June 30

I wanted to upload this the other day when we toured Derry. It's one of many mural depicting the time of the troubles. This is of a girl who was caught in the crossfire on her way to school.

Just a little Guinness!

Today we actually took it a little easy so I wasn't driving for hours at a time and went to see some local sights. We finally made it to the Tyrone Crystal factory and took the tour and did a little shopping in their showroom. Really beautiful stuff and I did treat myself to an amazing vase with a Celtic design on it. I was so tempted to purchase more, but restrained myself wisely.

We did attempt to see the Wellbrook Beetling Mill (the area is know for its linens), but tours don't open until tomorrow and the same for a place called The Argory – a neoclassical mansion. Tomorrow has other plans and we won't be able to make it back at this time.

After the crystal factory we did make a stop at the library in Dungannon to get internet access. We're finding it unusually difficult to find internet cafes here in Northern Ireland and if the B&B doesn't have wireless (which we don't for the next 2 nights) it will take longer to get posts up. I'm hopeful for access on Thursday night when we are back in the Republic before we leave for Scotland.

Okay, so now back to the title of my post. After our touring today Georgann decided to check out the local library while Sarah and I decided to check in at the pub connected with our B&B. As a good tourist should, we took a seat at the bar and ordered our drinks – Sarah a Jameson on the rocks, and a half pint of Guinness for me. I've found that the half pint works really well. Not too much, and just enough for a happy hour before dinner.

So sitting at the bar first the bartender started a conversation with us and before we knew it we had made 3 new friends with the gentlemen sitting at the bar – Seamas, Paul, and John. I should mention that we also met Martin, but he made a quick stop by and didn't stay. The next thing we know there is a fresh drink place in front of us, courtesy of Paul (he was the most talkative of the group). We continued chatting about where we had been and what we had seen, among other random topics and suddenly another round appeared to replace the one we had finished. This one courtesty of John. Seems these pub fixtures (regulars) have adopted us and are hoping we return tomorrow after touring. That remains to be seen!

I do know that ordering a half pint to start with was a very wise decision, or I would have had to drink 3 pints and been 3 sheets to the wind before we even had dinner. As it was Sarah and I returned to our room giggling all the way up the 3 flights of stairs! After a quick freshening up, we headed to dinner, with me driving relatively sober, but still in great spirit.

Unfortunately we didn't know that our new pub friends would be back all spiffed up later that night for more craic. We didn't know and after dinner we headed to our rooms. For that I feel very sad.

Love these Irish men! ROFLOL