Ireland Day 8, September 2005
Today we are venturing off on our own. There is a bus with room for us on it going to Blarney and Cork, the same places we are headed for, but we have rented the car for the week and we want to get some use out of it and also set our own pace.
We leave shortly after nine and plan to first stop in Cork so that Donny & Bill can get their cell phones fixed at the phone doctor there. Cork is a big city, a very big city compared to Youghal. Actually it is the second largest city in Ireland. We decide that we need to ask directions to the phone doctor. Two shop girls tell us we can walk from where we are but that driving our car will be harder.
We elect to drive anyway. We need to cross over the river, one block over, and then it is just a few blocks beyond. Well the girls were right. We eventually find the shop but we do not find a place to park our car. The city is a mad house of shoppers and cars with potential shoppers looking for a place to park. Donny finally hops out to take care of business while we continue to search for a parking place. Cork is one of those cities with very narrow streets half of which are one way, always going to wrong way. We find ourselves weaving farther and farther from Donny. Finally we get back closer and begin circling a pull in parking area that is very convenient but no one is leaving. We circle and circle. Then Bill spots Donny. He comes over to the car and announces that he has had to leave the phones and that they will be ready in about an hour.
We decide to go back across the river, park there at a carpark and then walk back to this central shopping district called Centre City, old Cork modernized. We do that and find the food market particularly interesting. We locate ourselves at a pub across from the Beamish factory for lunch. It is very old and has that usual old pub décor, rustic wood, tilting floors and low ceilings.
After lunch we go to the phone store. The new clerk tells Donny that she cannot move the phones up in the queue and that it will be hours before the technician can look at them. Becki and I have gone across the street to the shoe store. The guys come along and give us the news that they have scrubbed the project. We move on after first purchasing Lydia a very cute pair of aubergine colored suede boots. I know, Emily, but they are so adorable and the inside is very soft. We will certainly hope the size is good.
Now we wander into a music store but not before buying coffee and cheese at the market.
Bill finds a drum that he likes and a concertina but he will not spend the money.
We retrieve our car and leave town, none too soon for all of us who prefer the quiet countryside but especially Bill who is doing all the driving.
It’s on to Blarney Castle. We find parking there easier and pay the entrance fee. We start up the winding walkway through a pleasant park like area to the castle. We take a foot bridge over a stream called the Martin River. We stop to take our pictures by the river. Imagine our surprise to see our bus group walking on the path toward us having just toured the castle. We all laugh and say that could not have been staged any better. We all get a good chuckle out of our magnetic attraction.
The castle is huge and we tour several rooms on our way up, up, up to the stone itself. There are nothing but stone edifices at this point in their history, still it is fun to imagine life here. The famous Blarney stone is located on what would be the eaves of a modern house. Two gentlemen help you lean back by means of holding onto two rails and kiss the stone. You are supposed to be blessed with Irish eloquence. Becki and I are very excited to think we will be as eloquent as our new friend Marian.
Outside we tour the grounds which are full of huge old trees and rolling lawns. It is a great spot for children and adults too. Like a huge park. Many of the trees are over a thousand years old. There is a Fairy Glade, a Druids Circle, a Sacrificial Altar, a Witches Stone to name a few specific areas in this ideal park
We get back to the picture place too late to see ourselves kissing the stone. I took pictures of everyone after the kiss but the guys were too quick with you for me to get the actual kissing on camera.
We buy a few things at the gift shop and go into the tiny village of Blarney which is just across the street. Most shops are closed for the evening but we find one open. The guys go to the pub while Becki and I shop.
Cohb, last port of call for the Titanic
This plaque explains that the Titanic would have anchored at the mouth of the cove in the photo above.
We decide to wind our way home through the town of Cobh where the Titanic made its last stop. It is not too far away. By the time we get to Cobh most stores are closed and we only find one place open for dinner. They are full so we decide to move on. We have seen where the Titanic would have docked in the harbour. She would not have been able to actually dock because of water depth.
Near home we stop at a very old pub called The Thatch for dinner. This dinner is presented like a fine French meal. And it tastes just as good. We are stuffed full of good food.
Back at home we run into Chris who says the lecture at the arts center is over. They are having a short intermission before starting the play about witches in Ireland. Bill and Donny decide to stay in. Bill’s cold is coming back and Donny is worn out. Becki and I regroup and head for the arts center to catch the play. But once there we decide not to be disruptive and stay in the lobby until it is over. We do buy a book by the lecturer on witches in Ireland.
Ann has invited everyone to her house for a late dinner after the show. But she did not anticipate it being this late! It seems the lecturer went way over his allotted time. And Marian could not signal him to stop as he had asked her, because he talked the entire time with his eyes closed. We are ferried to Ann & Paul’s house in various cars. It is not far. Their three young daughters are there to serve the food. It is wonderful. The house is very cozy with a lovely fire burning in the fireplace.
There is so much food and it is all marvelous. Ann & Paul’s youngest daughter and her two friends put on a short play for us. The youngest daughter nails Carl and his opening speech to theater participants. We all howl with laughter. Their play is very short but cute. It is Madame Butterfly. A short while later they put on an encore production. This is Elizabeth and Raleigh complete with Virginia Dare. We are all impressed with how much of our show they have retained.
Ann has a wonderful dessert that is so simple to make but gives the appearance of hours of work. You dip chocolate chip cookies into red or white wine. Then you layer them side by side with whipped fresh cream (here is the real clue, fresh cream) in between each cookie. Next you ice the entire confection with the whipped cream, add a few chocolate sprinkles if desired and chill.
Paul gives Becki, Greg and I a ride back to our flat. He takes us the scenic route by the city wall. Along the way Becki and Greg discover that Greg has worked with Marty in DC on some productions but he cannot remember which ones, he just knows Marty’s name is very familiar.
When Becki and I get home the guys are tucked soundly into bed.
