The Kilkenny Inn Hotel

... disagree, and without a word of rebuttal, she's off to the corner store to pick up some pudding.<br><br>Lonely Planet describes black and white pudding as being 'like meatloaf, but sausage shaped, cut into discs and fried'. Like many LP descriptions, it is woefully inadequate, for a food that is as integral to Irish cuisine as potatoes and Guinness. Black and white sausage is two sausages, often sold as a pair. The white pudding is mainly made up of pork meat and oats ...

... roads in Ireland are miniature versions of the variety we have in Canada, but the speed limits don't reflect this. We clipped along, squeezed between rock walls and oncoming traffic.<br><br>"The side mirrors on the car fold in if they're hit" Michelle informed me. <br>That was immensely reassuring.<br><br>We arrived home in record time, Michelle threw together a proper feast, and I was in bed by 8.

... besides pasta, lunch meat sandwich, or pizza. Then when we came back Lindsey &amp; Brittany had made me a cake while I was gone and put up a birthday banner. Jordan also got be a flashing birthday girl sash. Everyone hung out in my apartment till about 10 and then we went downtown to the pubs. We called for taxis for 16 people and ended up getting this party bus with lights and loud music. The ride was really cool and the night was a blast!

... to drive the Military Road instead of the usual routes south. The road was built in the early 19th century as a way for the British to bring in supplies for their war against the insurgents. It has been repaved since, but once we got on it, we knew why it is the road less traveled. It was bumpy and narrow, and just a bit &#8220;bendy&#8221;. (Here, curves are called bends, and they can be severe as well!) We were rewarded for our efforts by the Glenmacnoss Waterfall, a lovely cascade ...

... and plates. Nothing, in Ireland was served in/on paper or plastic. <br>We took our drinks on our stroll down to the water's edge. We found the water to be very cold. Everyone in swimming had a wet suit on, even the children. Two vans with surfing schools advertised on the side had surfboards and wet suits to rent. They also offered surfing lessons. Inch Beach was a very popular place for the locals. We enjoyed our short stop there.

After what seems like only an hour of sleep, Doris and I headed out at 7:30am to catch the bus to the city center to meet Henrica, one of the other interns from Germany. We met Stacy (from UVA), Jackie from New Hampshire, and Christine from Massachusetts at the Heuston Train Station where we all bought tickets, grabbed coffee and pastries, and headed to the bus. They were working on the tracks so they ...

... himself as ruler of the area, setting precedence for the Butler dynasty which ruled these parts of over 500 years. In the 17th century, the Butler family remodeled the castle as a modern chateau thus becoming the symbol for British presence in Ireland. By the 19th century the castle had fallen into deterioration by the failing fortunes of the Butlers and was eventually sold in 1967 by Arthur Butler, 6th ...

... decision to turn left or right while the sign for the Abbey pointed straight ahead probably didn&#8217;t help either. I was hardly going to plow through a fence, a hedge and a paddock &#8211; despite how much I might have wanted to &#8211; but after a bit of to-ing, fro-ing and backtracking we made it by road. The abbey itself was covered with scaffolding on one side as a huge restoration project neared completion, but for me the most interesting ...

... there were not young people around. John and Megan and I went off to find something else to do. Some Irish guys and a girls stopped us and there trashed- it was hilarious. Then we found some of our group and walked the 2 miles back to our hotel. I got horrible blisters on the way out, so the way back was barefoot- not fun. BTY: my roommate is old and gross and weird. blah.

... steep, green mountains. There are also some ruins on the shores of the upper lake. We only got as far as Reefert Church, but there are other sights further up the trail.<br><br>Glendalough most reminded me of Yosemite. There's a tremendous amount of natural beauty to enjoy in both places. And both places are packed with people. But, like Yosemite, the crowds never bothered me. I still felt the same peace and tranquility that must have attracted the monks to ...