Our day started out at 0730 - the wind was strong and there was a light rain. We spent the night with the window open and listened to the ocean. We had hoped to take the ferry over to Causeway Coast, but the wind caused the ferries to close. We decided to drive and just enjoy the sites along the way. First, the Causeway Coast is in the northern part of Ireland and contains some of the most visited sites of northern Ireland. Notes to future travelers: once crossing over to Northern Ireland, the Euro is rarely accepted, American credit cards are even accepted on a rare basis....carry the British pound with you.
First stop - Mussenden Temple. This site was absolutely beautiful. Right on the edge of a cliff was this temple that was once used by the Earl of Bristol for a library. As visiting this site, you are able to walk the grounds that contain the ruins of the elaborate home of which the Earl of Bristol built. The temple is the oldest structure (dating to 1785) along the Londonderry coast. After walking to the top of the pasture, and I do mean pasture....mom declared "this was worth the entire trip." She was amazed at the view...on one side you could look and see the ocean and then simply turn and overlook the valley.
We made our way to Giant's Causeway next....this is the site in which lava through a slow cooling process formed columns of rock on the coastline. Legend would have it that the giant, Fin MacCool laid the causeway to provide a path across the sea. the tour guide showed us some amazing rock formations that included the camel that Fin MacCool use to ride (according to legend he called the camel Humphry). We also saw a rock formation that appeared to be an elderly lady making her way up a hill. Legend would state this was a "granny" making her way to the top of the hill to have Bushmill (beer). After the third night of drinking and making much noise, the family turned her to stone - so the legend would have it, if you drink Irish Bushmill you "get stoned."
Final site of the day included the 13th century ruins of Dunlace Castle. The history of the rise and fall of this castle that was perched on the edge of the cliff was nothing short of amazing. The story was told by a family member of the original clan that use to own the castle. Much blood and lives were lost in the multiple times that the castle exchanged hands. Today it is a site of ruins that is absolutely beautiful.
Of course no day would be complete without stopping at a local "pub" to have fish and chips. Yummmm.
First stop - Mussenden Temple. This site was absolutely beautiful. Right on the edge of a cliff was this temple that was once used by the Earl of Bristol for a library. As visiting this site, you are able to walk the grounds that contain the ruins of the elaborate home of which the Earl of Bristol built. The temple is the oldest structure (dating to 1785) along the Londonderry coast. After walking to the top of the pasture, and I do mean pasture....mom declared "this was worth the entire trip." She was amazed at the view...on one side you could look and see the ocean and then simply turn and overlook the valley.
We made our way to Giant's Causeway next....this is the site in which lava through a slow cooling process formed columns of rock on the coastline. Legend would have it that the giant, Fin MacCool laid the causeway to provide a path across the sea. the tour guide showed us some amazing rock formations that included the camel that Fin MacCool use to ride (according to legend he called the camel Humphry). We also saw a rock formation that appeared to be an elderly lady making her way up a hill. Legend would state this was a "granny" making her way to the top of the hill to have Bushmill (beer). After the third night of drinking and making much noise, the family turned her to stone - so the legend would have it, if you drink Irish Bushmill you "get stoned."
Final site of the day included the 13th century ruins of Dunlace Castle. The history of the rise and fall of this castle that was perched on the edge of the cliff was nothing short of amazing. The story was told by a family member of the original clan that use to own the castle. Much blood and lives were lost in the multiple times that the castle exchanged hands. Today it is a site of ruins that is absolutely beautiful.
Of course no day would be complete without stopping at a local "pub" to have fish and chips. Yummmm.
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