Ireland: Day 1

We absolutely loved Ireland, with its rocky mountains, water views, curvy roads and all the things in between.  It really was a cool place and probably our most favorite that we have seen so far since we've been here.  It combines that rolling hills that we loved in the Cotswolds with water and mountains.  I mean, you can't get any better than that!!  We definitely want to come back here in the future when we can spend more than three days and do a lot of relaxing and hanging out in their beautiful surroundings.

We took an early flight out of London on Saturday, which meant all of us waking up way too early.  We got to the airport only to discover that their was a terribly long queue (otherwise known as a line) at the check-in counter.  We were definitely going to miss our flight.  Thankfully, one of the representatives agreed to let us go through the quick line stating "there's no reason why you should miss your flight just because there is a queue.  You didn't know there would be a queue."  Do you ever envision anyone in the Atlanta airport saying this to you?  I highly doubt it.  So nice.

Our flight was a little delayed getting into Ireland, so we were already a little bit behind schedule but no big deal, we're on vacation!  We stopped to grab a bite to eat and then headed over to to the rental car company.  And guess what there was?  Another queue!  And one that wasn't moving very quickly.  Ugh.  Once we got to the counter we discovered that if you book through a US website you don't have to take insurance, which actually doubles the price of your rental once you get to Ireland.  And no dice on coverage with our American Express, they don't cover you in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Iran or Iraq.  So, note to self, it is best to book directly through the rental company when going to Ireland and Northern Ireland, Iran or Iraq, for that matter.  

I had estimated that we would be in our rental car by 11am or so, but we didn't get in our car until 1:30pm.  We had a packed day planned so things had to be altered.  Instead of checking out Cork and then heading to the Blarney Castle, we had to go straight to the Blarney Castle before it closed for the day.  We drove the 2.5 hours to the Blarney Castle and that is where the fun began.  Thank goodness for us that the travel issues stopped once we left the rental car place.  The rest of the trip was just wonderful!

The Blarney Castle

The lookout tower.

Chris and Reed doing their best to maneuver up the winding staircase.

Looking down into the family room on the first floor and the chapel on the second floor.  You can see a few things jutting out from the wall in the middle of the picture, this is what would have held the floor in place.

After kissing the Blarney Stone, not such a great picture but I couldn't not post it.

Chris kissing the Blarney Stone.  Apparently if you kiss the Blarney Stone you will have the gift of eloquence bestowed upon you.  Not that we believe this, but we couldn't come to Ireland and not kiss the Blarney Stone.

At the top of the castle where the Blarney Stone is.  Not the safest place for small children.  We've never held on to Reed so tightly!

Looking up from the ground to where the Blarney Stone is.  Just a few bars between you and the ground.  It was a little scary!

Chris and Reed in the Rock Close with an awesome tree in the background.

The Witches Stone.  Apparently the money left here is used to purchase wood for the fire that the witch burns each night.

Firewood left for the witch to burn.

Reed and I in the Rock Close.

Housing for the Wishing Steps.  Story has it that if walk down these backwards with your eyes shut, all your wishes will come true.  So we both gave it a shot.  We read after we did it that we were supposed to walk up and back down with our eyes shut thinking about our wish the whole time.  We definitely didn't do that.  Good thing we don't believe in this stuff.

Chris and Reed at the Blarney Castle.

Mommy and Reed