|
|
The Rock of Cashel appears
|
|
|
Inside the Rock of Cashel walls
|
|
|
Cashel cross... The BEST picture EVER!
|
|
|
The Galtee Mountains (?)
|
|
|
Blarney Castle
|
|
|
|
JUNE 30 : Big Yellow Taxi and
a new "sorority" is born Bleary eyed
and tired, I drag me and my backpack to a different hostel to meet the
rest of the group for the Shamrocker Tour. Darn it! Why do I keep going
out the night before major trips? Maybe I'll learn yet. All 24 of us jump
on the bright yellow Mercedes Benz bus after our guides Mick and Kath stow
our worldly belongings. Off we go with 22 others who will know more about
us than the average stranger before the trip is over...profound isn't it?
We travel by the Curragh (Ireland's famous race course) and pass through
the town of Kildare, where the Irish National Stud Farm is located. By
now, our bus is WELL acquainted with our bus mates seeing as we have told
embarrassing stories about ourselves and passed lifesavers from the front
of the bus, back, and to the front again using only a matchstick between
our teeth. A few of us ahh, seemed to enjoy it more than others...It's
all about being on the Idiots side...even though I couldn't pronounce it,
right Mick? (Wait, there's a "dg" sound?) We find people who are just like
us. Thanks Kell for also being the one who runs into things and blurts
out comments. It's so nice not to be the only one! There was a nice mix
of Australians, Americans, Canadians, and a Kiwi thrown in for good measure.
(Four Aussies and I instantly clicked and became much like a sorority for
the remainder of the trip.) We all stop off and walk around the Rock of
Cashel. Very pretty and quite a hill to climb. Why doesn't Virginia look
like this?
We drove past many beautiful mountains like
the Galtees on the way to Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone where
I was further blessed with the gift of gab. As probably noted, I had shyness
problems prior. Unfortunately I walked up the wishing steps with my eyes
open, so my wishes are null and void now. Darn! Why weren't there directions?
We went on to Killarney in County Kerry where there was a horse drawn carriage
ride though the National Park...oh yeah, it was pouring during it, but
you still could just see the beauty in the ruins and nature. Besides it's
not like you couldn't shower and dry off...right, Kat? "It's so beautiful,
it's so beautiful..." Ah well, onto after dinner theater about a man closing
his bar for one last time. I still don't know how he drank that much during
it, but it was entertaining and a grand time...and what's this?? Let's
GO OUT! Whoo hoo! We were told the town had a three to one ratio, so our
newly formed "sorority" (INM: Iota Nu Mu: aka...uhhh, it's a sorority secret,
sorry.) was set. All right Vanessa, Kell, Kat, and Laura, let's hit the
town. Sadly, there were lots of Americans and not many Irish men.
The singer with the red leather pants though was quite a sight. Maybe the
guys don't dance, but they sure can sing...passing the air mic, need I
say more...Lol! Who was that guy anyway?
|
|
|
|
|
Enhancing my "gift of gab!"
|
The view from Blarney Castle...See it really does look like the
postcards!
|
Relaxing in the Blarney forest. Notice the big "rhubarb plants"
in the lower left corner.
|
The end of the carriage ride through the National Park. We don't
look
that soaked do we?
|
|
