Back to the south. Last days in Cork

  Cork, County Cork, Ireland
Monday, December 29, 2008

December 29
We take a coach from Belfast Europa Station to Cork for 25,40p (27€ aprox). When we arrive to Dublin we have to change to another coach, and finally we arrive at Cork at 4:30 p.m. The hostel is quite close to the station, the bad thing is that you have to walk up a very steep slope and it's tiring! After leaving our bags in the room, we go for a walk along the city, which is undoubtedly the most beautiful city that we've seen. Dublin has its charm, but Cork... is awesome! It's quite big, but it has a charm that makes it be like a town; river Lee crossing the city full of ducks, small coloured houses, picturesque Shandon district with lots of alleys... it's awesome and we would have liked to know it beforehand to stay more days here, but what you gonna do!

river Lee

We cross the river and walk along Patrick Street and Grand Street, full of shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs. There's people everywhere and it seems to be the most active area. It's so freezing that we enter into a nice pub called Old Oak and have the typical to rage Irish Coffee. Delicious!

alleys

At night we go back to the hostel, watch TV for a while and then have a bit to eat. After that we go to Courtain Street and spend the night in two cool pubs: Sin É, where some musics are playing live music and it's totally crowded (but the burden is worth), and later we go to Gallagher, just a few steps away. We drink a few pints of Murphys (in fact, if you are in Cork you'd better ask for Murphys, not Guinness) and enjoy the atmosphere, 'cause tomorrow is our last "usable" day in Ireland .


December 30
Today we lounge a bit in the morning and after a light breakfast we set up to Cork's Jail (Gaol).

Cork Jail (Gaol)

Is a long walk through hills but an hour later aprox we arrive at the old jail of the city. The place is spectacular and the surroundings are a marvel. It has a medieval style and you can imagine the prisoners living in their harmful cells, being tortured... in fact there are figures human-sized representing everyday situations... veeery realistic.

When we leave the jail we start walking along the alleys of Shandon, the upper part of the city, crowned by the famous St. Ann's Church, which at the top of the bell has a very original weathercock: a salmon! you can climb up and play the bells so everyone will hear you!

St. Ann's - Shandon

Later we go to Paul Street Mall and have a very acceptable pizza at Buon Apetitto restaurant. With our bellies full of cheese we get lost looking for St. Finnbarre's Cathedral but finally we find it at the southernmost of the city.
Then we go to Grand Street to buy some souvenirs for family and friends (we just find ONE souvenir shop across town and it's quite expensive. I liked a leprechaun figurine but it cost 6€!) and, why not! we go into a warm pub and have some ciders. We are talking about our things and oh my god! we have to run to the hostel and carry our bagagge quickly because we have to take a bus to Shannon Airport at 9 p.m! It costs 15€ and the journey isn't direct; the bus leaves us at Limerick and we have to wait for another bus for 45 minutes. Thank godness there is a hotel right next to the station and we can have a coffee there. The trip from Limerick to Shannon is short, so at 12 we are at the airport and we get ready to spend 6 hours sleeping there as we can.


December 31
Our flight departs at 6:45 a.m so that means we'll have to sleep at the waiting room till 6:15. The site is not entirely uncomfortable and we can sleep for two hours aprox. :(

sleeping in the airport! ;)

To kill time we read, sing, invent absurd stories and finally just look at the ceiling until it's time to board, yeeeeesssss!! We are a bit sad for leaving Ireland but tonight is New Year Eve and we want to come home, say goodbye to 2008 and go out with our friends and party all night... and be envied by them with our irish stories hahaha!