April 5, 2009: On the rocks, please!

Sunday was a lie-in-yer-bed-and-catch-up-on-lost-sleep day. Our plans today were to go for lunch at the Causeway inn, set at the top of the Giant's Causeway, a wee dander around the causeway, and then into Belfast later.

The Causeway Inn seems to be a required stop when in the area, it always seems to be busy. I have memories of stopping in at the Inn for cider in the bar with a fish supper or an ulster fry, but I've only been for a meal there a few times. It's a pretty decent meal, well worth the trip.

Our kids aren't used to sitting down at a place setting with multiple knives, forks, etc. We had to explain that you worked from the outside in, but by this stage Conor had already rearranged his setting, so he was pretty much on his own.

Pavlova. Mmmmmmm. If you haven't had it, you're missing a real treat.

After dinner, Elaine and I stood outside, taking in the landscape. Northern Ireland is synonimous with rain interspersed with outbursts of no rain, it's no wonder that it's green. I kept reminding myself "it's cold and wet here!" and the panorama kept screaming back "not this time!" and the sun would sparkle off of the sea, cliffs, and Portrush in the distance. The blue sky speckled with clouds that wrapped the horizon was the icing on the cake. Who in their right mind would move away from all this natural beauty? I did, and sometimes I still wonder if I'm in my right mind......

We took the tour bus down to the Causeway this time. It's not a bad walk, but we were tight on time, and besides, there was a guide on the bus who explained a bit about the Causeway and it's history on the way down. (The guide on the way back just rattled off cheesy jokes about Finn MaCool's granny and Guinness foam. Tourist pap.)

I first remember the Causeway as a boy about Conor's age. It is a memorable natural rock formation, steeped in local legend and folklore. I can't imagine ever getting bored with the place.

(As an aside, I went to see Hellboy 2 a while ago, and in the movie, they were going to the Giant's Causeway. Spoiler alert: They didn't go to the Causeway, I've no idea where that was.)

Northern Ireland doesn't have a lot by way of export ever since John Delorean bellied up, but few places in this world can hold a candle to what it has plenty of, and that is natural beauty, in spades.

After walking over the hexagonal columns, we made our way back to the gift shops and our car. After dropping my mother in law off home, we sped off to Belfast, to visit my cousin Andrew who is the lead Pastor for a startup church. Another late evening!