Saturday, July 19, 2008

The Giant’s Causeway – Northern Ireland









We drove from Belfast to The Giants Causeway – there are many “theories” on how the causeway was formed – one is that an actual giant used these as steps to cross between Ireland and Scotland … However, the Scientific version is that a lava flow occurred and as the lava cooled it created six sided basalt columns. You can pick which version to believe – all I know is that it was an analyzing site. I was a little freaked out at first – I thought from the top of the road you had to climb down these wet slippery six sided rocks to the sea. Not the case at all – there was a meandering softly sloping road that took you down to sea level – once there the “Giant’s Causeway” could be seen. A few weeks ago if you had asked me about the Giant’s Causeway I would have no idea what you were talking about, now I wonder how anyone could not have heard of these unbelievable steps that span from the mountain tops into the sea – how dramatic the view was when we rounded the corner and I saw all of these stones. Some stretching so tall, that from a distance they looked like uneven organ pipes gorging up from the ground. How can this happen? How can they form into individual columns at varying heights? Our guide Mark cautioned me that I should be careful “An American woman just last week slipped on the rocks and broke her arm – the bone was sticking out’ Oh great – now I was a bit more freaked out, but I forged on with trepidation. It was cold and windy – you could hear the sea waves crashing and there was a sound of children squealing with delight as they reached the top of a high column. We took photos of each other sitting, standing and climbing the rocks. Photos of the rock landscape, photos of the steps and of my feet against the columns. Unreal, unbelievable and remarkable – Mother Nature had treated us again to something spectacular– a hidden treat she had tucked away in Northern Ireland.
After our time at the Giant’s Causeway we all had a meal in the Hotel. The food here is prepared so different than at home – our tablemate had a bacon burger – the bacon looked blubbery and raw – ick. Across from me was Irish stew – mutton with carrots and potatoes – again may I sat ick? Someone had garlic fries which smelled wonderful. Me? I ordered a side salad and I must explain it to you – there was a little lettuce with cucumber but no dressing – a large scoop of cold spiced flavored rice, coleslaw, potato salad and a hard billed sliced egg – how can you get all of this from ordering a side salad? I don’t know, but I gave the egg to Dave and enjoyed the rest immensely. I dipped my potato salad potato in hot spicy mustard – it made my cheeks red and my nose run – I loved it! I also had a baked potato and a glass of red wine. To me, it was a good meal – I don’t think others were as satisfied as I was – content in my vegetarian world of Irish delights. Once everyone had finished their meal we headed out - our next stop would be at the” Carrick–A-Rede rope bridge” which crosses a 24m deep and 18m wide chasm. We didn’t have time to hike to or cross the bridge (Thank God) but we did take some photos – it looked very unpleasant to cross, espically if you are afraid of heights – as I am. Our next stop would be back in Belfast – a local traditional Irish Pub!

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