Commodore Cork

... and arrived at http://www.igy-rodneybay.com/
in St Lucia yesterday, one hour under 15 days.

'A Lady' is an Oyster 56 http://www.oystermarine.com/fleet/56/de fault.aspx

My Mum's 90th Birthday party next Saturday, Christmas and New Year then off.

everyone went to blarney, well everyone except alex and i. so we got to explore cork and see the opera house, which we sketched from a cafe with a really weird waiter who insisted on seeing our sketches after we were done, because "he had a moleskine too, at home" okay. cool. then we ventured off around the city and found a church and sat ...

... high stone walls, grazing horses, sheep and cows, neat little farm houses in pastel colors with shiny black roofs. It must be mentioned as well that the economic boom in Ireland over the past decade has also brought with it a healthy dose of unattractive housing developments (called estate homes) and big box retailers. In Ennis where Denis' family is from they were celebrating the arrival of ...

... town was the last stop of the Titanic before it sank. It was a little rainy on the drive there and we really couldn't agree on whether or not to take the ferry across to get to the town. Finally decided on the ferry because that was the way the GPS wanted us to take.
Cobh was a really cool, cute little town with a magnificent Chucho on the the top of a hill overlooking the bay. We decided to go up to ...

... a line, but it went quick. I did kiss the stone, but mom didn't because she didn't want to get on her back to have to do it. We then went over to the Blarney House and walked the grounds. For lunch, we ate a little Irish tavern in the town right outside the Castle.
Our next stop was the beautiful St Finbarre's Church in Cork. I wanted mom to see some of the amazing European churches and this was great example. At first, we thought it was closed ...

... understood the election.  It's really interesting how they are so excited about what is going on with America.  My flatmate Fiona told me it was because the elections here are dull.  I guess there isn't any campaigning that happens, you just are assumed to know which party to vote for right off the bat.  Very interesting.    Thursday we ended up going to this jam session in the pub in the student union.  (yes, there's a pub in the student union ...

... here , , and got to ...

... no lift we worked our way up to very slowly and was welcomed with an amazing view of rolling green hills, sheep and a killer wind chill. I quickly got on my knees and kissed the stone which millions have also kissed. I cant say if my vocab changed but it was strange being held by my legs as i dangled over the edge - just see the photo We woke up to very Grey skies nevertheless we had ...

... tiny by the way Oh and they drive on the left side, like in the UK Everything seems quaint and small and tidy, even a city like Cork THE IRISH a very friendly people, and that gift of gab is no myth Contrary to how they may look, EUROS are actually not Monoploy money, they are cold hard cash, and they go fast. Plus the exchange rate (from dollars) really sucks. A pint of Guinness will cost you upwards of 4 euros. But A PINT is more ...

... 1st class (I slept most of it) I was in Cork. 12.00 My hostel was an easy 25 minute walk from the train station. I decided to walk it because I really needed to find an ATM but I walked all along the (seemingly) main street and never found one. I got to my hostel and told the guy I didn't have the money but if he would point me in the direction of an ATM I would have it shortly. He was so rude! Asked me, 'Who turns up at accommodation without the money to ...