Europe 2013: Day Four

Day Four: Blarney Castle and the Rock of Cashel

An early start was on the books for day four since we had many places to see.  We headed out of Killarney and began the trek to Dublin, but with planned stops at Blarney Castle and the Rock of Cashel along the way.  I enjoyed my time in Killarney immensely, but I was eager to move on and cross something off of my bucket list... Kissing the Blarney Stone!

Blarney Castle is a sunning site to see.  While much of the castle is in ruin it is still beautiful and the grounds are gorgeous.  We quickly began our ascent to the top of the castle to see the infamous Blarney Stone, but as we traveled through you could not help but to be impressed with the people who lived in Blarney Castle during its prime.  The people who use to live and work in the castle had to be able to navigate the narrow and steep stairways in which the steps were not even and handrails did not exist.  I also felt very sorry for the cooks, because the kitchen was on the third floor!  Even though the up and down of the stairs probably made it very difficult for them, It made sense once we read the explanation   They placed the kitchen on the third floor in an effort to prevent fire from spreading through the entire castle.  Also, it was conveniently located near bedrooms and if there were ever unwanted guest the hot oil could be quickly used to announce to them that it was time to leave!!

Once we reached the top of the castle we got in line for our turn to kiss the Blarney Stone.  It was a little more tricky of a task than you might think, because you have to lay down on a mat and with the assistance of a worker you hold onto the bars and lower yourself upside down and backwards to kiss the stone.  It was thrilling and nerve wrecking at the same time, because you could see the crowds of people down below.  The man who was working that day was absolutely precious and kept saying things like "You like to kiss don't you, yes you do!"  It was an experience that I will never forget!

After some photo opts around the grounds and stumbling upon a Downton Abbey look-alike home we headed back towards the town for lunch.  There is a giant shop and eatery near the castle called The Woolen Mill.  It is a great place to purchase items made of real lambs wool and a good lunch stop as well.  I had one of the best meals on the trip at the market place style restaurant.  I had a chicken and brie sandwich on focaccia bread with malt vinegar and sea salt chips.  We spent a little time shopping around and then it was time to hit the road again.

After a little more time on the coach we arrived at one of Ireland's most historical sites, the Rock of Cashel.  This legendary rock of St. Patrick supposedly is a part of Devil's Bit (a mountain) on which St. Patrick banished Satan and the rock flew and landed in its current location.  It is also the place at which the King of Munster was converted by St. Patrick in the 5th century, thus creating a lineage of Christian rulers.  In the 1100's it was donated by the King of Munster to the Church and is now largely a tourist attraction due to its failing structure   It is the home of some beautiful Celtic artwork and medieval architecture.  If you are in the area I strongly encourage a visit.  

Perhaps one of the most interesting things about our visit to the Rock of Cashel was hearing and seeing about the visit that Queen Elizabeth made there in 2011.  She was on a tour of Ireland and this was one of the places that she personally requested to see, so they organized a visit for her.  She and her husband, Prince Philip, were shown around the grounds and even signed a visitors ledger to show that they had attended.  The coolest part was that they went on my birthday!!  I love anytime my life intertwines with the life of the royals!

After the tour ended we quickly loaded the buses to finish our two hour drive into Dublin.  When we arrived in the city we were immediately taken to our dinner reservation which was Irish Fried Chicken. I'm not sure that is actually what they called it, but that's what we will go with.  It would not have been to bad, but they loved brown gravy at many of the restaurants we ate in and this place was no exception.

Irish Fried Chicken?

Looks like home :)

No worries though, because once we checked into our amazing hotel I found the snack bar.  We stayed at a hostel called The Generator, which had single beds for rent for those youngster backpacking through Europe, but also private rooms for those people like us who required a little more privacy.  The students on the trip and myself included really enjoyed the young vibe of this hostel.  It was not like the creepy, dirty hostels that we see on television. It had a bar with live music, lounging areas, and a cafe.  I enjoyed hot chocolate both nights we were there and sampled a little taste of home with french fries and a coke one night!  Overall I recommend the Generator if you are looking for an expensive, no frills place to stay, particularly if you are in your teens, twenties and even early thirties.