October 7th, 2012.
This past weekend, I went to Malin head with my host family to stay with my host mom's father. Malin head is on the tip top northern coast of the republic of Ireland.  It was my first time in the republic of Ireland.  So far, Malin head is my most favorite place in all of Ireland.  Its absolutely gorgeous.  It is what we imagine Ireland to be.  All farms, sheep, bright green hills, mountains, and fresh Atlantic saltwater ocean. I tried Dulse seaweed which is found naturally right on the coast.  It is a dark purple seaweed that you just wash off, dry and eat like a snack.  It is a very acquired taste.  It took some getting used to, but now I think I like it.  It is the saltiest thing I've ever eaten (obviously).  Anyway, I also tried egg and onion sandwiches which are made from half boiled eggs, mayo, and freshly chopped onions.  It was very delicious.  Bernie and I walked all around Malin head to the Pier, the British tower which overlooked the entire town and the beautiful cliffs below.  We also walked up to crough a lough.  Crough a lough is the size of a large pond.  It is made of salt water and wayyy up in the tip top part of the mountains!!! Also, Crough a lough goes in and out with the tide.  It is the strangest thing I have ever seen! A total miracle! It is very very unusual to see a body of water way up in the mountains, let alone, salt water.  Many people think this place is a holy place and they leave various crosses and rosary beads around the lake.  The lake is filled with white stones and it is tinged a reddish color by the Peat.  Peat is a thick heavy clay/soil that is very common here in Ireland.  Many people pick it out of the ground in log shapes and burn them on the fire for warmth.  Along the coast, there is an old church (now its just mainly ruins) that was built in the early 1700s and a cave alongside it.  This was also thought to be a holy place because it didn't matter how many people were attending mass, they could all fit in the cave for shelter.  Beyond this church, there was a giant series of rocks along the coast.  In one of those rocks, was a little cove where the tide goes in 

and out and in the middle, is a rock in the shape of a big chair.  This is called the wishing well and you are meant to climb into the cave and make a wish.  Unfortunately, the tide was up and crashing against the rock, so I could not. But it was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Sadly, I didn't bring my camera with me but I will definitely be back to Malin head before my departure in the middle of December.  Along the coast, some parts are rocky and some parts are completely sand.  There are not as many shells as there is seaweed.  My host mom told me that all of the seaweed on the coast is in high demand for beauty products right now.  On slag beach, depending on the season, it is either all sand or all rocks.  There is an American woman living here in Malin head with her Irish husband and three children that Bernie told me about.  Before we left, Lexie and I went to the Presbyterian church (also along the coast) for a traditional Presbyterian service.  It was one of the best services I've ever been to.  And then after the service, you step out onto the gorgeous scenery.  Mountains behind you, with sheep dotting the mountains and hillside and the Atlantic ocean right in front of you. (Yes, sheep climb the mountains and cliffs here) Apparently in the winter, this church floods.  Every winter! Its that close to the coast.  I am so in love with Malin head and all of its charm!    

A few days ago, I went walking on the city wall of Londonderry with my host mom, Bernie.  The city wall goes in a circle and its only about 1.25 miles long.  You can walk it, like the wall of china.  Along the city wall are various churches, cathedrals, and shops, cafes, and pubs, along with a few shopping centers.  The wall is like the center of town.  It is very popular.  Bernie and I stopped for a cup of tea in Blooms cafe and then walked the length of the wall.  Many of the cannons still on the wall are original.  We stopped in St. Columb's Cathedral, which was built in 1628.  It was really exciting! There was an American flag in St. Columb's and it only had 48 stars on it.  It was from the 1940's when there was an American Naval base here in Londonderry.  Many of the American navy men took Irish women home with them.  The tour guide told me that his cousin was taken to America with a navy guy and he wasn't too happy about that. A short distance from the wall, is "Free Derry", where most of the violence of the troubles happened, including bloody sunday.  This is the most run down part of Londonderry.  Many people here who don't like the british, call Londonderry Derry and they get very offended if you call it otherwise.  There are many violent murals painted on apartment buildings in Free Derry, which I have included here.  Along the wall is a cafe called cafe nervosa, from the famous american sitcom called Frasier.  Isn't that funny? Also, the huge orange/brown building is the guild hall.  This is the center of town.  The Guild hall is probably the biggest building downtown and the most beautiful.  It was designed after a larger cathedral in London. Outside of one of the Churches of Ireland along the wall there was a small church where my host mom's daughter was recently married.  Outside of St. Columbs, you will see many flat grave stones on the ground.  These were built because during the old war, there were many enemies trying to disturb the graves and break them, so to preserve the bodies, the stones were placed flat on the grounds.  Also, during the old war, St. Columbs used to have two huge cannons on top of it that would shoot across the River Foyle that divides Derry. Fascinating stuff!