Next Month – June 27-29Derry/Londonderry, United Kingdom: 55 pounds round tripFly Ryanair from London Stansted to Derry.
Northern Ireland’s second city’s name has been a source of contention between the Nationalists and Unionists since its change in 1613 from Derry to Londonderry, so don’t be surprised to see both names while on your trip.
The first thing you might notice as you make your way into the city is the skyline-dominating Saint Columb’s Cathedral. The oldest building in the city, it houses centuries’ worth of relics and artifacts.
Take a walk around the skillfully preserved 17th-century walls that surround the city and offer views of the town and neighboring estates. Guided tours of the walls can be arranged at the local tourist information center.
Next, visit the impressive Tower Museum, which houses two permanent exhibits telling the story of the city, from its geological formation to its politically troubled past, and the La Trinadad Valencena shipwreck found off the Donegal coast in 1971. Visit the museum’s top floor for panoramic, open-air views of the River Foyle and the city.
The Museum of Free Derry focuses on the early years of "the Troubles," a decades-long period of civil unrest, and the story of Bloody Sunday, when 13 unarmed civilians were killed by British paratroops during a civil rights march — one of the bloodiest massacres of the conflict. The nearby statue "Hands Across the Divide" is a symbol of the recent work to breach the political divide.
Derry has a strong literary, musical and artistic history that can be sampled year-round at the Playhouse, which offers a program of theater, dance, music and visual arts, or by browsing the contemporary works at the Void Art Centre.
Visit Shipquay Street’s craft village and Donegal shop for high-quality traditional Irish crafts and knitwear, or London Street for antiques.
Three months — Aug. 21-24Rhodes, Greece: 299.29 pounds round tripFly easyJet from London Gatwick to Rhodes.
Start at either Elli or the municipal beach, both popular locations for sunning or splashing around in the crystal waters off the island’s coast. Visiting the resort area of Faliraki is another popular option for beating the heat. Situated only a few miles from the town center, Faliraki offers a large water park, beach bars, tennis courts and more sandy beaches.
Although it is tempting to stick to the beaches, Rhodes offers more than the opportunity for a tan. Visit Rhodes’ Old Town, packed with museums, galleries and places of interest. Popular museums include the Modern Art Gallery of Rhodes, with works by Greek artists, and the Museum of Decorative Arts, housing local crafts.
Also within the Old Town is the Palace of the Grand Master, which was rebuilt in 1939 after having been destroyed almost 85 years before. The palace’s floors are covered with mosaics and the rooms are decorated with 16th- and 17th-century antiques.
For a quiet romantic evening, enjoy a glass of wine and matsi — a handmade pasta boiled in goat stock, browned in fresh butter and covered with a sprinkling of Parmesan — at one of the many restaurants and pubs along the beach.
For music, head to the many clubs on Miltiadou or Orfanidou streets that offer dance music until 2 a.m. on warm summer nights.
Airfare prices include taxes and are courtesy of each airline’s Web site. Prices were verified as of Monday afternoon when Stripes UK went to press. Deals are not guaranteed to be available; restrictions may apply.
