Today we headed out to the northern coast of Northern Ireland to see the Giants Causeway. It started out a "murky" day as our guide kept saying but turned into beautiful sunshine. We have been extremely lucky in the weather department.
The drive through the countryside was absolutely beautiful. Lush and green. Our guide told us that very few crops were grow - grass was mowed a few times a season to feed the livestock who were taken into barns in the winter. Dairy cows and cattle and sheep - the cattle and sheep were for meat. He said the sheeps wool was very coarse - not good for making into wool. Since harvesting potatoes has been mechanized, very few small farmers plant potatoes anymore.
The Giant's Causeway was caused by volcanic activity. It has over 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. It is really neat looking. The top of the columns are like hexagons - some places it really looks like someone laid paving stones. The myths surrounding the place is that a giant from Ireland and one from Scotland (which is only 12 miles across the water) were in a fight. The causeway was built because giants don't like to get their feet wet! Anyhow, lots of cute stories. But it is an amazing place.
After leaving the coast where there were beaches and people swimming in 50 degree water(!!) we drove back into Belfast and toured some of the city. One interesting fact was that the ground through all of Northern Ireland is very wet and boggy. To farm it they have to dig channels for the water to run off. Well, even in the city the land is wet and it does cause some problems. The monument to Prince Albert in the center of town is their own "leaning tower is Pisa".
Off to Glasgow tomorrow.
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