Cork

I'm so slow with this. Finally I will write about Ireland!

We left London and took a flight to Cork, Ireland. We were warm in London and got cold as soon as we stepped off the plane in Cork and I don't think I've been warm ever since. Oh well. We had a very nice taxi driver that took us from the airport to our bed and breakfast. He pointed out some places to see and talked to us the whole 15 minute ride. Got to our bed and breakfast and couldn't understand the owner very well, but he was very nice. It was late afternoon so we decided to get some food and it was about a 15-20 minute walk to get to center city Cork. We ate and walked around a little bit and it was in Cork that we discovered how early places close in this neck of the woods. We didn't have anything planned our first day in Cork an were assuming that we could just go to the shops for part of the evening, but we were wrong. Most things were closed at 6, something that we thought was just crazy! At home we can go to the mall or Target or whatever until what, like 9 or something? Nope, not here. We thought maybe it was just Cork, but everywhere we've been since has been the same. It's something that just needs a little getting used to and being aware of how early things close.

We made a trip to the Blarney Castle, which was only a short bus ride away from Cork. It is a really old castle, don't ask how old because I don't know. Old. There is a stone on the castle that gives good luck to those that kiss it, so we thought we'd give it a go.

The castle

Me in front of the castle 

Looking out from near the top of the castle

Inside the castle-this was the banquet hall, I think

A nice lovely bench

Badger's Cave-part of the castle

Kissing the Blarney Stone

It was a nice little trip and it was cool getting to see and go inside a castle, even though it's pretty much all ruins. There were also things around the castle to look around at, like rocks that looked like witches and formations that was the witches kitchen and what not.

We were kind of struggling to think of something to do the next day we were in Cork and came across a wildlife park that we decided to go to and decided to go to Cobh because it was just a little farther than the park. Since you all know what animals look like, I'm not going to bore you with any, except for this one of me with the giraffes!

We then went to Cobh, which was formerly Queensland-the last place the Titanic picked up passengers. It was a tiny place and they were getting ready for 100 Years since Titanic festivities. We walked around a little and saw what was on the main stretch. It was (and still is??) a pretty big port where a bunch of ships have departed from.

Lusitania Memorial

Titanic Memorial

Jack and Rose in the window of a shop!!

Some church in Cobh

Annie Moore and her brothers-originally from Queensland. Was the first immigrant to pass through Ellis Island when it opened and a very similar memorial is at Ellis Island.

That was our last day in Cork. University College Cork was right across the street from our B&B. We went and walked around a little bit one night and it was a very pretty campus and had a lot of old, cool looking buildings, but I don't think I have any pictures of it.

Our next destination was The Cliffs of Moher. They were soooooooooo pretty and it was so cold and windy. It was also a little foggy so the pictures aren't as good as they would be on a nice clear day, but I think they turned out just fine.

As close to the edge as I would get

This one might actually be closer to the edge

I think that's all for now. I still have about a week of traveling left to blog about! But it will get done eventually. Today I finished my second week at school. It's been a good time so far and I have nothing to do when I return to my host family's house, so it is nice being able to sit around, relax, and do absolutely nothing. Tomorrow my friend and I are going to head into London for the day. We've been trying to find things to do with our lives at least one day over the weekend since we sit in the living room for hours every other day. We thought it would be fun to see a show and we found this deal for dinner and a show for less than 30 pounds a person, so we are going to see Singin' In the Rain. It's quite appropriate considering it has rained everyday I've been in Kidlington. Adios.