Carrickfergus Castle

today i drove to Carrickfergus, a town about 15 minutes drive from Ballynure, where i live. Carrickfergus is on the coast of Ireland, and boasts a large castle, open to the public! i thought this would be an excellent idea for my day off today. so i drove to Carrickfergus successfully (a beautiful drive) and as i drove through town, i am thinking, "i don't actually know where this castle is. how am i going to find it?" and when i actually look up, it's right in front of me! quite impossible to miss, given it's size! but it really did feel like it had just popped up out of nowhere, because i don't remember seeing it before that. i guess i should become a more observant driver, but i was concentrating more on the driving than on what was on the side of the road. so it cost me £3 to get in (about $6) and you could wander around the castle on your own self guided tour. they had written information up on the walls, and life sized figures of important people throughout (not that i had heard of any of them!).



now for some history. Carrickfergus Castle was built in 1177, with different parts of it being added later. and that is all the history i have for you. ok, moving on. i actually thought i had something more to say, but that is really all the info the complimentary brochure gives me.



it was an impressive sight and interesting to walk around in. it never ceases to amaze me that something built so long ago is still standing today.



on Saturday, Joanne and i are taking a drive along the coast, on a route called the Causeway. i think this is where the big cliffs and impressive shore lines are found - the kind you see in all the brochures that say "Explore Ireland". so i am quite excited for that. on Sunday i have been invited for lunch at Allison's house. Allison is a lady i met at the church i went to last week, Glenabbey Church. i think i was meant to go to this church and meet Allison, as i wasn't planning on going to that church that morning, but i felt a little nudge and off i went. Allison would be my mom's age, very pleasant and welcoming. she invited me for lunch after church this coming Sunday, and then also to come to their home group on Monday night. i am absolutely nervous about these 2 events, but know i went to this church for a reason. i think God has something in mind for me...i am excited to see what. pray for me on Sunday and Monday, that i will not be nervous or intimated by the people i meet, and that i will feel like i belong, and not like an outsider. pray as well for friends; that i could meet some people my own age and that they would like me, and that i would like them.

until the next adventure...