WE HAVE THE GIFT OF GAB

We took a day tour today to the southern part of Ireland to visit The Cashel, the Blarney Castle & Gardens, and the city of Cork.

First stop on our tour was the Rock of Cashel! It is said that when Saint Patrick returned to Ireland to rid the land of the devil, the devil threw a giant rock at Saint Patrick which he evaded with the help of a Shamrock. On this site, a large castle was built between the 11th and 13th Centuries that house a variety of high nobles and religious figures from Ireland, and the tombs of many of these people still rest in this place.

Walking the grounds was a very somber affair, with crows overhead and the ruins of tombstones surrounding us, but the importance and history of the monument was definitely not lost.

Off to the Blarney Castle!

Well we did it! When you come up to the Blarney Castle and grounds, you could honestly get lost in the mazes and gardens that lay before you. But obviously we didn't look around when we got there... We headed straight for the castle to make the climb to Kiss the Blarney stone.

The Blarney Stone was said to be blessed (or cursed, depensing how you think of it) by a witch a long, long time ago and that any person who kisses it develops the "Gift of Gab" (the gift of eloquence). For those of you who don't know, that is the ability to talk... And talk... And talk... And talk. (Like the Irish do)

So we walked into the castle and climbed the very very tall spiral stone staircase (that gradually closed in on you as you went... Honestly) until we got to the top of the castle to the barricade lookout. Once there, you had to lean out over the edge of the castle to reach the wall to kiss it, while being held by a friendly tour attendant. You have to scoot out so far that it feels like only the tip of your bottom is touching the floor and the rest of you is literally hanging over the open hole. There are no nets and no safety features except for the handles you see in the pictures. And I absolutely loved every second of it.

On the way down we explored all of the rooms and nooks/crannies that we found, but I think we were all too distracted riding the high from kissing the Blarney.

After coming down from kissing the Blarney Stone (both literally and figuratively), we wandered through the gardens to see all of the other magical spots. Firat up, after walking through a small tunnel in the rock, was a waterfall which acts as a wishing well, of sorts. We took turns tossing pennies over our shoulder while making a wish.

What did I wish for?

Yeah, right... I know how wishing works. I'm not telling.

After making our waterfall wishes, we headed through the garden again to see all of the places where witches are said to reside or frequent. We found the Dolman rocks.. Simply one rock balancing awkwardly on top of another that no one knows how it got there or why it is that way. It is said that passing through the opening below can unlock magical things... It magically allowed me to get from one side of the rock to the other!!

Next up, the witch's kitchen. There is a witch who lives here at night and burns fireword that was paid for by the wishes of the wishing steps (see below) in order to keep warm. We went and checked it out, she has a very low-tech kitchen.

The witches stone is a stone which looks like a witches face. Yup.

We completed the wishing stairs, which some believe if you walk down the stairs backwards with your eyes closed while thinking of a wish and only that wish, it will come true within 1 year.

Coming back on to the bus, our driver played the slow reel on fiddle for us, which reminded me of when i used to Irish dance. They ALMOST convinced me to get out side and do a step or two.

Breanna and I had to get behind the wheel at one point because the heat was on full blast and there was no A/C.Everyone was sweating. By clicking a few buttons, we got things working again.. Who knew we were such handy technicians.

We met 2 friends, Riccardo & Azerae on the tour, who are visiting from Alabama and Florida. We became friends with them at the end of our tour in our last stop.. Cork. We got off the bus and had about an hour to explore. Riccardo looked at me and said "you guys wanna get lost with us?" & the rest is history. We are expecting to visit them later this year for a football game at their university.

Cant wait to see what tonight and tomorrow has in store for us. We're having such a great time!Read more