato.
In Ireland the potato is very traditional, so they cook every kind of dish with them (For example the Irish stew). We don't have to exaggerate so much because many families make a lot of pasta, currys, but it depends on where you go. Generally, meat is cheap and quality, and fish almost doesn't exist.
As pastimes in the city there are almost only pubs. However, it isn't 100% true because in the city there are many parks in which you can sunbathe or drink beer, that's what people here do haha! But that happens only when it's sunny. There are also cinemas, and the Derry's pitch, where you can see a football match, although it isn't really followed, even there, because there aren't big leagues.
The weather is REALLY RAINY. I went there at the beginning of April until the end of July and it wasn't as bad as it could had been. It's also true that I come from Alicante and the weather there can't be best (at least in Spring), but sometimes it's rainy and cold.
The weather can change quickly. I've arrived to the gym when it was rainning and I've got out half an hour later and it was sunny. The advantage is that you'll see the rainbow many times, and the disadvantage is that you'll have to take the umbrella always with you or to resign yourself to never take it(that's what finally you'll do).
I’ll say something critical. In my opinion, transports in the city aren't really good. They leave every hour from different points of the city, so you can be watiting for you bus a long time. It isn't funny when it rains. In my opinion, in such a rainny place, it should be prepared for it, but everybody has a car and not many people go by bus, so... I used to live in Creggan, and I haven't used the bus many times.
As an advantage, it isn't a very cold place (at least during the Spring and the Summer). Sometimes it's 10 to 13 degrees, but it's bereable. When it rains, it's worse :D
Besides, in the city there are many gyms and so on. Nearby Creggan there is a gym called “Pulse” that costs 25 pounds per month. There is also a swimming pool near the Saint Eugene cathedral.
And now, let's talk about PARTIES.
I'm going to divide this topic into several sections...
- Typical pubs:
*Peadar O'Donnells: this is the most famous one (it's full on Saturday). Everyday there is a live concert at 10. It's decorated with Irish motifs. It's a nice place to talk or to enjoy folk music. Maybe it's a little bit tourist, but you can't be there without going to visit it.
*Sandinos: this is a famous place. It's good. It's decorated with revolutionary motifs, Che's pictures and so on. It's a place where many people get together. Upstairs tere are folk concerts on Sundays (very recommendable) and downstairs sometimes there are good concerts. I don't like this place a lot because the people are older, 30 or more, so it isn't what I like.
- Pubs for dancing or discos:
*Metro: the most famous one. You don't have to pay for coming in. It's not exactly a disco, but people go there to dance, so they play the typical songs. Many young people dancing and downstairs the older people. It's pretty good because, as I have already said, you don't have to pay for coming in and you can go out to meet people and so. It's very interesting, honestly. It's located in the city centre.
*Sugar: This is more like a disco. It's near “Metro” and the ticket for coming in costs 5 pounds. It's a place for partying. Music is danceable and the people really want party, more than in “Metro”. It's really advisable, as I say, it's probably one of the best places of the city.
*Red Rooms: This is a disco strictly speaking. It’s in the waterside, so it took me a while to go there (it's far if you have to cross the river and so). The entry ticket depends on the day -6 to 8 pounds-. Different artists, such as dj's, go there. This place is always full with young people, most of all. If you want to go to a disco, go there, you'll like it.
And, in general terms, this is everything about Derry. It's really convenient if you want to know about the history of this place. In many cases, it's current history because if you stay there for 3 months you'll notice that the 30 years ago problems among people still exist. You'll notice it only if you talk to them and you get familiar with them. In this place, people will be really hospitable with you. You'll enjoy a unique and authentic environment. You have to discover it. Are there better places? Maybe yes, but this is unique and, mainly, AUTHENTIC.
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