Since we went on the Jameson tour just last week, and since Northern Ireland (part of Great Britain where we now are located) and the country of Ireland (the western, central, eastern and southern part of the island) are so close in their geography...we figured the manufacturing process was identical and that only the ingredients changed slightly. We were right, which is why we decided to fore go the tour and head straight for the tasting room... We were treated with a wonderful explanation of the 3 Bushmill products on the bottom line, and were asked to compare them to the Johnnie Walker Red on top left, and Jim Beam on top right. No comparison!
As you can see, we even left over much of the Scotch and Bourbon...by the way, they did water these down for all the drivers out there...aka me!
Once we received our tasting diplomas, we headed the 2 kilometers in the car to get to walk off any lingering effects of the previous hour. The Giant's Causeway is an amazing geological feature formed by the impact of the flood on this limestone and basalt a few thousand years ago...even though they promoted the millions and millions of years they theorize the ecological eras and ice ages had on this stone...Nonetheless, it was an amazing area...well worth the visit! My shoes actually standing on these stones...I wanted this picture since I will bet that in a few short years, at the most, people will be prohibited from walking on these stones due to the negative carbon footprint effects we humans will have.
The run of hexagonal basalt columns is about 100 yards in a variety of directions...
Seeing folks enjoy the hikes in and through was a treat.
Returning to home base from the Causeway, which gave us a view of Scotland it was so northern, we stopped first in Port Stewart, a lovely seaside town, and then we made our way to the city center and fully walled in central part of Derry (or LondonDerry). History of Ireland, England and the continent is fascinating to me, and will be to my World History Class this year!!!
Peggy was so excited to see these rebuilt cannons that I could hardly get her away from their unique history!
This same walled in portion of the city was where John Newton is said to have been partially inspired to write Amazing Grace:
We ended this evening with a stop at the local pub, called The Reel Inn, and enjoyed some classic accordion, guitar and banjo....
at 1:06 am, while others sleep away, I think I'll stop pounding these keys and wish you all a blessed night! Congrats to Zoe again, this time for her grad party..which I am sooooooooooo sorry we missed! We love you!
I love that you have done all this.You are an honorary Irishman.
ReplyDeleteWhat are your feelings about being in the south or north of Ireland? Do you feel more at home in one or the other? Have you developed any sympathy for any of the struggles of the republic?