Good Morning! It's Monday morning here and I've just had one of the best lie ins of the trip. We're in Cork at the moment and staying at a lovely B&B called Mariaville. It's tucked down a little street not far from the University of Cork. Just have to love those power showers after a long day of touring. :)
So let's back up and catch up some. Day before yesterday was Wexford Day and we had the honor of being shown around Wexford by one of it's ambassadors. All day long we saw people wearing the purple and gold of Wexford. After breakfast we met up with the ambassador and had a chat for a while, then decided to head off for the Wexford Heritage Center. It's set up as a walk through life from time 9000 years ago. Strolling through the forest to see the exhibits was wonderful, but chatting all the way about growing up in Wexford and listing to our guides memories was the real treat. After we went to the Ferrycarig Hotel on the Rive Slaney for tea. WOW what a beautiful place. Sitting, talking with that view. I could have stayed there for the better part of the day, but it was off we must, so on to Dunbrody. Many, many thanks to our guide and Wexford ambassador for the day, Michael.
We backtracked because of the weather the day before so that my traveling partner, Rita, could do a little heritage research. I dozed in the car as she did the Dunbrody Famine ship tour. After that we headed into the west. Our next stop was Midleton for the Jameson Experience, and an experience it is. We were too late for the tours, but did do a tasting. I'm not a big whiskey drinker but the chance to taste some of the better aged stuff is a nice thing now and then. A little shopping in their place and a few pictures by the giant copper distilling kettle outside and we were off to Kinsale.
I was told by my friend Tom that I had something waiting for me at The Spaniard in Kinsale. I was determined to get there Saturday and see what it was. We were running late and also wanted to get checked into our B&B. I'm now really realizing that when I look at a map for locations here in Ireland, often I'm looking at what we would consider alley ways. After spending about an hour driving up and down and in and out the streets of Kinsale, we turned around and headed to The Spaniard for a respite. And so glad we did. I do have to say that parking in Kinsale is a nightmare, but we were lucky enough to find a tiny spot for our little car.
First, I must say, to find out about The Spaniard you must Google it and it's history. Interesting place. Now for the fun part. So we walked into this small bar area and here I walk up to the bar and tell the barman, “I'm here to collect my drink. It's been left for me in an envelope with my name on it.” So the search for the envelope began. There were quite a few white envelopes along side of the register, and none were mine. As this search was going on I was telling the story of how my friend, Tom had visited a few weeks earlier and left it there for me. One of the gents looked above the bar where there were tons of pictures and spotted the envelope tacked up there. Now everyone sitting at the bar was surprised including a gentleman whose picture I had seen in one of Tom's posts.
This was Michael Barry and he had been listening all along as I told the story. Needless to say, once I opened the envelope and gave the barman the receipt I was given my drink. We sat down with Michael and had a great chat with him and a few others at the pub. It was a great evening, but was getting late. We still had to find our B&B, so off back into town. To shorten this story, I have to say I love the Garda in Kinsale. We stopped and asked for help. The female told us just to follow her in our car, which we did. She walked, we drove, until she saw a parking space for us, then walked with us on foot down the narrow street to the B&B. It was already after 9:00 when we arrived and we still needed some dinner. That ended our Saturday. I can say, that I have been up and down the hills and streets of Kinsale multiple times!
Sunday morning we checked out Kinsale some after a wonderful breakfast, then headed to Cobh to the Heritage center. After some time there, we were on the road to Blarney.
The rest of the day was spent at Blarney Castle and the Woolen Mills. This time I did have the time to visit the Rock Close and waterfalls. We could have spent even more time walking the grounds but needed to get back to town and fine our next B&B!
Now we're sitting having our breakfast and getting ready for the ride to Killarney and a day spent roaming that area.
More later. A :)
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