Cork City Walkabouts

This is St. Finnbarr's Church. It's a few blocks down the street from us. It's a Protestant church, not Catholic, surprisingly.


A view from the north side hills in Cork. St. Finnbarr's Cathedral is the big one in the background.


A heron on top of the fountain in Fitzgerald Park

Blarney Castle

This is a long post so keep reading 'till the end!

“The difference between ‘blarney’ and ‘baloney’ is this: Baloney is when you tell a 50-year old woman that she looks 18. Blarney is when you ask a woman how old she is, because you want to know at what age women are most beautiful.”

Blarney Castle in the distance


This is the narrow spiral staircase that leads you all the way to the top of the castle.


A fossil in a doorway! Leave it to 4 geologists to notice that! I think it's a bivalve of some sort.


Vista from the walkway atop the castle.


There is a contest at the U of M and if you are at the coolest place with your Griz Card student ID you can win ca$h money! This is our Griz Card Contest photo for now, but we have a long time before the submission deadline.


The Great Room in the castle


There are lots of these windows on the way up the stairs.


Kissing the stone! I've been blessed with good luck and the gift of gab.


See that gap at the very top, right above the window? That's where the Blarney Stone is. Right under that ledge.


Beautiful flowers around the castle


This was such a cool tree we HAD to play on it.


Walking around the grounds. They are absolutely beautiful.


Blackberry picking on the grounds.


The Blarney House, different from the Castle. We're going to adopt it as the new International Geology Club Headquarters.


The end of the tour ice cream stop.


Ellie's cone

Minor Differences: Part 2

-I haven't seen a single petrol station. There are LOTS of cars, but no petrol stations. How does that work?
-TJMaxx is called TKMaxx It's the same store though.
-Canned foods are difficult to find.
-The clothes dryers don't actually dry things. Clothes come out of the washer/dryer steaming and soaking wet.
-It takes several days (like 3-5) for clothing to air dry.
-Beer is over $6 a pint at the bar (compare that to a Reineer at about $3 in the States).
-There is no limit on the amount of beer you can drink at a brewery.
-It is customary NOT to tip your waiters and waitresses.

Campus

This is the most beautiful building on the main campus at UCC. I don't know what it's called or what it's used for, but it makes me feel like I'm at Hogwarts. There is a superstition that if you walk on the grass in front of it before you graduate, you'll fail your exams. I don't think I'm going to risk it. :)

The Apartment - Apt. #3, Bar Na Sraide, 48 Evergreen St.

The Kitchen


The Living Room


My room

Mr. Miagi

Mr. Miagi is the brand new kitten that our current hosts just got. He's super funny. This is where he chose to sleep one day.

Minor Differences

I've been noticing some interesting differences between small things since I've been here.

In Ireland:
- The water closet stalls are full length so you can't see the feet of your neighbor.
- A single serving of yogurt comes in a cardboard cup, not plastic.
- Even fast food is made with REALLY fresh ingredients.
- There is a LOT of tea. I think I've had more tea than water since I've arrived.
- LOTS of mold. Mold everywhere. Even water from the tap tastes mildewy. I miss my well water.
- Everything is small. Roads, cars, buildings, stairways, hallways. It's refreshing to see appropriately sized objects.

First day in Ireland

A cemetery in a castle.


The Atlantic Coast in southern Ireland


Fort Charles


A small space in the Fort.


A sally port at the Fort.


We went to a pub in the evening and listened to a band play traditional (trad for short) music for a bit. Then we headed to another pub with a cool open hallway and some music inside.