Friday

This was not my goal for the day, but it basically turned out to be a pretty big embrace of the cliches I loved about Irish culture before I came over.  And it was fantastic.

I got up at 7am (which sucked, but I now know that the sun doesn't come up here until 8ish), to get ready to get on a bus to Coleraine.  As I was dressing after a shower, I listened to the traditional tune "I Wonder What's Keeping My True Love Tonight?" as performed by Irish band Solas.  While it's fairly clear in their rendition that it's Irish, there's a dialogue going on that reminded me of Dylan's "Boots of Spanish Leather," and a use of nature to reflect an overwhelming heartache that, to me, conjured up images of Hank Williams Sr. and Matt Stucky.  Gorgeous.

I got on a different bus in Coleraine to get to Bushmills.  For the geographically and alcoholically uneducated, Bushmills is a cute little town that is really only worth noting for a) a close proximity to Giant's Causeway, and b) the location of the Old Bushmills Distillery.  I went for (surprise!) the distillery.  Basically, it was a relatively uneventful tour, with a glass of Bushmills 10 Year Single Malt waiting for me at the end.  But anybody that enjoys whiskey can't really complain about spending half a day touring a distillery, concluded by a good glass of the booze you just watched being made.

Afterwards, I had some downtime until the return bus showed up.  So, I walked streets straight out of "P.S. I Love You," had me some down-home fish & chips, and a pint of Guinness in a local pub, with three of the most vulgar old men I could find.

And here I am back in Derry.  It was a good day.