As usual, I am a bit late in sharing my trip, but hope that you will enjoy these pictures taken during some tours that we went on in the region and in Derry.  Above I am enjoying a view at Carrick-a-Rode (The wobbly bridge).

 

Tour of the city of Derry.  Above are some of the cannons still in place on the Wall that surrounded the city.  Jen, Alex, Jill and Clem at one of the cannons.

From Wikipedia about the walls.  “Derry is the only remaining completely intact walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples of a walled city in Europe.  The walls constitute the largest monument in State care in Northern Ireland and, as the last walled city to be built in Europe, stands as the most complete and spectacular.

The Walls were built in 1613–1619 by The Honourable The Irish Society as defences for early 17th century settlers from England and Scotland. The Walls, which are approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) in circumference and which vary in height and width between 3.7 and 10.7 metres (12 and 35 feet), are completely intact and form a walkway around the inner city. They provide a unique promenade to view the layout of the original town which still preserves its Renaissance style street plan. The four original gates to the Walled City are Bishop’s Gate, Ferryquay Gate, Butcher Gate and Shipquay Gate. Three further gates were added later, Magazine Gate, Castle Gate and New Gate, making seven gates in total. Historic buildings within the walls include the 1633 Gothic cathedral of St Columb, the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall and the courthouse.

It is one of the few cities in Europe that never saw its fortifications breached, withstanding several sieges including one in 1689 which lasted 105 days, hence the city’s nickname, The Maiden City.^“

The church left is St. Columb’s Cathedral and the one on the right is Church of Ireland, St. Augustine’s Church.

Our tour guide gave us quite a historical view of Derry and the political strife that it had been through and that he had grown up during.  Very moving emotionally and educationally.  Above are photos from the part of Derry that still wants to remember its past and continue to look for peace.  I did not know that Bloody Sunday had happened here so now I have learned some history.  The dove of peace mural and the mural of Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Sister Teresa signify to me that they are looking for peace even now.

And of course we had to see the remnants of a castle.  Dunluce Castle which was built between the 15th and 17th century controlled both the land and sea routes of North Ulster.  It is in the state of being fixed up with most of it completed.

 

And then we came to the Giant’s Causeway.  Truly AMAZING!!

From Wikipedia:  “The Giant’s Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcaniceruption.^[1][2] It is also known as Clochán an Aifir or Clochán na bhFomhórach in Irish^[3] and tha Giant’s Causey in Ulster-Scots.^[4]

Around 50 to 60 million years ago,^[1] during the Paleocene Epoch, Antrim was subject to intense volcanic activity, when highly fluid molten basalt intruded through chalk beds to form an extensive lava plateau. As the lava cooled, contractionoccurred. Horizontal contraction fractured in a similar way to drying mud, with the cracks propagating down as the mass cooled, leaving pillarlike structures, which are also fractured horizontally into “biscuits”. In many cases the horizontal fracture has resulted in a bottom face that is convex while the upper face of the lower segment is concave, producing what are called “ball and socket” joints. The size of the columns is primarily determined by the speed at which lava from a volcanic eruption cools.^[7] The extensive fracture network produced the distinctive columns seen today. The basalts were originally part of a great volcanic plateaucalled the Thulean Plateau which formed during the Paleocene.^[8]”

There is also a legend that goes with this area and how it got its name, but you will have to go to Wikipedia and read it.

Amazing stepping stones and color.  Do you think the giant used these or are they too little for his big feet?

Just thought you needed some water as a refresher.  The bottom three pictures are from left to right, the wall of stone from a distance and then closer up.  Pretty amazing.

Some of the rocks even curve.  Amazing and makes me want to go to Pompeii to see the volcanic action there.

Below is the hike back to the start of our journey at the Causeway.  So we really do get to exercise our legs at times.

Checking out balance on the “Onion Rocks” and just sharing some of the beauty of nature on the trail.

Continuing on to Carrick-a-Rode, the suspension bridge.

The bridge with courageous travelers and with guide helping a frightened patron back to safety.

Clem, Han, Laura and Elaine ready to go for their walk across.  The picture on the left is the rescue boat should anyone take a swim.  The one on the right is an interesting cave below.

Mother nature at her finest!  If I don’t have sunsets or sunrises for you I just have to find something else interesting.

Elaine, Shelly and Neil on return trip to land.  Shelly is the one that made my return to the boat for finish possible!! (After my exciting end of journey!)

And to end the day a trip to Bushmills.  We did not take the tour or tasting, but did manage to get one taste.  This is one of those should I or should I?

End of tour for today!  Definitely Derry is a place to visit!!