A bad day in Ireland is better than, well, anything, I’m still here!

So…my least favorite day in Ireland, aside from my fabulous activity, I could have stayed in bed!

So, the day started nice enough, oh, I got I to FaceTime with GES and the girls last night, so awesome! I can’t wait to see them in a few days!
I had a nice breakfast at The White House, why do I keep getting mushrooms and tomatoes with my eggs? I don’t like cooked mushrooms or tomatoes, go figure, I think I keep waiting to see if I’ll like them. Nope! Very filling though, well, that with the toast, brown bread and lot of tea, I’m not usually hungry for a few hours.

I walked around Kinsale like a bit, to walk off breakfast, find a post office to send out some more post cards…wink wink and get some cash, I used my last few euros for dessert last night. I also wanted to find the wool shop I saw last night, some of you remember what I want from Ireland, right? A genuine Irish knit sweater…preferably with an Irish boy in said sweater! I found a lot of sweaters, but the boys are a bit lacking! I didn’t find what I was looking for, so I headed for the car and out into the world.

I was going to see if I could find the 9/11 memorial, established by Kathleen Cait Murphy, who worked as a nurse for over 30 years in New York City. A tree was planted for each firefighter who died, including their chaplain. Father Michael Judge who was a personal friend of hers.
http://www.kinsaleheritage.com/911.html

About twenty minutes later, I turned around as I knew I had not found it. I turned around a few times…(I had put the GPS away about Sunday since it couldn’t find half the stuff I was looking to see, might be buying one for myself when I get back to the states for the next trip, can’t hurt to have, right? Saves me minutes on my phone) and headed to Cork.

I found it eventually…only about an hour later than I wanted to, but I found it, then drove around, off course and back on it, I’m getting pretty good at navigating these Ireland streets, bloody brilliant! I found my way to my activity for the day…Blarney Castle!

It was pouring while I was on my way and a right downpour when I got there, but as I started to climb the steps, it cleared up, beautiful! I made it to the top and the view, let me tell you…spectacular! Wait until you see the pictures!

I got up there and yup, you guessed it, I kissed the stone! It’s an interesting experience…you lay down and hold the bars and a man holds your waist as you lean farther and farther back looking down from above and then he tells you to kiss it and you do! I could not stop laughing, I was snorting! I know, you’re shocked! It was actually contagious, he started guffawing, it was awesome then I got a picture with him….we shared a moment after all!

Now, I don’t usually buy photos from things I do, but I bought this one, it comes with a certificate! I didn’t realize I could have had the other guy take pictures, but ok, next time. I still got the picture, show you later!
Kissing the Blarney Stone is silly and a must!

Then I walked down and walked the grounds, heading first to the poison garden! It shows you all the poisonous plants we come in contact every day! Some were even caged! Like the marijuana plant! What? Yeah, right! Did you know that the leaf of a rhubarb plant is poisonous? Me either! You do now!

Then I went for a walk on the grounds and it was lovely, lush plants and grass and very quiet, save for the waterfalls everywhere. I really enjoyed it. http://ri.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrBT9PNKUBUemoAfizBGOd_;_ylu=X3oDMTE0MzhnaXE1BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1RBVVMwNDlfMQ–/RV=2/RE=1413519950/RO=10/RU=http%3a%2f%2fwww.blarneycastle.ie%2f/RK=0/RS=xnRmAnSeP2_.s5KOtmCmCI3ZZcE-

After that, I went to Claddagh’s Italian Restaurant for some yummy veggie soup, I swear, I am going to soup myself across Ireland! Sometimes it’s the safest and all I need!

Then I walked to Blarney Woolen Mills, the largest Irish wool store anywhere, so the sign said. I walked in and it was like Irish knit sweater Mecca! I was going to find my sweater! I walked in and there was such a selection, I didn’t know where to start and it would have been nice to have help. I must have walked around that store for about thirty minutes…not one person asked if I needed help, said hello nothing and I watched them, including the manager, ask everyone else.

I tried on a few sweaters, couldn’t decide and felt kind of dejected and invisible, i know, not me! so I left empty handed. A little disappointed..
http://www.blarney.com

I got in the car and should have turned into the parking lot and gotten a room there, but I thought I’d head on to Limerick, find a place to stay and grab some grub, when I got there, I kept going, not sure if I was on the wrong side of Limerick, but I had the feeling I didn’t want to live there, oh well, keep driving.

I tried three places to find a toilet, or a place to stay…no luck, so I kept driving in the rain, finally pulled off another exit and now I am in a town I don’t know the name of, but I found a place to stay for 35€ with breakfast, which is across the street from the B&B and I found a grocers so I could get an air freshener!
I am now sitting in the Supermac’s (burgers and Papa John’s pizza (KAB could work here!)) because my room does not have wifi and when I mentioned where I was staying at the grocers, they said…oh…it’s ok, there are two beds, a TV and a bathroom with a nice looking shower. I just need to rest my head, right?

I went into the restaurant for the hotel, across the street, and had a VERY salty cup of vegetable soup and was ignored by the server after I got my food, that was the topper. So…like I said, I could have stayed in bed!

After I sign off, I’m going to the hotel, change into my jammies and get in bed and dream about how great tomorrow will be!

I’m still in Ireland! Wahoo!

Positivity Challenge – Day #28
1 – I am so thankful I found a toilet when I was desperate!
2 – I am so thankful to have found a hotel so I could stop driving!
3 – I am so thankful to have had a good belly laugh with the guy who held me when I kissed the Blarney Stone!