Winter Travels Part 2

Once again this is only one of many entries about my month long winter trip. There are only afew pictures here so if you want to see more then check out http://picasaweb.google.com/mikerwallace

And on with the blog...

Ireland is greeeeeeen. No doubt about it . It was last time I was there and it still is now. Anything you have heard about Ireland being green is true. The problem is that the other half of your view (especially in winter) is grey. I was there a few summers ago and saw some sun but even in summer you can experience rain, hail, mist, and even a rock shower in one day(I have only heard of rock showers but apparently they can happen in certain parts of Northern Ireland).

I went to Northern Ireland to visit my friend Ciaran for Christmas and New Years. Ciaran was one of my roommates last time I lived in Sweden and now he is back in Belfast getting his Ph.D. He is also actively pursuing a career in photography. Check him out at http://ninja2.livejournal.com. There is even a picture of me in there!

I spent Christmas with Ciarans family pictured here.

They had a super decorated house and a massive collection of Christmas cards. You can see some of them on the back wall. I even got some Christmas presents from his family. Warm clothes of course and socks for the traveller. Thanks Ciaran and family!

We went mountainbiking in the mud but unfortunately our bikes had no fenders. You should get fenders when you go because this is what happens:

I have never had so much stuff in my eyes before that day.

Other fun outdoor activities in Northern Ireland included hiking cave hill. If you want to know why its cave hill then check out my other pictures on picasaweb linked above. Here is me and the man at the summit.

The hike was gruelling, treacherours, and we had to turn back on two previous occasions due to weather. We were the only ones to summit except some school girls and the 80 year old man who took our picture.

I bet you didn't know that the small town of CastleWellen has the largest hedge maze in Europe...now you do. I got lost for more than 30 minutes and had some 5th grade girls tell me how to get out. When I say get out I mean get more lost! Thanks for nothing girls!

New years was at a house party. There was no countdown, only a bell chime at 12. I was thrown off. I love the countdown part! Everyone linked hands and sang some song and jumped around. I just kinda made noise since I didn't know the words. Anyways it will still fun.

Thanks for everything Ciaran and the Branney family!!!