A new year, a new country!  Today we headed up to Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom.  So now, technically I’ve been to 2 countries outside the US, yet my passport only shows record of one (no fancy border crossing).  The drive from Dun Laoghaire took about 3 hours, was very scenic, and thankfully I did not get sick at all!  After yesterday, that is a BIG accomplishment!  We even drove past some “mountains” topped with snow!

Our first stop was Giant’s Causeway (Clochán na bhFómharach) near Bushmills.  Giant’s Causeway are naturally formed rocks that look like stepping stones.  Legend is that a giant in Ireland built the causeway to get to Scotland to fight another giant.  When the Scottish giant came to Ireland, the Irish giant was dressed as a baby.  When the Scottish giant saw the size of the baby he panicked at imagining what the father would look like, so he fled back to Scotland, destroying the causeway as he went.

After the Causeway we drove to the B&B we had booked for the night, located in Portrush.  I have never stayed in a B&B before but this one was nicer than many hotels!  Our room was a corner suite complete with a king size bed, a sofa and a large private bathroom.  I was impressed.  Once we were checked-in we headed back out to visit with friends of Katie’s that lived nearby.  After enjoying some convesration, tea and biscuits we headed upstairs where the men engaged in several rounds of competitive fooseball.  I think Aaron deserves his own table and Noah needs practice.

For dinner we went to a restaurant on the harbor and all devoured delicious pasta!  Noah and I also shared an order of tobacco onions.  Odd name, but are like the thinly shredded onion rings at Woodranch.  Very tasty…except for the world’s worst heartburn EVER I have tonight.  I think I’m going to need to sleep sitting up tonight!

Tomorrow Coleraine and a rope bridge.