Make your way to the village of Cairnryan where you’ll board a ferry for your voyage across the Irish Sea to Belfast.
Today was our crossing from Scotland to Ireland. To board the ferry, we drove through this little coastal Scottish town that was so charming it physically hurt me. Like, oh my god, ow, it’s so beautiful and adorable and lovely and what do I do with these feelings?
Then I drank myself silly on the ferry and took a nap in my hotel room (complete with drooling in my hair), then went out to a bar with the girls, then had dinner. We lingered and chatted after dinner, which we usually do.
Margaret teaches high school English in Fairbanks, Alaska. She used to teach indigenous Alaskan kids out in the bush! She’s a former opera singer and just a gorgeous lady, with a surprising and youthful sense of humor. She and Sara K. have paired off a bit. They end up sitting next to each other a lot and they walk faster than the rest of us louts.
Jaimie is 40 and the woman closest to my age on the tour. She’s never been married. She lives near San Francisco and trains the power pole guys at the power company there. She’s half Filipino and fully hilarious. She is always willing to join me in another drink or another inappropriate joke. She says, “Atta girl,” a lot. She bought me a Diet Pepsi today. Must remember to return the favor.
Left to right: Jaimie, Kate, Sara K., Sara Jane, me, Viki, Margaret sitting in a “snug” at The Crown, Belfast’s oldest bar. Photo credit: Tour guide Colm
Tomorrow we’re touring Dublin and doing the Giant’s Causeway. I am very excited about both. Just the word “Ireland” gives my heart a little thrill. Then we’re going to meet an online friend of Kate’s and mine for dinner, Carol-Ann. And hopefully I can convince people to get up to some trouble after.
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