Giant's Causeway - Revisited

I AM NOT A GEOLOGIST BUT I have basic knowledge and understanding of land and rock formations. No need to browse a text book or an online source to have a full grasp of this stunning rock form located in Northern Ireland (UK) being maintained by the National Trust. This is commonly known as the Giant's Causeway which is declared in 1986 as one of UNESCO's heritage sites.

The Giant's Causeway is formed by a volcanic eruption, creating a pattern of more than 40,000 hexagonal shape rocks, uniformly-laden along the coast. There is also a legend about this formation which astonishes everyone and which builds up everyone's curiousity to find out more about it. While walking towards the main attraction, you could find interesting rock features such as: the camel, the granny, wishing chair, chimney tops, giant's boot and the organ (music). Well, can you find them from the pictures below?

My first visit to this heritage site was in 2006 during a chilly and windy day. After three years, I decided to see it again and the feeling was magical as if these rocks are inviting me to touch their smooth black surfaces under the heat of the sun!

Visiting the site during spring and summer time is something not to be missed while in Northern Ireland - the birthplace of Titanic!

Some of the images taken during the coastal trip, including the hanging rope bridge (some of the photos were taken by my Irish friend).

Picos de Europa - Asturias (Spain)

I LOVE OUTDOORS to capture the uniqueness and borderless nature of our Mother Earth. I don't know but walking in a rugged terrain or slippery flat grasses gives me a different feeling - the adrenalin to explore Nature and able to understand its origin, shape, color, texture and composition.

My first visit to Spain was overwhelming considering that the country had a historical significance to the Philippines. I am lucky to have a Spanish friend who is hospitable enough to accommodate me and two of my other friends and toured us around Madrid and the northern part of the country, Asturias. Just a quick trivia, our Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal did pursue his study in medicine and learned fencing as a sport in Madrid.

Asturias is one of the provinces that Picos de Europa (Peaks of Europe) is situated. Considered as the Spanish Alps, it is almost 5 hours to reach this place (by car) from Madrid. The main attraction of these summits is accessible by cable cars from the foot of Fuente de. Fuente de is located 1.5 hours away from where we stayed in Cangas de Onis.

Picos de Europa's attraction is not comparable to other mountain treks that I have done in the past. It has different appeal to me which I love to go back again and be at the middle of these white granite rock mountains. The scissors-blade-like peaks provide an illusion that they touch the limitless blue sky.

There are several trails to choose from and there is a hotel at the middle of the wilderness if anyone prefers to stay overnight or for a few days and explore other long walk trails. From the landing area (viewing deck and restaurant) of the cable cars at the top of the mountain provides an excellent panoramic view (landscape) of the neighbouring lowlands of Fuente de.