We have had such a fabulous trip to Ireland this year.  Each time we go, we find new things to explore and enjoy.  The photo above is of the Giant's Causeway in Bushmills, Antrim County, Northern Ireland.  We had never been to Northern Ireland, and it was breathtakingly beautiful.  I had no idea the scenery was so dramatic.  We are standing on a cliff at the very top of Ireland.

These weird basalt rock formations are what Giant's Causeway is famous for.  Very dramatic.

We took a tour of the Bushmills Whiskey Distillery, which was quite interesting.  Since my son in law is a winemaker, it was pretty fascinating to see the similarities and differences between winemaking and whiskey-making.  Both use white oak casks for aging.  Winemakers are continually tasting their product, using big baster like implements to draw wine out of the barrels for tasting every few months of the aging process.  Whiskey makers don't actually taste at all.  The pros just smell a sample of the product and know how it is doing.  It makes sense, doesn't it?  Imagine taking a sip from hundreds of whiskey barrels.  It would not be good for a person.  At the end of the tour, we had a choice of having a glass of Bushmills 12-year-old whiskey to sip, or having a whiskey cocktail.  I went with the cocktail and it was delicious.

Well, it is time to go to the airport for the 11-hour flight home.  I hate saying goodbye to Ahren, but he will be home for Christmas, so I won't have to wait long to seem him again.

Thank you Ireland, it has been amazing.