Tea & Biscuits

So continuing the journey where I left off...

After spending a few days in London, I flew to Northern Ireland. My Godfather is originally from Northern Ireland, and so I met up with his Cousin's family the Johnstons [Fred, Hillary, and Leigh]. Before getting there I was nervous because I was afraid I would be imposing considering I have never met them before. However, immediately I felt at home with them because they showed such great hospitality and treated me like family.

Anyways. Northern Ireland reminded me a lot of Seattle in many respects. I stayed in White Head which is a wee bit north of Belfast on the north east side of Ireland. It is covered in green hills and sits by the sea. Oh, and it is cloudy most of the year. Sound at all like Seattle?

View from the Johnston's house//Scotland is 23 miles across the water

While Northern Ireland is beautiful, there honestly is not much to do there. My first day I walked the coastline and hiked up to the Black Head lighthouse. It was so gorgeous. I lucked out and there was blue sky when I got to the top. I basically sat on a grassy cliff looking out at the sea. Definitely took a mental photograph so I would never forget that moment. In the afternoon I went to the Carrick Fergus castle which was not the coolest structure in the world, but it was still pretty interesting.

My grassy cliff//some coast

The next day Leigh, Fred and I took a day trip up the coast to Giant's Causeway. Along the way Fred let us stop a few times so I could take pictures of my sheep friends. They are literally in every field. Yes, you get your occasional cow here and there. For the most part though, sheep city. While driving [on the left side of the road I might add] the streets were incredibly skinny. We were in a large SUV zooming through and I definitely thought we would get in an accident a few times. Somehow we didn't and so I am still alive.

Bahhh//sheep

We wound through the country coastline for about two hours when we came to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. Its a mini hike to a rope bridge that takes you out to a giant sea rock. It was beautiful and pretty cool. I don't think it was worth the entry fee though. Next stop? Giant's Causeway!

So Giant's Causeway is a collection of rock stacks essentially that sit below the coastal cliffs.

What is really cool about them is that they are all pretty much hexagonal shaped and are basically towered. Legend says that they were laid there by a giant. Truth is that they are a natural phenomenon that occurred way back when lava was flowing. That makes it a UNESCO site and an 8th wonder of the world. [I have now made it to two 'wonders'!]

Giant's Causeway was awesome in it's own right. The next part made it even more awesome. While I was wandering the stacks I saw a group of well dressed hipsters. I then realized that they were probably a band that was shooting a music video. One of their photographers politely asked a group of us to move locations so they could shoot the band. Of course I complied, but I first asked who the band was. It just so happens the band was Of Monsters and Men, which happens to be a band I enjoy and listen to! I was able to take a photo with the bassist from the band which was pretty exciting for me. [Two celebrity sightings in a week's span, first Will and Kate and now OMAM!]

Random guy// Kristján Páll Kristjánsson [bassist] // me

Most of my time in Northern Ireland was spent just hanging out with the Johnstons. They were incredibly friendly, and Fred is an amazing cook. It was nice after feeling so transitory in the last few months to instead feel at home. My novel alongside tea and biscuits was just the medicine I needed. I am now in transit again, but I have a plan to follow which will help keep me sane until I get to feel at home again.

Stacie Marie