Oh Doolin

It's funny where you end up, the possibilities that arise, when you don't worry about filling in too many details of a plan ahead of time. I tend to get a bit lazy, a bit comfortable. In general, would prefer a slow day on my porch over a day in the city, packed full of restaurants, shops, and other activity. But during my trip, I tried to say "Yes" to as many suggestions as possible (within a broad definition of "reason"). This is how we found ourselves in Doolin, how we found ourselves there again, and even once more. We are now at my favorite part of the trip, and the reason I am so late in finishing this blog: it was so awesome, I didn't have any time to spend on the computer; and it was so awesome, I am finding it difficult to explain to you.

Galway Girls

Dear everyone,

Even though I'm leaving Ireland in a matter of too-few hours, I do intend to finish this blog, if for no other reason than to never forget how awesome my trip was.

Belfast City

For our last full day in Ulster, Abby and I were taken into Belfast to spend some time in the city. The first half of this post will just be photos with descriptive captions, rather than a detailed entry. In the evening, we met with some more friends for dinner, so you can read about that, too.

A Day with Gareth

On Monday, we planned to meet up and visit Scrabo Tower and Donaghadee, and then go to the Titanic museum. Gareth was able to take some time off work that coincided with our visit to Northern Ireland, so he was our tour guide for the first part of the day.

Scrabo Tower is just an old tower that you can see from almost everywhere in the county; I find that comforting. Being so high up, it affords a great view of the countryside and of Strangford Lough. It's also a sentimental site: When my dad filmed a video in Northern Ireland, we obtained permission to haul a grand piano to the base of the tower and get footage of him playing a song — I think, "This Is My Father's World" — at an incredible overlook. Donaghadee is seaside town, a favorite for many reasons: the picturesque lighthouse, the lack of tourists, and the fun of saying its name.

The North Coast

On Sunday, we got up to go to a couple of spots on the North Coast: the Giant's Causeway, and Dunluce Castle. The Causeway is an impressive natural rock formation comprising thousands of hexagonal rocks — a natural wonder —, and Dunluce Castle is known for its kitchens having fallen off the cliff on which it's built and into the sea.

First post from Northern Ireland

Tonight we find ourselves in Dundonald. Even as I type this, I am drifting off to sleep in the home of Gordon and May, the parents in my Northern Irish family. I got in touch with an old friend of mine over here today, and she said to me, "I can't believe you're home!" What a lovely thing to say. I can't believe I am, either.

Warsaw catch-up, Part II.

I have now landed in the Dublin airport. The story of how I got here is a bit crazy, but you'll have to wait til the end to find out what happened. No scrolling down (or up, Lion users) first.