European vacation 2011: Northern Ireland

We left Donegal after breakfast and crossed into Northern Ireland. It was hard to tell where we crossed, but we did notice a change in building styles. To our eyes the buildings of Northern Ireland are more drab, less colorful and lacking the charm of the buildings we've been seeing in the Republic of Ireland. Scenery, however, is spectacular. We made a stop at Bushmill's Distillery where we had a tour and some samples. I had a hot toddy that was really good so I got the recipe so I can make it during the holidays.

We went a few more miles down the road to Dunluce Castle, which lies right on the coast. The sun is shining today, but a strong wind is blowing in from the sea. Temperatures are in the low 60s (F) so our tour through the castle ruins was relatively short. It's an amazing ruin, however, with yet another story of feuding, and a takeover by the English.

From Dunluce Castle it was a short drive to the Giant's Causeway, a geological attraction, the result of volcanic activity millions of years ago. If you've been to Devil's Tower in Wyoming, you've seen similar rock formations. This one, however, is on the seacoast. The wind was continuing to blow ferociously, but having learned by lesson at Dunluce Castle, this time I grabbed an additional shawl (thank-you, Shirley) and wrapped it around my head. Tom suggested I looked slightly Muslim.

There's nothing like spending the day in a stiff wind to wear a person out, and so it is with these two tourists. A meal of comfort food (Tom, of course had to pass on the mash), and to our B&B for the night.

The day started off foggy but with pretty scenery -

We stopped and toured Bushmills-then I had a hot toddy-Tom had none

It was pretty windy at the castle ruins. The first structures here were by the McQuillens in 1310 - their outer walls still are standing. The McDonnells were the next main inhabitants in 1565. They hung on until the aftermath of the Cromwell wars in 1642. The castle has been unoccupied since then.