The Solomons Take Northern Ireland

I don't even know where I've been but I've been busy and frazzled, as per usual.  My life is SO HARD and no one understands.    Just kidding.  I know that's what I sound like and I don't mean to.  I just really don't know where the time goes....during the day, or in life.  Particularly with this blog.  Anyways, back to the Solomon's visit!

We decided to take a little 2 day trip up to Northern Ireland, because Drew and I hadn't been there, we'd heard amazing things, and we wanted to show the troops some authentic Irish countryside and scenery.  We rented a van and Drew drove us up to the Giant's Causeway and to see the iconic Rope Bridge, on one of the most glorious days on record.  We were so super fortunate with the weather.  

And I'm telling you...this scenery was magnificent.  It's some of the coolest, most beautiful stuff I'd ever seen and it's all right here in our backyard.  I'm not sure if anyone else thought it was as amazing as I did but I don't care.  I was in awe!!  It was only a 2.5 hour drive from Dublin so I'd put it on the list if you're coming to Ireland.  It can't be missed.

We first went to Carrick-a-Rede, a famous rickety rope bridge that connects a rocky little island to the mainland, that people like to cross for the views and the thrill of almost falling into the water.  The bridge itself seems solid, but there's a thin strip of...material that you walk on, with big empty gaps on either side of it.  And it's scary.  But fun.

Bethie and I shared the front seat so we wouldn't vom.  Lovely.

You park and pay a small fee and then walk along the cliff tops to get to the bridge and the island. 

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous.

And you wouldn't believe how green and crystal clear the water is!  It looks like the kind you'd find in the Caribbean.  

Big green fields right on the edge of the cliff.

Oh hey!

The five Solomons.

A look back.

A look ahead.

Climbing down the super steep "staircase" (if you can even call it that) to get to the bridge.

The siblings Solomon.

Deep thoughts on the island.

Mother and son.
(And we also heard that the land over there was Scotland, though I remain unconvinced.  Maybe it was the land BEHIND that island thing?  No clue.)

Sistas.

I smell a Christmas card photo!

All smiles here!  We both had a death grip though.

An angsty teen in the parking lot.  (Blake.)

Next, we drove 30 minutes up the road to the Giant's Causeway.  The Causeway is a big group of interlocking basalt rock formations from a volcano, and they're all hexagonally shaped kind of...step-like.  The legend says that a giant, Finn MacCool, built this causeway when he was challenged by the Scottish giant Benandonner.  There are naturally two endings, an Irish one where Finn wins and Benandonner flees because Finn is too big and the causeway is destroyed, and another where Benandonner wins because Finn's a big scaredy baby.  (And there are similar rock formations on the Scottish coast, making this story TRUE!!!)  You can't argue with geology, people.

Anyways, again, you park, pay a fee, and walk down a large hill with the blue water on your left and some gigantic mountainous cliffs on your right, and you feel small and insignificant and blessed to even be there.  Ahh.  And then you get to explore and play around on the "steps".  It's great fun.

The long and winding cliff road thingy.

That's what you saw when you looked up on your right.  Stunning.

The cool rocks!  Can you believe they naturally formed like this?  #nerdalert

Hook 'em.  Naturally.

There was also one part that formed a "wall" of "columns" - or stones stacked on top of each other.  This is cookoo.

Lots of gorgeous sites and good times with the family.  We drove over to Portrush and stayed at a cute B&B that overlooked Royal Portrush (a famous golf course that Drew dreams of playing at), ate a delish din on the water, and got ready to taste whiskey in the morning.

A breathtaking day was had by all!