Day 16: The Giant's Causeway and north shore of N. Ireland

Today, we left Belfast around 9:30 to go to the Giant's Causeway. We packed an overnight bag since we will be spending the night in my friend's parent's apartment in Coleraine.  On the way, we stopped to pick up one of my friend's friend. She was going to spend the day with us. As we head to the Giant's Causeway, we took a wrong turn to go and headed towards Ballycastle. Eventually, after phoning a parent for the right direction we were back on track but it was nice to take the scenic drive. We had to just follow the signs to the Giant's Causeway.

When we got there, we walked down to the basalt hexagonal formations, what the Causeway is known for, and climb up and around it. It was interesting. Then my friend goggled the story of how the Causeway was formed, by the giant named Finn McCool. It was a pretty cool legend. Then we walked a bit farther and I got my picture taken on a boot, boot shaped rock. We were going to go see the pipe organ but when we got up there we would have to turn around so we didn't go. But I did take a picture of it from afar. So then we headed back up the cliffs and made our way to Portrush for a late lunch. We got into Portrush at almost 14:00 so we just past the lunch crowd. It was still a little busy at the restaurant and had to wait for a table for about 20 minutes, and another of my friend's friend joined us for lunch. The restaurant is called Ramone Wine Bar and is a good place to eat. The food and good and the dessert is unbelievable. I had the peppered chicken with mushrooms and onion rings. Since we were all stuff, we got two dessert to go.

Then we headed to Port Stewart which has a nice beach area. We took a long walk on the beach, and it was quite calm and nice. A lot if people were there giving that it was a sunday and a sunny day. However,  it was too cold for anyone to go in the water. We did see three people trying to surf, but the were wearing wetsuits. After the nice beach walk, which of course I picked up some shells and wrote my name in the sand, we headed to Coleraine to the apartment. It was around 16:30 when we got there. Everything in N. Ireland is easy to get to and is a short drive away. You can drive across the country in 2 to 2 1/2 hours. So we just hang out at the apartment and ate the desserts. The desserts were very good. Both were almost the same with the same toppings and base of caramel, honeycomb, chocolate, and brownie. One was a cheesecake and the other was a meringue type. They were big pieces too so it took us awhile to finish it and we were all sharing.

At about 19:00, my friend's two friends left to head back home, and my friend and I just hanged out at the apartment and watched some tv. She wanted to watch 'The Voice UK'. The celebrities were picking the people (singers) to join their group. It was interesting to watch. Then we saw some documentary of Titanic. After we headed of to bed to have a early start for a train ride to Derry the next morning.

Tomorrow's agenda: A train ride to Derry, tour around Derry and back to Belfast