The main impetus behind going to the UK was to hike the West Highland Way and do some canyoning around Scotland, continuing my transition away from traditional sightseeing vacations toward more adventure-based pursuits. But of course, ya gotta still make a little time for the tourist circuit. I started out in London before I would meet Cody and Angie in Glasgow, spending a few days wandering around, checking out some sights, and eating a lot of Indian food. Completely skipped Wales and Stonehenge for some reason. I think it was just indifference, though in hindsight, I wish I had visited. I met up with my friends and got down to the canyoning and hiking. After saying goodbye to them, I ferried over to Northern Ireland, where I joined one of the most fascinating tours I have ever done. You walk around parts of Belfast and learn about the Troubles from two different perspectives. You walk with one guide who sympathizes with the Loyalist side, then meet up with a guide for the Nationalist perspective. Really interesting, and both make compelling cases. From Northern Ireland, I continued south into the Republic of Ireland, hiked along the Cliffs of Moher, then made my way Blarney Castle. I spent the whole time telling myself I wasn’t going to kiss the stone, but I kept getting closer, and I had to walk to the top, and the line wasn’t that long, so I said fuck it and kissed the goddamn thing. There, you happy! I loved the grounds, though. Beautiful gardens. Finally, I finished up in Dublin. Oh, and throughout the trip, I spent probably too much time in pubs reading, listening to live music, and drinking waaay too much Guinness. I guess the tourist circuits aren’t always boring.
