McLaughlin's Inn on the Coast Portrush

aka. most beautiful place in the world. i don't think thats overstating it much, and i'm definitely qualified to make that statement! we got back on the bus bright and early and drove up the coast to dunluce castle. it was a really beautiful day which was a nice change from the day before. the castle was on the edge of a cliff and it was amazing, the coastline was so beautiful and the views from the castle were fantastic. next we drove to the giants causeway which was also amazing. we took ...

... some amazing stories. it was dark by the time we got there but it was very dramatic to see it at night. we walked up onto the walls and then down onto the bogs where all murals and the bloody sunday massacre was. it was quite haunting, just looking at everyones faces while he was talking you could tell that they were all pretty shocked. we went for a very cheap (compared to dublin) dinner with most of the tour group and then got an early night cause of our very early ...

... to drink you have this city to thank for your hangover. There are huge murals on both sides of the wall. The Protestant side has images memorializing hit men and thugs who "fought" for their cause and other glorifying the conquest of Ireland by the English. But then you move to the Catholic side. The Irish Republicans up in Belfast relate strongly to the Palestinian cause, and they have murals calling for an end to "Israeli Barbarianism." Others have Jewish Stars and Swastikas side ...

... 20,000). There are still about 400 Protestant folk who still live on the Catholic side, behind huge barbed wire fences, and they get pelted with rocks and bottles of urine on a daily basis. There continues to be conflict in Derry - it was origionally settled by Catholics, then during the reign of Elizabeth I, the land was given off to Protestant English folk (Derry is technically known as Londonderry). Nowadays, the Protestants are happy to be part of the UK, however the Catholics want ...

... game and listened to a Blues Brother's Tribute band. The next day we woke up and went to Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. It was extremely windy which made it that much more exciting. I don't think David liked walking across if very well. haha afterwords we ate an amazing carvery at a restaurant in a hotel. Then we left around 1:30 and finally made it home at 11 that night. It was a long weekend of traveling but well worth it.

... our car park, and there just happened to be a book store on the way. We picked up a couple of bargain books to add to our mobile library. In the car park, we found out that we had to pay at a machine before we drove our car to the exit--some things are so confusing! Then we were off to the bridge to take a picture of the statue called “Hands Across the Divide”. Apparently, in peaceful times, the men reaching out to each other are close, but if the Troubles crop ...

An interesting castle ruin. The main castle is on a rock. Part of the old kitchen fell into the sea. They built another block of buildings on the main land.

Afterwards, I climbed down to the base and saw the natural cave underneath the castle.

... the rolling green hills. Or I could watch where was I driving because it was a very tight road. Brian was having a mild seizure sitting on the left side of the car. But hey I am getting better at driving. I really am.

Irish to American Translation: TIN - What the Irish call an aluminum can like what holds a delicious brew like Smithwicks Ale or Guinness.

Tomorrow: Exploris and St. Patricks Tomb

... in Dublin to see a Ship and then Flew back to Berlin and then back to Maastricht by train. We made it back late sunday night in time for me to order a pizza, try come up with a presentation for class the next day and go to bed. This week is the last week of my fairy tale class and then i'm flying to Rome on Wednesday so I'll be spending the next few days doing laundry and getting ready to leave again. Hope everything is going good back home! Love Sarah

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