Did you know that you can see all the way across the English channel? I don't know why I was surprised by this - I mean, people swim across it every once and a while, so it can't be over the horizon or anything. But for some reason I just figured that (Northern) Ireland and the UK, or Britain, or the Commonwealth, or whatever crazy name they call the big island, were farther apart.

Speaking of naming ambiguity, I think it goes like this, but don't quote me on it: Ireland is it's own country. Northern Ireland is sorta like its own country, though its modicum of self rule was recently taken back due to the big Sinn Fein spying scandal (though why this is a scandal when all countries spy on all others is anybody's guess). Scottland and Wales are supposedly their own countries, but they pay allegiance to the Queen of England, use the English pound, have no independent government (ok, I think Wales does). England, Scotland, and Wales are the UK. The UK and Ireland are the British Isles, o... [more]

Stranraer is a small town set back in a large, shallow bay called Loch Ryan. The wind skips nicely across the small waves, which lap against the shore at quietly.

Stranraer in the day wasn't terribly exciting so I headed out to the town's one youth hostel/guest house, which is actually a small building behind a beautiful guest house set in an active farm. After checking in I quickly set out for a walk amongst the rolling hills around the farm, eventually settling upon a spot in the midst of an alfalfa field to lie down for a nap. The tall greens effectively blocked the brisk wind while the sun warmed my dark jacket, and all in all, it was a good nap.

After a lazy day of napping I headed into town to find a nice quiet place to continue reading my book. Of course, that hope was quickly dashed as I was lured into a jolly pub by a loud din of music and voice. As I entered, a large group of attractive and very intoxicated girls called out to me with a request I didn't understand but I thought best to kindly refuse - something about stripping, I think. Several rounds of drinks later and they start some sort of game that involves the eyes printed on the back of drink coasters and their cleavage - the details of the game eluded my grasp. But speaking of my grasp, one of the girls (in the fur coat on the right) couldn't find an eye-equipped drink coaster for her role. So, I pulled out my handy pen and offered to render a pair of eyes by hand, and she proffered forth her bosom to receive my artistic talents. Taken back at her acceptance (after all, my offer was in jest), I quickly recovered and drew the best pair of eyes in my life. Of course, I took p... [more]