Spain was so much fun and we really loved the outdoor life, but we were starting to feel a little homeless. We were so happy to get to Ireland and meet up with a friend of mine and her family in Northern Ireland. Belfast to be precise.

We arrived in Dublin in the morning and took a bus up to Belfast where David and Aliciapicked us up and brought us back to their place and introduced us to their family. Hannah is their two year old who we were told would boss us around while we were there. She was so much fun. They also have a wee baby named Lidia as well. We really appreciated their hospitality and were so happy to have a hot shower and a bed to sleep in. We rested up for a day and lined up a rental car for the weekend so we could see more of the country and hopefully find some waves.

Before we left, David took me out to play football (aka soccer) with some of the guys from the church that he pastors. It was such a good time. I haven't played in such a long time so I was sore for days.

We picked up the car on Friday and took off for a place called Donegal. It is a bay on the northwest coast of Ireland where I was told I could find some waves in a small coastal town of Bundoran. We arrived fairly late, so we decided to save a few bucks by sleeping in the car. The next day we went searching for a place to get some breakfast. I talked to a bloke in the surf shop about where to find some waves and also a good breakfast. He told us that the local pubs have great big Irish breakfasts and that there was swell expected on Sunday or Monday. We headed to the nearest pub and enjoyed the biggest and best breakfast we had had in a long time. Free refills on coffee as well!!!

We spent the rest of the day exploring the town and taking in the beautiful coastal scenery. Before heading back to where we decide to sleep in the car again we enjoyed some cider and a pint of Guinness.

The next day there were still no waves so instead of hanging around this town, we decide to take a trek to the northern coast to see a some castles and the giant's causeway. We kept seeing signs with pictures of castles on them and following them only to end up on one beach after another. By the third beach we got to we realized that the pictures on the signs were sand castles. We were embarrassed and kept heading on our way. We did find a castle down the road and got out to check it out before heading to the Giant's causeway.

The Giant's Causeway is a spot where there are tons of oddly shaped stones perfectly stacked in nature. There is a story of Giants of Irish and English decent that is too long for this post, so I'll tell you later.

Anyways, we picked up some delicious fish and chips in a nearby town called Bushmill and went to check out the Causeway. On our way back we stopped by the Bushmill's distillery to check that out as well. It is the oldest distillery in Ireland.

When we arrived back in Bundoran that evening, and THERE WERE WAVES!!!!! We found a bed and breakfast to stay in that night because we were sick of sleeping in the car. I got Ashleigh settled in and I went out for a surf.It doesn't get dark here until about ten, so it was the latest session of my life. It was amazing. I have always wanted to surf here.

The next morning we woke up to another huge Irish breakfast. It was nice to have a bed and really good food. I went out for another surf in the green waves before we headed back to Belfast.

That night David made an amazing Spanish dinner of Paella and Spanish salad. If you are asking why Spanish, it is because David grew up as a missionary in Spanish islands. We enjoyed our last night of food, fellowship, and the Olympics.

The next day we were off to London and then to Iceland.

Till then

C&A

Be home soon