Lotamore House Tivoli Cork

A month since my last posting and less than a month to go. My own preparations are almost complete for my departure on 2 January 2010.

Skipper Stephen Hyde and crew made a great passage across the Atlantic on 'A Lady' they departed Grand Canaria on 22 ...

... the graveyard and sketched it while the sun went down. creepy? alex thought so, i wasn't as creeped out. for dinner that night we went to the grocery store and took advantage of the kitchen kinlay house had and made some sweet dinner...noodles and tofuuu. a nice relaxing day and getting some sketch on after a pretty unproductive dublin.

... of my lips as proof.

I am really glad we ended up going. We went early and enjoyed the entire castel and grounds prior to the crowds, which I am SURE aided in the appeal.

Jameson Distillery was fun because we met this fantastic man from Washington State, Ed. Man the questions this guy asked. I got to ring a bell and then we drank some wiskey. All in all not bad day.

The great part is when we got back to our hostel and we met our ...

... and toured the Desmond Castle, which was a really small castle in town, really just the house of some nobles. This castle did have an old jail, though, that held immigrant prisoners, especially American merchant sailors who may have been labeled as pirates. We then walked up to Multrose Church in town, but it was not open.
We decided to drive to Cobh, a small fishing town about 30 minutes away ...

... of minutes because you had to provide the data for your car.
We had a 2 hour drive ahead of us to Blarney Castle and we were hoping the rain would stop- and that it did! The weather was clear by the time we got to Blarney Castle. There was a cute little town right outside the castle. We first went to the castle to "kiss the blarney stone". The castle wasn't really big, but it had some crazy, narrow, twisted stairs to the top. There was a little bit ...

... ankle was bothering her. The next day was Easter and while Celia was at church I wandered around the city some more. After she was done we headed over to the town of Blarney and Blarney Castle, home of (what else) the Blarney Stone! Now, we discovered after the fact that some people don't know the legend of the Blarney Stone. Allegedly, kissing the Blarney Stone is supposed to give you "the gift of ...

... earth which will hopefully count as my physical science credit.  I'm also taking an Irish folklore, modern music, and brief history of Ireland class. It's weird, because some of the classes are quarterly, meaning only five weeks long.  So, for the first five weeks, I don't have any class on Friday, and for the second five weeks, I don't have any class on Monday.  And actually, Tuesday will be the only day I will have multiple classes (four) while ...

... century?) with all the family pictures and modern conveniences like laptops laying about. It was beautiful though. That night we went to see Sex and the City (that would be the third time in two different countries for those keeping track). It was a weeknight at like 10 and it was packed. Everyone everywhere loves the Sex and the City Girls. It was good even the third time. Haha. Tomorrow a day trip to Fota Island!

... amusing video clips. In return we're hoping to receive travel tips & advice and gossip & sporting updates... Therefore, thanks to all who have passed on their best wishes and to those who have been to one or more of our 'going-away' parties (graphical evidence throughout) - we've never met so many people so excited to see the back of us!!!

... reverse to let us or them through. Once again, I realised why Europeans fold their wing mirrors in when not required. It is at this point that I have to inform the reader that on two occasions today Anne was exceptional in her navigational skills countermanding the directions of the driver. We motored back towards Cork, got caught up in the traffic in Kinsale again. They were still coming in from the north but now (4'oclock in the afternoon!) there was a police ...