Jan. 15... again

While trying to post my original January 15th entry my prepaid internet term ended--much to my dismay. However, I will attempt to recap everything I covered which shouldn't be terribly difficult.
The night previous to our excursion to the Bushmills Distillery and the lovely Giant's Causeway, the Ulster-Scots Agency graciously hosted a mixer. We enjoyed complimentary food and drinks long into the night while listening to traditional Celtic music. Conscious of our busy schedule the next day, most of us went to bed as soon as we came back to the hostel.
Eager to attack the day's itinerary, the group set out after breakfast to the Bushmills Distillery. Obviously, the North Irish and really all Celtic people are associated with alcohol. The Bushmills Distillery was of particular interest to our culture-seeking group because the company recently celebrated its 400th anniversary. Since 1608, the company has taken pride in brewing a milieu of whiskeys. Unlike many distilleries, that utilize a double distillation process, Bushmills embraces a triple standard. The additional step guarantees a cleaner product which our group was allowed to sample at the end of the tour. The company's perseverance for nearly half a millennium is no small feat; truly, the company's vivacious lifespan is a testament to the value we place on good whiskey.
After the tour and the obligatory gift-shop spree, we lunched at "The Copper Kettle." A cozy eatery that offers well-priced traditional meals set us up for our next experience: The Giant's Causeway.
Honestly, it is probably a good thing that the Youth hostel doesn't provide usb hubs because no photograph can touch the first-hand beauty of this causeway. Even today, while shopping for souvenirs, I found that the professional photos and posters of the natural wonder fell short of what I had seen. To further stress the area's beauty, I will note that it is the most visited area in all of Northern Ireland.
If you ever have the opportunity to go, you will understand. Only a few minutes from the Bushmills Distillery, Giant's Causeway is a collection of grassy peaks that meet the sea in the form of unique stepping stones. Strong winds threaten to cast the frail into the gray sea, but we still teetered along.
One legend claims that a giant named McCool built the basalt columns to cross the 13 miles to Scotland to defeat his counterpart. I guarantee that the majority of the group's pictures will have been spent on this beauty of a landmark. I know that my description doesn't begin to put this landmark into any sort of context, but If professional photographs don't do the landmark justice, then my description certainly won't either. We arrived in the evening very tired to eat dinner and for a brief meeting. Like Caroline told you, we were preparing for our busiest day yet.