Bus tour is coming to an end in the next few days and I think the timing will be perfect. Definitely not as entusiastic as we were in the first week. Today is the first day we've checked into the hotel and not gone out for an explore. Mind you it sounds like it might have been a good idea...some of the others went out and didn't feel safe at all.
But going back to the start of the day, our first stop today was Blarney Castle. I thought this was the most interesting castle we've been to. This castle dates back to 1200 and is famous for the Blarney Stone which is said to give the gift of eloquence and persuasiveness.
When you first walk into the grounds it is an imposing building. There are a number of caves beneath the walls but there were too many peolple to navigate to get a good look. All signs seem to lead to the stone which is at the top of the castle. I decided to venture up to see the views from the top but there was no way I was going to get Terry up there.
The way up starts as a narrow spiral staircase and the higher you go the narrower it gets. Luckily there are a number of spots that you can stop to see the what the rooms were when it was a functioning castle and it was also a good place to rest if you needed it. At one stage when it got really narrow, there was a lady ahead of me that seemed to get stuck. I don't think she was physically stuck, just mentally. So there I was, also stuck in this stairway because I couldn't go up nor could I turn back. Thankfully she kept going.
To me kissing the Blarney Stone is the biggest non event in Ireland. Why would you lie on your back slide out over a huge drop to kiss a stone that hundreds of others have laid their lips on...who knows what you could catch from it???
Having said that, the climb was well worth the views from the top.
As I headed back down, I came across the original living room and although it is in ruin, there was a small section of carved stone that must have decorated the room. It's a shame that there was only a small section left.
Another surprise was the grounds of the castle. There was an interesting garden where they grew posionous plants. Handy if you were entertaining your enemy. There was also another secluded area that had interesting plants and lovely small waterfalls. The whole place was great and very different from anything else we have seen.
Later in the day we visited Waterford Crystal and watched the craftsmen create individual pieces. I was really surprised that they didn't wear much protective gear particularly when they were handling the molten glass. I noticed that one if the moulds from the individually made pieces had Justin Timberlake's name on it but I don't know if was something he ordered, or something a crazy fan had commissioned.
These craftsmen have incredible skills and much of what they do is by eye. I couldn't find any pieces that I liked more than than vase I bought in Dingle...phew!
Another quiet night as we have an early start to catch the ferry to Wales.
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