In Which we Hit the Countryside.

We took a tour to the Giant's Causeway via a big green bus called The Paddywagon. Free laughs guys. The countryside was nice enough on the way up, but it's like anywhere else - farms and roads.

We stopped first at Carrick-a-Rede - a famous rope bridge that links two islands. Turns out it costs 5 Pounds to walk across a very secure, reinforced-with-wooden-planks, rope bridge for maybe five metres. Not worth it. Good thing I didn't pay! The walk out was very nice though, about 1km around the cliffs overlooking the sea. We got some great shots of the beach, which I may be able to get off my brother at some stage. No puffins unfortunately. There was a rainbow and a very hairy caterpillar though. And his very hairy squished caterpillar friend.

The Giant's Causeway itself is a lot smaller than I had originally thought - though it takes up a wide space, the actual rocks are much smaller than first anticipated. You can either walk or bus down to the main set of stones. I had only ever seen pictures of the main bit - the pentagonal pillars of volcanic rock - but it turns out that there are many different parts to the causeway. From the top of the road you look out directly across the sea. On your left is a set of fallen stones at the base of a cliff. They look a little bit like a camel. Atop another cliff is a set of stones that looks like a granny with a walking stick, hunched over, climbing the hill. The road winds around to your right, taking you above the main set of stones and down steep stairs cut into the cliffside. Not far from where you come down the path diverges into two - one leads down to the main area and the other up to the organ pipes and the chimneys. It was great fun to clamber over the stones and the furious rainclouds above the sea made for a beautiful and emotive backdrop for our photos. We walked right around, though admittedly we did not go out to the furtherest points, and it took us most of an hour and a half.

The tour resumed and we were taken for a photo stop at Dunluce castle with a cool story attached. One night the duke/king/nobleman who owned the castle was having a banquet. He was quite drunk, after having too many tankards of ale whilst waiting for is food to appear on the table. Nothing more had arrived than a few varieties of bread and fruit - nothing substantial or fit for a man of his standing! he had a good mind to go to the kitchen and give his servants what-for! He rose from his chair and strode into the kitchen - or what should have been the kitchen - only to find that it had fallen into the sea! He later moved his castle elsewhere, in the middle of the countryside where no sea could swallow his servants and his dinner.

Dublin - my final two days in Europe. Dear NZ, if you are going to blow up, do it now (12/9/10).

Last night we went to the Porterhouse Pub by Temple Bar. They have their own brewery, as well as an extensive list of beers from around the world. I tempted Paul into an Oyster Stout. We put away a thick, almost creamy red - Porterhouse Red - and a light pale ale - TempleBraeu - and some Irish stew too. The woman who served us was a slim Japanese woman whose name (according to the receipt) was Renata Pikachu! I know. One for the history books.

Then I forked out 6 Euros and 50 cents for an Aventinus Eisbock - a dark german beer with an alcohol content of 12%! Most beers only crack 5%! I nursed that for the rest of the evening. Paul had another oyster stout and some horrible American lager called Chiller. Eeeww. Paul wanted to get shit-faced, but I refused to waste money/drink just because other people think I should.

Moreover, a note to Dylan - the Porterhouse has a beer list in order of countries and New Zealand's only contribution was Steinlager. I was plenty horrified on your behalf.

Last Day In Europe!

Paul and I were in Dublin. What to people do when they're in Dublin? They go to the Guinness brewery. So we did. It was actually more informative and interesting than I had thought, now that I actually know stuff about beer. They take you through the ingredients, the brewing process and history of the brand. The guides on each floor are helpful, but it's mostly a self-guided tour. One of my favourite bits was the level where you can watch every single ad ever made for Guinness. Then onto my other favourite bit: pour your own pint!
I kinda cheated because I already knew how to pour a Guinness pint, having worked in an Irish pub in Wellington. But it was fun. And I got a certificate. And then I even drank some of my pint, before I realised how icky it was and gave it to Paul.

Tried to go to the Museum of History and Archaeology but it was closed (on a Monday)! Shame.

Went for a pint. had a Koppaberg Pear Cider - so good. Fiddle dee dee, potatoes.

Also, I haven't noticed this "the Irish are the friendliest people in the world" thing yet. They don't seem overly friendly, and who isn't with a few drinks in them? Maybe you have to go further into the country. Or perhaps they don't like tourists. Either way, I think Dublin was a little disappointing for me. Everyone talked it up so much, saying it would be such a fun place to visit, but really it seems much the same as anywhere else. I would even go so far as to say I had more fun in Cardiff and London.

That said, Cardiff and London don't have a Leprachaun Museum! No, seriously, it exists.