The Gobbins

As I'm putting this post together at the beginning of May, I haven't even left yet on my English/Icelandic adventure, coming up in mere days. On this day (today!) this post appears on the blog I will be home and photos of that adventure will already have been shared in this space.

Meanwhile, I'm already looking forward to future adventures and maybe they will include this guided walk along the Gobbins in Northern Ireland on the Causeway Coast, not far from the beautiful city of Belfast. 

The Gobbins, a spectacular part of the rugged Irish coast has fascinated people since the 19th century when a path was first proposed. Completed in 1902, the trail was free for those who arrived by train (after a ticket inspection). All others had to pay a fee to take the walk. Alas, the upkeep of the Path was difficult over the years and eventually, it closed. Now it has been newly refurbished and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board is excited about the possibilities of a boost in tourism. 

Besides having a ton of interesting botanical specimens - ferns, grasses and tiny plants specific to this seaside habitat, this rugged coast is preferred nesting area for Puffins, Kittiwakes, Cormorants, Guillemots, Razorbills, and Shags. A noisy place during breeding season! The Walk is not open during this sensitive time, but once the nestlings are on their way, in early summer, you can book a day and a time online and enjoy a guided tour.

If you visit the Gobbins website you can see many historical photos and then page down on their homepage and take an interactive virtual tour of various parts of the Walk. How amazing is that! 

There are some restrictions, though, so check it out ahead of time if you want to go. Click here for restrictions. Regular adult admission is Ł10 with reductions for kids, seniors and families. Be aware that there's a steep climb back up to your transport. Totally worth it though! 

Aerial view:

Since you're already in County Antrim and you've already visited the Giant's Causeway and The Gobbins, why not also stop in at the famous Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge an exciting crossing of a chasm over the sea and particular fun on a windy day. More info here.

IRELAND IS  AWESOME!

FYI

In case you were wondering:

Books

Macaroons, Macarons and Macron

Knights and Snails

What? Knight and snails? What an odd combo, although we have to admit they both carry armour. 

It's a curious fact that in illuminated books (meaning books illustrated and handwritten, usually by monks assigned as scribes) dating around the turn of the 14th century (1290 - 1310 - did I get that right?) there are many instances of knights facing snails in armed conflict, particularly in the marginata. Of course, it's possible the books could date from an even earlier period, with later additions of marginata. 

Here's a short video illuminating the idea for us.

Quirky marginata seem to have been the street art of the Middle Ages, a bit subversive but always thought-provoking. It's something to look for if you are lucky enough to view the pages of one of these medieval tomes in the future.

Straws Suck

Confession: just recently I used a plastic straw to drink a smoothie. Then I discovered that there is a campaign on to eliminate or at least reduce the use of single-use straws except maybe in hospitals where they might be useful for patients.

Straws, being so lightweight, blow around easily. From the outdoor table, from the trash container, from the landfill before it gets covered over....straws blow around and often end up in fields, roadsides, streams, ponds, beaches and ocean. The health of animals, birds, reptiles and fish all put at risk because of straws and other plastics that we unthinkingly use and toss.

If we really need a straw, we could use a re-usable one. Glass straws of different shapes and sizes can be ordered from Strawesome. Made in clear or coloured, different lengths and bores and with or without a bend or decoration, they are a bit pricey, but if a straw breaks they will replace it (though not if you are using it as a drumstick, they say)

But if we can drink coffee and tea without a straw, why do we need one for our iced coffee/tea? If we enjoy a beer or a glass of wine without a straw, why do we need one for our cola? 

We've cut down on our use of plastic bags so why not cut out our use of plastic straws. I remember when straws used to be paper and would eventually get so wet, they'd start to unroll in your drink. Why not just drink without a straw?

This is so hard to watch. I cried.

What do you think now about the use of plastic straws? I think in the future I'll use a spoon instead of a straw in my smoothie.

The Last Plastic Straw