Cork-Blarney-Kinsale

Last week my cousin Angie came to visit!!! We spent the weekend in Cork County which is located in the south-west region of Ireland. On Saturday we travelled to the small village of Blarney to visit the Blarney castle and kiss the Blarney Stone!! The Blarney castle was built over six hundred years ago and according to legend kissing the stone gives the kisser the gift of gab –or great eloquence of speech. In order to kiss it we had to climb to the castle's peak and then lean over backwards on the edge of a balcony. It was quite the experience! We spent the afternoon exploring the castle and walking around the castle grounds and gardens. In the evening we made our way to the lovely city of Cork and explored the English market which has been going on since 1788. They offer a variety of fresh produce from around the world but they are best known for their fresh fish and butchers.

In the evening we took a bus along a winding bumpy road to the small fishing town of Kinsale. During our ride there, the night sky was so clear that you could see hundreds and hundreds of stars – it was absolutely gorgeous. It reminded me of summers I’ve spent in Wisconsin where the entire Milky Way is on display. In the morning, after a recommendation from a local, we walked along the cliffs that overlooked the harbor and the entire town. It was the prettiest view I’ve seen in Ireland so far. The harbor was framed by a pale blue sky and the morning mist. At the end of the walk we came to Charles Fort, a star-shaped military fortress built in 1677 which is located on the edge of the peninsula. From the top of the fort we watched sailboats sail in and out of the harbor! Before heading home we explored the town which is full of cute little colored shops and cafes. It was a good weekend.