Ireland Day 3

Today we kissed the Blarney Stone!  We drove to Blarney Castle after breakfast.  Blarney was another lovely little town.  Scott said if we should ever decide to move to Ireland he'd like settle in Blarney!  I am blown away at how green everything is...even the rooftops.  It's so constantly wet that there is moss growing on literally everything.

This was the first time any of us had ever toured a castle or castle ruins.  So much fun!!!

Gigi and Papaw waited at the bottom at a little tea shop while the rest of us wound our way up the very tiny stone spiral staircase to the very tip top of the castle.  Kissing the Blarney Stone is supposed to give you the gift of eloquent speech.  This sign on the way to the top gave an explanation on the difference between baloney and blarney!

The last few steps to the top are kind of a nail biter as it is very narrow and the steps are wet and slick.  Then, you discover that the stone is set underneath this little archway thing.  So you literally lie down on your back throw your head back and this Irishman grabs hold of you and scoots you forward so you can kiss the stone.  There are 3 little iron bars and an elderly Irish dude to keep you from falling to your death.  He has a little tub for tips.  I made sure to tip him BEFORE and AFTER!!

As if Scott needed any more blarney!

The grounds around the castle were beautiful and the view from the top was incredible....

Food and Observations of the Day:  

For dinner tonight I had corned beef and cabbage with mash (mashed potatoes).

The orange that you see there is mashed turnips.  Scott got the same thing only roast turkey instead of corned beef.  I kept eating the turnips and couldn't figure out what they were so at the end of the meal I asked her.  When she said turnips Scott yells "Those were turnips? I don't like turnips!" as she held his completely empty plate in her hand.  Thought she was gonna choke laughing at the crazy American.  Dessert was apple crumble with warm custard on the top...YUM.

They have this orange drink over here....

It's super duper concentrated orange juice.  You add it to water!  As much or as little as you like and it flavors up the water.  You can have sparkling water for an extra zip!  I think it tastes like Tang personally.  They sell it everywhere and the restaurants serve it too.

And these itty bitty super cute milk jugs!

And, lastly the driving...again.  I can't even describe how incredibly different it is.  I took this today to give you an idea of what it's like to meet up with a large car...coming at you...from the wrong side....on a teeny tiny narrow road....

Every time it happens I kinda scream a little bit. Every time.  Scott just patiently keeps saying "You have to stop that." But I don't think I can.  Today we had to navigate a parking garage...on the wrong side.  Weird I tell you.  Just weird.  And scary.

Tomorrow we are going to another castle and exploring the town of Limerick.  The castle today was a huge hit with the kids.  Tonight they were all at the table looking up a list of every castle in Ireland to figure out which ones we are closest to!  Love that they are having fun and I'm also kinda loving that they only have phone usage when there is free wifi.  They were actually just playing hide and seek in the villa.  What?!

Irish Blessings,

Leslie