Day Eight: Cork and Blarney

Yesterday was lovely, but hectic. Erika and I woke up later than expected, and missed our train to Cork. We were really worried that we’d have to miss out on seeing Cork and Blarney Castle, but luckily, with a small fee, we were able to catch the next available train.

The ride was about three hours each way, but not boring in the slightest. We passed right through huge stretches of beautiful countryside, which allowed us to get a feel for how the country looks outside of the city. It really is just as green as everyone says, so much so that it feels like one is passing through the past. Most of what we passed was pastureland, and I’ll tell you, I’ve never seen so many sheep and cows and horses. Since it’s summer, there was also quite a number of colts and calves and lambs running about, making the whole view very picturesque.

Blarney Castle was definitely not what I or Erika expected. It was quite close to Cork itself, and in the absolute center of the town of Blarney. The bus took us right to it. At first, I was slightly worried, because the entrance to the castle is surrounded by shops selling footballs and postcards and t-shirts printed with “You always remember your first kiss…” However, once we got into the park itself, we were both totally enamored. All you can see when you enter is meadow and trees and flowers, cut through by a small stream. It was an absolutely beautiful day, and we walked through all the trails around the castle and the surrounding area, just admiring. Again, everything was so VERDANT. Half of my pictures from Blarney are of trees, or flowers, or birds.

The castle itself was also really intriguing. We’ve toured a lot of ruins already in this trip (and will tour a lot more), but this was the first real castle I’d every visited. We went through every room. I thought the banquet hall was the most interesting. It had a HUGE fireplace, and it was easy to imagine Cormac MacCarthy and his family entertaining visitors there, or firing arrows through the small slits in the walls.

Also, I found it amazing that people were living there into the eighteenth century. Right next door is a Gothic (eighteenth century revival, not original Gothic) mansion, built by a family who wanted a bit more shelter than the castle provided.

We climbed all the way to the top of the castle, of course. The stairs were narrow and winding, but not too bad. To kiss the stone, you have to lie on your back and bend backwards, so that your head is hanging down a hole in the floor. They had bars to grasp, along with someone to hold your ankles, but it was still a little frightening. You’re basically bent backwards at the waist, and you can see all the way down to the ground. Definitely not for someone afraid of heights.

We got pictures kissing the stone, then climbed down to have lunch and wander around the grounds a bit more. A few yards down the path, there are a set of wishing steps. You’re supposed to climb and descend them, them backwards, with your eyes closed, concentrating on your wish. If you make it, it is supposed to come true within a year. Erika and I both made it, so hopefully our wishes will be granted.

My favorite part was the garden behind the castle, which was populated solely by poisonous plants. There was everything from Wolf’s bane, the only poison that can kill a wolf, to wormwood to tea (caffeine) and poison ivy. The more dangerous ones, such as one that can make you sick simply by smelling the flowers, had cages over them so you couldn’t touch them. It was interesting to see what each plant, many of which I’d heard so much about, actually looked like. I took pictures of all of them, for future identification.

Right now, Erika and I are in Malaga, so our next entry will be from Spain, our third country in a week and a half!