Muskerry Arms Blarney

... advice of one of my hostel mates and rented a bike and rode around the peninsula. Apparently most people opt for the 12 mile loop of the peninsula, I went for the 25 mile loop. Now that was an incredible mistake. While I took some incredible pictures, I thought I might fall over and die. The problem was that you're riding through the mountains which is pretty much uphill with cars flying by every two to three minutes. Scary, but also incredible. I gained a new appreciation for life as I ...

... dinner with Hailey. We walked around the city center for a while to see if we could find a place where we could sit outside because it was such a nice day. We found this little pub and got Irish stew, it was delicious! That was pretty much the end of the day for us and we headed back to UL shortly after we ate. It was a really long weekend, but I had so much fun and I'm really looking forward to doing a few more touristy things like that!

Probably one of the best known things in Ireland.

The Blarney Stone is at the top of the castle. You have to sit down and bend over backwards to kiss the stone below you. I made sure I went further down than then other people up there. I guess one advantage of being tall. Don't think I caught anything from the experience.

Also walked around the grounds and saw the house they live in now.

... ham. Dad had the Mini Irish breakfast which came something called "black pudding." He tried a bite of it and said it tasted like meat and offered me a bite. I said no, and told him, "If it sounds like dessert, but tastes like meat, I know won't like it!" Good thing, too, because after the meal was over dad asked the guy serving us what it was and he told us it was something made out of cow's blood!! Yuck!! So we got back in the car and ...

... a shame that Audie's knee wouldn't allow her the climb, but then she's not a Blarney kind of woman, is she! The view was spectacular from up there, and I highly recommend it to anyone that can make it! There is also some very neat gardens and other things around the castle that many people don't bother with. Just look at the pictures to see some of the other cool things!

... step that I really wasn't supposed to stand on to peer over the top of the castle and take a picture from that point. But, getting down from that step, I had to be really careful because there was a grate on either side. So we did end up kissin (makin out) the stone! Danielle was first, then I followed! Afterwards, I'm like "That's the first kiss I've had in a good while!" and the young guy who was helping us bend ...

... top. As we looked over the edge, the newer stately family home came into view. Maybe in another couple of hundred years time, we will tour that one ??? Then the stone came closer. It was a production line of get on your back, lean backwards, kiss the stone, have your photo taken, next !!! Lucy was gearing up for it, whilst I started to freak. All I could think was germs and hepatitis, so I told Lucy, I couldn't do it out of fear of ...

... the smoking ban and a crackdown on "drink-driving." Nev**theless, I suff**ed no shortage of pubs with live music. I got in the first night (Tuesday) to late to go really go out, since pubs have to close at 11:30 unless they are a "late bar," but most of the late licenses are for Thursday - Saturday only. On Wednesday, I found a place featuring a couple songs each by various sing**/songwrit**s, and enjoyed it immensely. Th**e was more talent it that ...

... 1: More witches. Peasant 2: Wood. Sir Bedevere: Good. Now, why do witches burn? Peasant 3: ...because they're made of... wood? Sir Bedevere: Good. So how do you tell whether she is made of wood? Peasant 1: Build a bridge out of her. Sir Bedevere: But can you not also build bridges out of stone? Peasant 1: Oh yeah. Sir Bedevere: Does wood sink in water? Peasant 1: No, no, it floats!... It floats ...

Travel Tip # 21: (since I forgot the last time): Don't eat the Cornflakes Do you know those old Cooper helmets stored away in Canadian basements....well in this neck of the woods they are worth their weight in gold, Stephen(Maggies son) filled me in on all the lingo and the prices for these gems that we stow away in our basements. Hurlers will pay up to 120 Euro for one of these(they as I am told have been discontinued) they also told me of the price even a replica can bring ...