As Dee mentioned, I took last week off and we headed to Ireland for a wee break before Dee starts. It was great fun, really relaxing and good to get away. I was actually quite surprised that Ireland felt like another country - but it did!
We stayed at Cork, a beautiful little town with rolling hills, green fields, great restaurants and an abundance of live music! We listened to some traditional Irish music the first night, whilst I drank the local stout. Another night we stumbled (not literally!) into a live venue and listened to some (Danish? Strange accents) guys play a kind of rock-jazz-swing fusion mix -- again, so much fun! We also ate so much good food, including traditional Irish stew in Blarney and some tapas in a Spanish restaurant in Cork.
Unfortunately we were locked up in Cork Gaol for unlicensed dancing, and had to escape. Met some great locals there, although I didn't seem to get along with the wardens for some reason (well, except for the one I was dancing with of course).
We took one day out to bus to Blarney and see the (in)famous Blarney Castle. So many American tourists! They love Ireland, apparently. We checked out the castle and I even kissed the Blarney stone:
Shudder to think how many other people have kissed it before me, of course.
Anyway, the photos from Cork and Blarney are in the usual place.
We stayed at Cork, a beautiful little town with rolling hills, green fields, great restaurants and an abundance of live music! We listened to some traditional Irish music the first night, whilst I drank the local stout. Another night we stumbled (not literally!) into a live venue and listened to some (Danish? Strange accents) guys play a kind of rock-jazz-swing fusion mix -- again, so much fun! We also ate so much good food, including traditional Irish stew in Blarney and some tapas in a Spanish restaurant in Cork.
Unfortunately we were locked up in Cork Gaol for unlicensed dancing, and had to escape. Met some great locals there, although I didn't seem to get along with the wardens for some reason (well, except for the one I was dancing with of course).
We took one day out to bus to Blarney and see the (in)famous Blarney Castle. So many American tourists! They love Ireland, apparently. We checked out the castle and I even kissed the Blarney stone:
Shudder to think how many other people have kissed it before me, of course.
Anyway, the photos from Cork and Blarney are in the usual place.
i've kissed the Blarney Stone!
ReplyDeletethat was back in 2001! I wonder how many people have kissed it in between.. I'd have to say thousands.. :)
Did you also walk backwards down the stairs in the garden three times? Apparently that makes wishes come true.. although I can't remember what I wished for... hmmm... o well.
Did you feel at home Glenn? Your Great(x3) grandmother on dad's side was Irish. Anastasia Boyle (or Doyle) who's father was called Patrick(what a surprise).Sounds a wonderful trip.
ReplyDeleteWe had fun In Hay and will post some photos(or email them)