The Rope Bridge, Giant's Causeway, and Derry - North Ireland

I will start this by saying that this may not be my most lively entry, only because I was so tired from all the hiking of the day when I wrote it on the train back to Dublin.

So I got up and checked out of the Belfast IYH. Nothing to it.

The tour left from Paddy's Palace down the road at 8.30 and ran just a bit late picking up tourists from other stops along the way.

Eric was our driver and told us that first up would be the Rope Bridge. Check out the pictures if you have never seen this thing. My new friend, Arana, an Aussie vet living in London, was kind enough to snap my photo all day. She even gave me some of the best advice a solo traveler can have. When you are taking a picture of yourself, keep your chin up! I had a problem with this because my chin was always cut out, but I hadn't had sense enough to figure out how to correct the problem haha.

The bridge was amazing and it certain death awaits anyone who falls from it haha. The scenery stole the show. As I was walking to and on the bridge, I would stumble because I couldnt stop looking at the scenery.

Next up was Giant's Causeway and lunch. This was a very exciting part of the tour. As you know, during tours you are given a time that you must be back at the bus, or you will be left there. Keep that in mind haha. Arana and I grabbed lunch and took the high road to the Causeway (As opposed to the shorter, low road which we planned to take on the way back). The only way DOWN from the high road, or cliff's edge, was out of order. We did not know this was the only way down and we thought there was another way down further along the path of the long route. After a relaxed lunch (we thought we had plenty of time because we would find a way down further up ahead) at the edge of the cliff looking down on the Causeway, we asked how much furter to the next way down. We were informed that the "out of order" steps we had passed was the only way other than going back to the start and taking the low road. If we did this, we would have missed the Causeway or our tour bus!!! I didn't come all the way from Baton Rouge to the top of Ireland to miss the Giant's Causeway. Arana and I jumped the gate and went down. Call me crazy, but I figured if thousands and thousands of others could go down, so could I. Also, the path down looked like it was in normal working order. In my 22 years, I like to think I have developed a sufficient ability to assess risk. As expected, all went well. We ignored an authorityless old man's (who looked like a speck from where we were) yell for us to go back and made it down. We passed him after a while and he said nothing. What a thrill. The Causeway was great, don't get me wrong, but it's the stories like this you will remember for the rest of your life.

I was exhaused after the hikes at the rope bridge and our marathon to finish up the Causeway and not mis our bus.

On a side note, I need to get on the ball with my accomodations for the upcoming nights. Perhaps I spend all of my internet time on travbuddy, but it's more fun than booking a hostel haha.

Another note on currency... I hate buying a snickers with 5 euro pounds sterling and getting COINS back. Here, there are 1 and 2 euro coins and there is a 1 pound coin as well. It's so much easier to SPEND coins. Plus, I have to actually CARE if I drop one from my pocket haha. To get a Poweraide today, I though, "Oh, just one pound?" haha. Thats $2, in once coin into the machine!! Crazy. Unfortunately, today began my week long stretch with those bastards (pounds). When I get home, I will get two of everything!!! haha

Rory hooked me up with CS'er Danny. Got a really good night's sleep on a HUGELY oversized bean bag. I am about to head out of here now to the airport for Edinburgh.

Stay tuned...