January 28th-30th, 2011
Cork, Co. Cork, Ireland
After joining the International Society during the Semester Start-up Programme, Erin, Anna, and I decided to make use of our 2 euro sign up fee and take a weekend trip with the club to Cork. Although there was a price for the trip, it included bus fair, two nights in a hostel, and entrance to the many attractions on our itinerary, so it was a more than reasonable fee. We jumped on the chance to have someone plan our outing for us.
Day 1: Blarney Castle
Saturday, January 29th, 2011
The first day included a visit to the Blarney Castle and grounds to kiss the Blarney Stone, then a tour of the Cork Gaol, and some time to walk around Cork. Although smaller, I found the city of Cork to be surprisingly similar to Dublin, complete with its own river beginning with "L" (Dublin has the Liffey, Cork the Lee).
Erin, Anna, and I at Blarney Castle. They had beautiful grounds, nice and frosty in the morning. Yes, it does get cold, even in Ireland.
Being a proper tourist. It has to happen some times.
Walking up inside the ruins of Blarney Castle
Erin in the "murder hole"-- some sort of defense mechanism for the castle that allowed you to pour hot oil or other nasty things on your enemies from above.
Kissing the Blarney Stone! The stone is actually a part of the wall at the top of the castle, and in order to kiss it, you have to lay on your back, grab two bars, and basically flip upside-down over a gap in the wall used for drainage. More acrobatic than I was expecting. Kissing the stone is supposed to give you the gift of eloquence... we'll see.
The view at the top of the castle. It was really spectacular.
Ok, now the real view-- without me getting in the way. Pictures really don't do it justice.
The Cork jail was much nicer than the jail we toured in Wicklow.
The interior was airy and clean, although very cold. It would have held higher-class prisoners, including a "debtors prison" that allowed prisoners to bring in their own furniture, servants, and food.
Cell that held Irish author Frank O'Connor when he was imprisoned as an Irish nationalist. You can still see his writings on the walls.
Day 2: Jameson Distillery
Sunday, January 30th, 2011
Our second day started with the Queenstown Museum, commemorating one of the stops of the Titanic, the continued with the sunday Irish tradition of church followed by whiskey: we toured a gorgeous cathedral, then made our way to the Jameson distillery to get a taste of some Irish whiskey.
The Jameson Whiskey Distillery-- a Cork original.
Grain storage building. The shutters were required to regulate temperature during the summer because if the grains got to hot, they would spontaneously burst into flame.
The largest whiskey distiller in the world-- the first of 3 giant copper vats used to triple distill the whiskey.
Erin got to take part in a whiskeys around the world tasting challenge, comparing Jack Daniels, two types of Jameson, and a Scottish Whiskey (or scotch).
Tasting time! I'm not sure I like it on the rocks very much, but whiskey and ginger ale is pretty good. Still doesn't quite beat a gin and tonic, I'd have to say.
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