Blarney Castle!!

So I arrived in Cork in the afternoon.  So a bit late to do any sight seeing, but with plenty of time to do what I do best, SHOP!  Now, I didn't buy anything, but I am on the lookout for a Claddagh Ring. 

Blarney Castle

After a lovely nights sleep, I slept in a bit and then set off for Blarney Castle!  All I can say, is that at first glance, Blarney Castle is breathtaking.  You arrive on the grounds to see this imposing castle set on a rock face.  You are greated first by what used to be a guard house with a built in kennel, which, I assume, housed a guard dog.  Walking around the castle, you climb some steps up to the castle proper.  After stepping in the castle, you realize that there haven't really been any "improvements" since the castle was originally built.  Everything looks authentic, with the exception of the various signs that proclaim the old use of the whatever room you are in.  To reach the blarney stone at the top of the Castle, you have to climb this tiny winding stone spiral staircase.  This wouldn't normally be a problem, but some of the steps seemed like they had been worn down considerably and sometimes you weren't quite sure that your foot would actually fit on the step, and the only railing was a thick rope running up the center of the staircase.  It doesn't really instill a feeling of safety in you.  Once you get to the top, you don't really feel any safer, once you see how you have to kiss the Blarney Stone.  I don't really know anybody that would actually enjoy hanging upside down off the side of a castle, but let me tell you, it isn't really pleasant.  The lovely Irish man that holds you as you lean off the castle keeps telling you to lean back, until it doesn't feel like you are actually resting on the castle.  And there was more than one tourist in front of me that expressed fright upon returning to their upright state.  But let me tell you, any anxiety you feel about kissing the stone before you actually lay down and try pales in comparison to the anxiety you feel when you are actually upside down face to face with the Blarney Stone.  But with that milestone reached, you nearly fly down the next spiral staircase, because there is practically nothing that seems quite as dangerous as what you just did.  So, once out of the castle, there are acres of gardens and trails to explore, and all of them are beautiful!!

Me on top of Blarney Castle

Me Kissing the Blarney Stone!

Here are some pictures of me at Blarney Castle.

Mandrakes

Wormwood

My favorite garden, the poisonous plant garden, held such gems as these plants seen in Harry Potter:

Belladona

This garden also proves that not even The Blarney Castle is immune from seizures by the Garda:

As a note: the notice on the bottom says that Blarney Castle is sorry for the lack of Marijuana in the garden, but the Garda has seized it, until their licensing issue could be cleared up....

And then finally, no castle is complete without a cave for secret escapes running underneath it.

Awesome Cave

Apparently Cork was hosting the street performers world championship in one of their parks!  In addition to that, I was talking to two girls from Yorkshire who were staying in my hostel, and they were saying that there was also going to be an attempt to break the World Record for the number of Wallys (Waldos from Wheres Waldo? to Americans) in one place.  But it was cancelled for rain!!! :(  This was really upsetting, because I really wanted to buy the costume that they were selling in the park!  You got a shirt, a hat and a pair of black round glasses for 12 Euros!!! Best souvenier ever! But alas, it was not to be.

Well that is it for my adventures in Cork and Blarney! Next on the list is Kilkenny and Kilkenny Castle!

Cheers!
KM