Giant's Causeway

Looking down at the top of the columns of rocks.

Before we left Ireland, we went to this amazing place called "The Giant's Causeway."  Look at the pictures of the cool columns of rocks that make up the Causeway.  The rocks are mostly hexagons that meet at regular 120* angles. We had a tour with an expert geologist (person who studies rocks) and he explained how the Giant's Causeway came to be.  There is an older, mythological story that explains the rocks.  I'll tell you both, and let you decide which you prefer. 

Relaxing on the basalt columns

The geological explanation of how the Causeway was formed is that 65 million years ago the landscape was covered in plants.  There were gently rolling hills laying on a bed of limestone.  Then about 60 million years ago the earth’s plates began to move away from each other.  Molten lava from the earth’s core began to pour out through the cracks.  The lava became hard and formed layers of basalt rock.   Some of the lava poured into a river valley where it cooled very slowly.  As it cooled, it cracked evenly, just like mud at the bottom of a puddle.  It formed the regular basalt columns that make up the Causeway.  Like honeycomb, nature tends toward stable structures, such as hexagonal stacks.  

Part of the Giant's Causeway
called the "Giant's Organ."

The legend of the Giant’s Causeway goes something like this:  There was an Irish Giant named Finn MacCool who built a Causeway all the way to Scotland to see his rival, a giant named Benandonner.  When Finn got to Scotland he saw how big Benandonner was and ran all the way home afraid that he could not defeat such a huge giant.  When he explained the situation to his wife, Oonagh, she promptly came up with a solution.  She dressed Finn as a baby and put him in a baby carriage. When Benandonner came knocking at their door, Oonagh explained that Finn was out, but that Benandonner was welcome to come in and wait, so long as he did not wake the baby.  When Benandonner got a glimpse of the huge baby he could only imagine the size of its father, Finn MacCool.  He left promptly, racing back along the Causeway, tearing up the stones as he went, stopping Finn MacCool from following him.  To this day the only Causeway stones that remain visible are those in the North of Ireland and on the Isle of Staffa in Scotland.  

The Cobbler
Do you see me on the rocks?

Me at the Giant's Causeway

The Giant's Causeway was very, very cool.  Since then we have returned to Scotland, where we have been planning the rest of our journey.  We did have time to climb one beautiful hill, called the Cobbler, and I'll put in a photo for you.

Hope you're doing well!

Mrs. McMillan

Fun in Ireland

Can you guess what the holes in
the centre were for?

Blarney Castle--North Wall

See the bars at the top?
You lean over those to kiss the stone

Hello from the Emerald Isle!

I’m in Ireland right now and it is just as green as they say.  Ireland is full of really amazing castles.  I visited a famous one called “Blarney Castle.”  It is a tower type of castle, and it is famous because it has a stone built into the wall that is called the Blarney stone.  If you kiss the Blarney stone, it is supposed to give you the gift of eloquence.  That means being able to speak effectively.  You have to lay on your back and then lean way back to kiss the stone.  I didn’t bother kissing the stone because I think I’m eloquent already!  Are you still doing your unit on Castles?  I’ll put in some photos in case you are.  

A beach on the Ring of Kerry

Right now I’m on “The Ring of Kerry.”  Kerry is a county in Ireland and the Ring is just a road that goes around the county in a big circle.  The countryside is very beautiful on the Ring of Kerry with cliffs, rocky islands, sandy beaches and big hills.  

Dermot!  Still no woofs!

Guess what?  When we were touring around, we met the cutest little dog and so now we have a new pet.  His name is Dermot (which is an Irish name) and he is a Jack Russell Terrier, just like my dog Sula who you met already.  Dermot is not a puppy, he is 14 months old and he is so well-behaved.  Do you remember the story “Only One Woof?”  Well we’ve had Dermot for 3 days now and he has not barked at all.  Not even once!  I wonder if he ever will.  Maybe I can write my own James Herriot story!

I’m also putting in a picture of a loaf of bread.  I know that seems like an odd thing to include in a travel blog, but I thought you’d like it because of the name of the people who make the bread.  Can you see it on the package?  Of course it reminds me of a couple of grade 4 students I know!  

So Aidan has written to ask me what a Diamond Jubilee is.  Did anyone find out?  It is really, really historical--it has only happened one other time to a British Monarch.  It is the 60th anniversary of her reign.  She has been Queen since her father, King George VI died on February 6, 1952.  The only other monarch (king or queen) ever to reign that long was Queen Victoria and she ruled for 63 years.

Here in England there are going to be big, big celebrations this year.  There should be some celebrations in Canada too--after all she is our Queen too!!!

Yesterday I went to the British Library to see a really important document called the Magna Carta.  It was written in 1215 and was signed by King John.  It was the first ever charter that gave regular people rights and freedoms.  It said the King was not above the law, that he had to obey the law too.  This was amazing at the time.  It is the reason we enjoy the rights and freedoms we do in Canada today.  The actual document was kept behind glass in a case that is temperature controlled.  The lights in the room were low to keep the document from fading.  There I was, standing right next to a piece of history--amazing!

The British Library is really close to the King's Cross Station.  Do you know it from the Harry Potter books?  We decided to go look for platform 9 3/4, but guess what?  The station is all under construction and we couldn't get near platforms 9, 10 and 11.  Oh well.

Sorry--no photos this time--I forgot to bring my camera into London with me.  I'll remember for next time though.

Take care everyone!

The Diamond Jubilee

Hello everyone,

King John's Tower at Windsor Castle

It has been a lazy week for me.  I've done a few walks in the hills and I've visited Windsor Castle.  Windsor Castle was really amazing.  It is one of the Queen's homes.  She spends most weekends there.  



Windsor Castle was built in 1078 by a king called William the Conqueror.  The castle has been lived in by the Royal Family ever since.   Windsor has had a Royal Family living in it longer than any other Castle in the world.  Different Kings and Queens added more buildings and improvements, so now it is really big.

Some of the outer buildings at the castle

Windsor Castle is the place where the Queen makes people into knights or ladies of the realm.  It is also where she has big state dinners with important people like prime ministers.  Her dining room table can hold up to 60 guests.  The china dishes she uses are really valuable.  Some of the plates are worth $7,000 each!


This year is a really special year for The Queen, for Great Britain and for other Commonwealth Countries like Canada.  It is the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  She is only the second monarch ever to achieve a Diamond Jubilee.  Do you know what a Diamond Jubilee is?  Who is the other monarch who had a Diamond Jubilee?  


There are lots of special celebrations planned for the Jubilee.  Earlier this week the Queen had a 41 gun salute in her honour.  I'm going to find out what other celebrations are planned and see if I can't join in on the fun.  


Take care,
Mrs. McMillan

PS:  Glad Mrs Strickler has joined the chat!!!

On one of our walks