Blarney-Cork

The Sisters on the top of Blarney Castle

The next day the four of us woke up after sleeping in a little and headed out into Cork. The first order of business was getting Brittany on a bus back to Dublin so that she could catch her flight back to Chicago the next day. We dropped her off at the bus station and then got on our own bus to Blarney, home of Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone.

Blarney Castle

The bus ride was about twenty minutes. We got off the bus and to Blarney Castle no problem. It was kind of a cloudy day, but Blarney Castle was amazing as always; I think it is probably my favorite castle in Ireland, even if Rick Steves totally pans it in his guide to Ireland. It is a really pretty castle that feels like a castle (as opposed to feeling like a bunch of rocks stacked on top of each other that the tour guide tells you used to be a castle but just looks like a bunch of rocks stacked on each other). I could spend hours exploring the passageways in it.

When we got there was waited in line to climb the spiral staircases and kiss the Blarney Stone at the top of the castle. While waiting in line we met another Australian who was very happy to hear Laura's dialect and recognize his fellow Australian.

Climbing up

We made it to the top and this time I think I kissed the right stone (I wasn't sure the first time). Not much more to say; I don't kiss and tell.

Laura kissing the Blarney Stone

Sloppy seconds

Grace's turn

After a stop at the gift shop we walked around Blarney Castle grounds and the Rock Close, which were both beautiful. We even saw the poison garden, which is filled with poisonous plants.

Grace and Claire

We stopped at a coffee shop while waiting for the bus and before we knew it we were back in Cork where we shopped 'til we dropped. I got two pairs of shoes at Penney's (including a pair of 2 euro silver glittery flats that I wore in London and threw out because they gave me blisters after 15 minutes of walking). Grace also got a couple things at Penney's, Ireland's own very cheap version of Kohl's. After working up an appetite shopping we stopped at McDonald's for the Irish specialties we can't get in the US, including twisty fries and Crunchie McFlurries.

When we got back to the hostel we asked for a recommendation for dinner from our hostess. She recommended Scott's which we went to that night. It had good food and we had a fun time chatting and spending time with each other.

We went back to the hostel and started resting up for our next day of traveling.