Since yesterday or #19 was so long and windy I saved the Giant's causeway for its own blog....It was just part of a fun-filled day!
The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns (natural rock pillars made of hardened lava), the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. It is in County Antrim on the north coast of Ireland. It is a World Heritage Site since 1986 by UNESCO and a National Nature Reserve in1987 by the Dept of Environment for Northern Ireland. Sometimes known as the 8th wonder of the World......It has more than 50 species of birds and 200 species of plants
The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most are hexagonal, but some have 4,5,7, or 8 sides. The tallest is 39 feet high.
The reason it is called the Giant's causeway or if your Irish Cloch'an an Aifir, is another legend, or myth. Northern Ireland was once home to a giant named Finn McCool(also called Fionn MacCumhaill). When another giant Benandonner, across the Irish Sea in Scotland threatened Ireland, Finn retaliated by tearing up great chunks of the Atrium coastline and hurling them into the sea. The newly created path - the Giant's Causway - paved a route over the sea for Finn to reach Benandonner. HOWEVER... this turns out to be a bad idea because Benandonner is a massive giant, much bigger than Finn. To save himself, Finn retreats and is disguised as a baby by his wife. When Bennandonner sees the baby he thinks that if a baby could be that big...the father must be even bigger than Benandonner. Following this, Benandonner rushes back to Scotland tearing away as much of the Causeway as he can to put as much distance between Ireland and himself as possible.....AND that's the myth....to be believed or not...
So we had to drive up, or Stuart did...he still wouldn't let me drive......and park above the causeway.
This is where I went to see what I could see.....Unfortunately, I did not go down the winding road to the other side as I didn't think I would be able to get back up the hill. It was pretty interesting at the top. AND pretty windy so on went the raincoat and hat and scarf....There was a Hotel and I think a small manor house. In the 6th picture, there is a remote-controlled car...it was going along pretty fast, but I couldn't see who was at the controls....must have been someone from the hotel....or a mythical remote car steered by the giant Finn.
So when you don't have enough beautiful pictures of the Causeway you contact your Tourmate. I called upon Cindy to get the pictures that she took.....WOW...really can understand the folklore now...can you see Finn? or Benendonner???????
Now in the museum....I found Susanna Drury....a watercolor Artist. Way back in the 1740's she won competitions and brought note to the country about the Giant's Causeway. I can always find some art!!!!!!
Watercolor....from the 1700's...............
I kinda like her name on the picture frames.....
One of the birds...don't know what species it is but its sure was kind to pose for a picture!!!!!
So this day is not over yet, we went back to the hotel....in Belfast and ...you will have to wait till #21....bye for now.....