Giants and high adventure

Our second day had us setting out for two of the most well-known sites on Ireland's north coast - the Giant's Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. Unexpectedly we also experienced the best of Irish summer weather that day - sunny and warm ...and as these two places require a significant amount of climbng and walking to see the best views, we could not have asked for better!

The Giant's Causeway is made up of many interlocking basalt columns - the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. The more exciting explanation though, is that the causeway is the result of a bridge made by the giant Finn McCool to allow him to reach and battle his enemy acorss the sea in Scotland. We all like the legendary explanation the best!  ;-)

Kim walking in a giant's footsteps.

Taking the cliff path and stairs to the top, rather than the easy route.




The view looking back down the path to the Giant's Causeway.

The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge is just a short hop along the rocky coast and some of the most gorgeous photos I took this week were the result. It is a kilometre walk from the car park to the rope bridge, and we felt more like we were in a part of the caribbean than here in Northern Ireland.  Carrick-a-rede means rock in the road, and the narrow gap between the tiny island and the coast was just that...a stop in the salmon route each year. Fishermen for hundreds of years would string a rope bridge to the island to more easily catch the salmon passing by - now it is done only for the benefit of all the visitors to the area!

Florence would not cross the narrow swinging bridge, but stayed happily on the mainland while the rest of us ventured across. Once on the small islet and off the main path is a gorgeous grass-covered hill where people sat and rested after their trek ...staring out at the sea under the brilliant sky. Bryanna was desperate to get down to that aquamarine water and swim, it looked so enticing - but we held her back.

What a gorgeous day - the weather was not to hold but the next day would be as exciting and certainly more dramatic!

Cushendun!

For those who have been waiting for a post, sorry for the delay! No internet during our week on the north coast ...I have been prepping posts and organizing photos though and will gradually catch up over the next few days now that we have moved to a B&B in my mom's village of Aughnacloy.  (FYI, our week in Cushendun was PHENOMENAL. Read on for more.)

We begin with a photo of Cassidy at dinner on our first night in Dublin…the cousins spent 1.5 hours in the pool and between that, excitement and jetlag, Cassidy was DONE.


Cassiday at dinner, first night.

The hotel was perfectly located and had a great pool and public areas but the bedrooms are very tired – we are happy that we won’t need to stay more than the one night here.

Then it was off on the 3 hour trip north…through a bit of the south, across the border into Northern Ireland, through the outskirts of Belfast and then through the northern counties on the way to the north coast. We had 2 cars (did I mention that we scored a BMW for our ride? Nice!)…Kim drives one, dad and I share the driving of the BMW…we brought dad’s GPS unit and we are loving it…we keep saying…how does she KNOW that??? Very cool. We stopped for groceries at a main shopping centre recommended by the owner of the coast home we are renting for the week, and by the time we did that and had lunch, we pulled into the tiny village of Cushendun around 4:30.

We LOVE it here. The village is a collection of about 10 main buildings…famous for some turn of the century cottages built by a famous architect – true irish history and gorgeous. At the foot of one of the famous glens of Antrim, our home is in the Bay apartments on one side of the river and the village on the other – and we face the sea! The following are some pics of the village, beach and apartments…



Miriam, the friendly goat - lives next door.



The village path, bordering the beach.



Kim on the beach in front of our coatal home - the Bay apartments.



Cushendun village from our balcony.





The sea wall in front of our house - looking across Cushnedun Bay to the sea and Scotland!

The cousin trio are in their element – they head into the village for snacks and then to the beach or the playground beside the village church…all on their own. Bryanna told us repeatedly that she adores this place.

We are LOVING this place.


Hanging out!

More gorgeous photos of Ireland and our whole clan to follow over the next few days as I catch up on posts!

Dia dhaoibh from Ireland!

Yes we have safely arrived!  Since we are now navigating the streets of Dublin with road signs that appear in gaelic and english, the common irish gaelic greeting of Dia dhaoibh seems very appropriate!

View of countryside around Dublin from hotel.

Flight was uneventful but tiring - none of us slept well but we stumbled through customs and managed to find our rental car at Dublin airport (though we had to upgrade to a roomier vehicle...sigh, $$$$). We were delighted that dad's GPS led us quickly and efficiently to our hotel - the Regency Hotel Dublin...we're stretched out in the hotel lounge now, waiting for our rooms and for Kim and family to arrive...internet is free here so am taking advantage while I can.

Girls are happy ....school out, in Ireland on a big adventure, and waiting for their cousin to arrive any minute! While they are biding their time in very modern pursuits during this bit of downtime (Nintendo, itouch), they are doing so in a lovely setting....

That's it for now...no sleep is catching up with me...will try to post more later when we have joined up with the whole crew.

glorious cottage time!

We were blessed to spend the weekend with our friends at their cottage near Parry Sound - what a great time we had...we didn't want to come home!

Though the weekend started out cloudy and rainy, that did not stop our 5 children from fishing and climbing and tubing and swimming through the cooler weather. The next day though, summer truly arrived...all that glorious sun and heat and sparkling water - which just meant more fishing and exploring and tubing and boating and WATER SKIING!

It was truly a time to relax and rejuvenate with our generous friends and to delight in the many adventures of the fabulous five.

Enjoy some pics of our mini vacation!

And we'll end with some video clips of the dynamic duo skiing...

Cassidy made it up on her first attempt - amazing! (Sorry for the video quality!!! hee hee)

And when Brya with persistence made it up shortly after her sister,  the cheers could be heard across the lake!

What a great start to the summer!

All about Brya...

Bryanna has been playing piano for 15 months now - this past October sha passed her Grade 1 Royal Conservatory exam and in 2 weeks she will be taking the exam for grade 2.

Today, though, her piano school held their annual recital and she played beautifully...mom and dad , Cassidy and I were so proud of her. Here is the video - sorry if the streaming of the video is a little slow...

 

 (If you would like to compare her playing to one year ago, see the clip at the end of the blog post here...)

 Mom and dad had to leave a bit early and I was starting to gather our things together while the owner of the school thanked everyone and made some announcements. I was totally caught off guard when they announced that Bryanna had obtained the highest mark of the school students in the RCM examinations this year! Woohoo!

Bryanna with her award.

Bryanna and Cathy, owner of Keynotes

Brya (really, another picture, mom????) and then a photo with her dear friend Brittney, also a Keynotes student.

Great job, sweetheart!!!

A little bling



Cass had been looking forward to this birthday weekend for so many reasons...she visited Jan and Paul in Newmarket, her birthday was on Palm Sunday (she loves that her day this year is on the day of Jesus' triumphant return to Jerusalem), and there was to be lots of family time and presents. Oh, AND she was getting her ears pierced!!!

As you might imagine, she loved it all ...loved being spoiled to death by J & P (no photos of that adventure unfortunately), the amazing amazing gifts, including a BASKETBALL of her very own from K, D and S...

...a cool guitar and lots of JB paraphernalia (Justin Bieber stuff for you poor souls not in the know)...



The ear piercing topped the cake though (so to speak)...Cass was quite nervous going to the mall and held tight to Nanny's hand the whole time. But she never hesitated and in the end it was a breeze -- she didn't even realize it had been done!

This is one very happy camper.





Happy Birthday, beautiful girl.