#644 Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland, UK

It is easy to see what this magnificent natural formation is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has inspired and sustained legends and while there are similar formations (like Fingal's Cave on Scottish isle Staffa on the other side of the sea), it is unique. At most 12 meters high and around 28 meters thick in the widest places, they were formed during a volcanic eruption during the Paleogene period 50-60 million years ago as the lava cooled near the limestone forming a similar structure to dried, cracked mud. However, the stones just form part of a 3800 square kilometer area including the surrounding 100m cliffs, which form the largest remaining lava plateau in Europe.

Part of the Antrim peninsula in Northern Ireland, people have been visiting as tourists since the 1693 'discovery' by the Royal Society. It was a popular feature on The Grand Tour as well, popularized by Miss Susana Drury's paintings.

An aerial photo from the http://www.giantscausewayofficialguide.com/ website.

The coastline is dotted with similar coves,all part of the same formation, although not all have the unique columns!

Known as Clochán an Aifir or Clochán na bhFomhórach in Irish, it's name comes from the legend of Fionn mac Cumhaill, who built the causeway when he was challenged to a fight by Scottish giant Benandonner. Benandonner was tricked when he discovered when Fionn's wife Oonagh pretended he was a baby. From the size of the Fionn 

'baby' and speculation as to the size of the father, Benandonner fled to Scotland in fright, destroying the causeway behind him. so that Fionn couldn't follow.

Seen from above.

Unfortunately, a rainy day when wen went!

Stepping stones as perfectly fit together as in a jigsaw puzzle. There are supposed to be around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, most of six sides (hexagonal), but a few with more or less.

The narrow gap between the causeway and the mainland. Other features at the site include a 'Giant's Boot' and an 'organ' (stacks).

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant's_Causeway
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/369
http://www.giantscausewayofficialguide.com/

#654 Dublin, Ireland

The Spire of Dublin, officially known as the
"Monument of Light".

Walkable, pretty, clean, modern, connected, historic -- fantastic! Big enough to be interesting and have more than one downtown area, but small enough to get around easily and to know it intimately.

It has an amazing university (Trinity College, part of the University of Dublin), a busy main avenue (O'Connell Street), along with the pedestrianized-for-shopping Henry and Grafton Streets, Liffey riverside wanders, the Temple Bar touristy/nightlife area, shows like Riverdance, Dublin Castle and live music that rivals anywhere.

I love the story of Ha'penny Bridge, a small pedestrian-only bridge in the middle of Dublin where the owner charged a ha'penny to cross between 1819 and 1919 as an alternative to ferry crossings.

Trinity College - home of the famous Book of Kells, a circa 800 A.D. illuminated manuscript.

Art market around St. Stephen's Green

The doors of Dublin!!! I could make an enormous collage for all the door photos I took, and the closeups of door knockers. The colors varied but the style didn't change enormously. They are just one of the charming architectural features seen while wandering the streets!

Henry Street

Dublin Castle - dating from 1204 it was the seat of the British government in Ireland until 1922.

Temple Bar was not subject to Georgian reconstruction and thus retains much of its medieval character

Dublin only became Irelands premier city after the Norman Invasion, although it has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Its name means 'Black Pool' (Dubhlinn), and in modern Irish it is known as Baile Átha Cliath, which means town of the hurdled ford. It was briefly Scandinavian, Viking, Norman, and of course, for much longer, British. Economic strengths have included transport and shipbuilding, the linen cloth industry and of course Guinness since 1759.

O'Connell Street has several large theatres and most of the bus routes end here.

http://www.espe2014.org/espe2014_data/images/Dublin-View.jpg

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ha%27penny_Bridge

http://www.dublin.ie/

http://www.visitdublin.com/

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ireland/dublin 

#955 Galway, Ireland

When I rented a car in Ireland, I drove coast to coast, and the first place in the west that I aimed for was Galway.

A beautiful port town, with pretty harbor-front houses, it was memorable even if it was raining, although maybe I remember it because it's where I had to pay 1000 euros to fix the dent in my rental car because I didn't pay attention to where I was reversing...

Regardless of that, it is a pretty place, with castles (Lynch's Castle, Menlo Castle), canals, cemeteries and a nice pedestrianized main street. While being the third largest city in Ireland, it feels like a cozy quaint town as well.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galway
http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-most-underrated-cities/12

#972 Bru Na Boinne, Ireland

Translating to 'the Boyne Palace', the Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth Neoliltic passage tomb complex is one of the most amazing ancient sites in Europe. Built in around 3200BC, it predates the Egyptian pyramids by around six hundred years. At one time a grain storage ("new granary") and at another time quarried, it is surrounded by Celtic Arthurian myth.

It had an unknown purpose (burial place for kings?), but I do know that it has mystical calendar qualities. I would absolutely love to be there when the sun lights up the 19m passageway lined with 43 upright stones on the December solstice to illuminate the chamber for 17 minutes. Lottery places only!

It's also amazing because the complex drainage system means no water has gotten in in it's centuries of existence. I found the carved kerbstones extremely beautiful -- triple spirals and other patterns. 

It really is a massive mound -- 100m diameter. 97 boulders of the kerb ring stop the mound from collapsing, with 12 decorated kerbstones remaining.

Source: Lonely Planet Ireland 7th Edition