My past few weeks in Northern Ireland...

Well, I have returned from the North - safe and sound back in Dublin. I had a great time & I really enjoyed Belfast in particular (where the Titanic was built by the way... which seems a strange thing to be pushing as a tourist attraction considering the whole thing didn't end so well... but they're trying to make it work!), but its great to be back in Dublin and with my homestay family who I missed so much! Its strange being back in the Republic.. Crossing the border isn't a difference you can see, but one you can feel.

Anyhow, here are some pictures from my 'wee' trip to Northern Ireland. (wee is used to describe everything in the North... doesn't really matter what it is - big or small... its a wee this or wee that). Oh and I have a new love for homemade soup. I've had practically every kind you can think of... leek & potato... cream of vegetable... carrot & orange.... carrot & cumin... cauliflower & cheese.. the list goes on. My goal is to become an expert soup maker when I get home (yea yea laugh all you want mom & dad... just wait and see!! or taste rather...) hehe.

So here are some pictures from my little adventure.

They have Autumn here! Who knew such a thing existed...

This picture doesn't quite capture how scary it was to walk out to that point there at the very tip!

Ruins ruins everywhere....

I'm glad it wasn't part of our plan to walk cross that tiny rope bridge! yikes.

Giant's Causeway! - A world heritage site and one of the most popular tourist attractions in NI

Amazing! - The Causeway was created due to volcanic activity or as one legend says... created by an Irish warrior to walk to Scotland (which is just across the way) to fight his Scottish counterpart.

Laura, Katy and Coreen. Looking wind blown as ever.

The beach! It was so windy that day so the waves were MASSIVE.

Here are a few pictures from walking around Derry. Derry was an IRA stronghold and where Bloody Sunday took place. It is still a very divided little city with a great deal of history.

I'm Irish - there's no denying it. The name Walsh is EVERYWHERE - even graffiti!!

a peace mural. its a dove and an oak leaf - which is the symbol of Derry.

These next few are from our trip to Dunegal, which is in the Republic & the next county over from Derry.

I'm sorry, I forget what this was used for.. but its realllllyyyy old & on top of a hill looking over all of Dunegal and really quite magical! They say there are underground tunnels that take you from inside the stone walls here all the way to Derry.

self-timer!

photo shoot.

This is the lovely loft bedroom I had at my house in Derry.

My Derry homestay with Brian & Helena.

Well, I'm off to the Farmers Market - so hope you enjoyed the pics. More soon when I have another big adventure. Thanks for checkin' out the blog!