The Grass Is Always Greener

This is a picture I took with the camera my absolutely wonderful sister and brother-in-law gave to me right before I came.  Now all the pictures so far I've taken, and this is not to toot my own horn by any means. The point being to give credit and thank Beth and Ryan, and also to convey that this view is a shore I have actually stood upon.  The stereo typical picture of Ireland is either one such as this of beautiful cliffs on the sea, or of endless fields each a brighter green than the next, disturbed only by hedges of a similar hue.  And to my great pleasure, this stereotype is mostly correct. This was, again, from my first week when all we did was tour.  This is the northern coast just west of Giants Causeway, a beautiful rock formation which is surrounded by a plethora of Irish myths, and just a ways down the road from Busch Mills.  Bushmills is a small town that is home to the Bushmills distillery, unfortunately I never got to take the tour.  This is important because, unlike Jameson Irish Whiskey,  Bushmills Irish Whiskey is distilled in Northern Ireland.  Therefore, certain unionist pubs will only serve Bushmills, and certain nationalist pubs only serve Jameson, and I can only assume it would not be taken well to order the wrong drink in one of these pubs.  But I digress. 

This friends, family, and cyberspace creepers; is Giants Causeway.  Guesses as to what the mythology surrounding this incredible rock formation might pertain to?  If you guessed the rock formation was part of a causeway built by a giant, you would be correct.  The story goes something like this.  There was a giant in Ireland, who knew of another giant across the way in Scotland.  So the Irish giant built a causeway to go over and kill him. Why you ask?  Stop asking questions and watch the movie! When he finished the causeway he went over to Scotland and saw the Scottish giant was far bigger than him. Naturally the Irish giant ran back to Ireland and dressed up like a baby.  When the Scottish giant came looking, he found the Irish giant dressed as a baby.  Thinking that this was the Irish giants child, the Scottish giant feared the Irish giant was far larger than him and fled back to Scotland, destroying the causeway behind him.  Interesting.  Scientists however believe the formation to have been caused by volcanic activity that with different pressures of lava flow caused pillars to rise or fall.  A little lame of an explanation I think, but a little more logically sound.

Sometimes It's Good to Have Heard Wrong

It's been over a month since I've gotten here, and I haven't posted since the first week.  So much for keeping everyone up to date huh?  Well I'll do my best to make up for lost time.  Last time you heard from me I was jumping into off of the northern coast of Northern Ireland into the Northern Atlantic.  All this to emphasize how far north this was, and in kind how cold.  Rising out of the sea and drying off with dish towels we got into our vans and stopped off to grab some dinner.  Mind you, I was told before I left on my trip that Irish food would be bland, boring, and I would soon grow tired of it. However, we went to this little restaurant somewhere along the motorway on the way back to Belfast, and I experienced some of the best traditional Irish fair.  Bangers and Mash.

Now, I didn't actually have mash, instead I had champ.  Now champ is essentially mash that has butter, chives, and milk mixed in.  On top of the champ I got four bangers, and a side of a gravy that was almost like an au jus with lots of onions (which I actually ate, my mother must be in shock).  The portion was fairly generous, but I felt I would still be hungry with no side dish.  I was wrong.  Not only was it delicious but when I was done I was stuffed.  What makes a meal like bangers and mash so good in Ireland is the fact that the sausage and potatoes for my meal were likely grown on the island.  Not only does this say something about the freshness of the product, but the farm it came from is most likely a small acreage farm run by the same family it has been for years, which says a lot about quality and authenticity.  This of course was not the only traditional fare that I have taken part in, however, here are not all that many innately Irish dishes out there.

          

I've had fish and chips more than once, my favorite coming from the Jolly Fryer.  Salt and Vinegar of course a must.  I've also had a traditional Irish roast, yorkshire puddings, Irish scones, and the most unhealthy of breakfasts, the Ulster fry.  An Ulster fry is the North Irish equivalent of the English full breakfast. Sausage, Bacon, Eggs, Tomatos, Beans, Toast, and Potato Bread.  Now I had it as Brinner (breakfast for dinner) seeming as, well I'm not sure I would be able to force all that down before noon. But let me tell you, it was delicious. If anyone has ever told you the food in Ireland stinks, ask them if they've been.  Besides a more conservative use of seasonings and the lack of true spiciness in any of their dishes I have no complaints. Although I can't comment on the English or Scottish yet.  No black pudding or hagas for me yet.  More to come very soon, sorry to keep you folks in anticipation.