Northern Ireland

Portrush by night.

Northern Ireland really does feel like the UK. I mean it is technically, but I never expected to feel like I was in England. As you cross in, there is not really any sign, just a divider on the map. I got a text message welcoming me to the UK. There is a whole different feeling, and the people are different. Our B&B in Portrush even had some slight cultural differences. It was hard to believe we were on the same island. There were many subtle differences. The driving style was different, signs, and license plates were different and there were more cars and populated areas. The roads were better maintained and wider. Even the farms were different, and grew different crops. I know its a different country and all, but you don't really think of it like that until you get there.

Dunluce Castle

We went to the Giants Causeway which is a natural phenomenon of hexagonal rocks all over the shore. You walk down about a half a mile and then you are presented with tons of these rock columns that make stairs all over the place. There are cliffs on one side of you and the ocean and these rocks on the other. We hiked around on them for a while hanging out and watching the ocean. From the Causeway we went to Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge. It is a 1 km walk/hike out to this rope bridge that hangs over a ravine like thing with ocean running under it. It is only up during the salmon season and they use it for something related to salmon fishing. My mother and I crossed it and got an unreal up close look at the cliffs all along the coast. It was beautiful. The water in this area was so many different shades of green I can't name them all. From the rock/island that you cross over onto you can actually see the Scottish islands.