Ireland with Carmen

Despite Carmen being hung over from the night before, we got safely on the plane and landed in Cork, in the south east side of Ireland and our first destination was the "Blarney Stone" in Blarney Castle. The Castle grounds and ruins were extensive and it was too bad we did not have more time there. But we did kiss the Blarney stone, at great personal risk, not only were we going against the rumour that you could get Herpes, but the actual act is also very dangerous. To reach the stone, a man (Who knows who he is.....but his accent was really neat) has you lay on your back and grasp two handle bars while he basically lifts you backwards over a 100 foot drop so that your lips can reach the stone!!! (Your hips are over the drop, if the strange but funny man didn't have a good grip on you, you would fall.)



Carmen and I were estatic at how awesome our trip was and we were only 3 hours into our 8 days in Ireland...... This feeling didn't last long as we headed out on the roads in a rental car at night to find our way to Killarney. We knew were we were going, Carmen had figured it all out.....but the road signs are really small and were not reflective in the dark. In short, we got LOST, not once, not twice, not even three times.....but 4. (Blame the country not the drivers!!) I didn't think I would ever see a place with worse road signs than England (especially in the cities) but Ireland takes the top prize. (This is the only negative we could find from our whole trip....not bad)



The country is beautiful and I would recommend that anyone who goes to Ireland should rent a car and drive around. The things Carmen and I saw are well represented on my Facebook pictures and you should go take a look. There are many things we didn't get to do....hiking in Conamarra Mountains or Visiting the Arran Islands for example. But the people were very friendly and laid back, and the food was good if you like potato based dishes. (Carmen's dream come true.....the girl likes her potato's)



Make sure you take the time to see the north and the south and all the parts in between. Plan on at least 1 Irish breakfast (starve yourself the day before) and trying Irish whiskey, Irish Coffee, Irish Cider, Irish Moonshine, and Irish Stew. Don't forget to have your Baileys Irish Cream in your morning coffee to kick start your day. Skip the black and white Pudding....this is not a desert......nasty stuff that is made up of the leftovers on the butchers floor. (Much like the beloved hotdog in content without the good taste...ICK!!) If you get a chance to give advice on the "Horses"....Do so...but be gone before the race is over. (We were asked more than once which horse we would bet on. WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT HORSE RACING!!) Bring your walking shoes, a raincoat and a hat that won't fly away in the wind and you are set to experience all the country has to offer.

Loved Ireland , and I hope to go back in the spring/summer to do some of the hikes and walks better left to more time and better weather.

Cheers