Eastern Ireland...Dublin, Cork and the Blarney Stone

I'm a little embarassed to write this posting. I almost took the coward´s way out and skipped the Dublin story altogether. I knew you guys weren't smart enough to notice... well...maybe a few of you are smart enough...I´ll let you decide which category you fall into. Natigo and Bo...you´re in the first category for sure...nice try.

Why be embarassed???

I hate to admit it...don´t make me say it... but while in Dublin I never got into a drunken brawl, I wasn´t arrested, I didn´t run down the streets naked (Natigo would have) and I remember most of what happened while I was there. (Oooh the shame of it all)

How sad is that? I apologize to my readership and feel free to disown me. All I ask...try to remember all the good drinking stories I had in NZ and Australia.

But I´m still Canadian and trust me...I held my own in the bars I did go to. The first night I was tired and didn´t expect to spend much time at the bars...but running into a few Cdns changed my mind. And to make things even better...I had only taken enough money to buy a few pints...so they bought me beers into the wee hours of the morning. We are a friendly people.

Now I´m not exactly sure what to think of the picture to the immediate left and the one above that. As for the Murphy´s picture...I´m assuming only foreigners live on that lane. I´ve never known a sober Irish person yet. I imagine that Irish people are even afraid to walk down that lane in case someone sees them.

And the picture to the left...I´ll leave that up to you, but the picture was taken in my hostel´s bathroom.

The one important thing I did when in Dublin was to find my way to the Guiness brewery...and it was very cool. I guess that´s a huge understatement as so many beer drinkers consider it their mecca. I can proudly say that I completed my pilgrimage.

It´s all down hill from here!

Cork is an Irish town. That´s about all I can really say about it. It was nothing special, but it was a jumping-off-point to Blarney and my second pilgrimage was to the Blarney Stone.

And for those of you who don´t know about the Blarney Stone...basically it gives those that kiss it the gift of eloquence in speech.

Well...I´m not a germophobe Michael Jackson sort or anything but the thought of kissing something millions have kissed before didn´t seem like the right thing to do. However, as I climbed the very steep, winding stairs to the roof of the castle...I decided I had to kiss the stone. Then I saw a very old man kiss the stone ahead of me...and I said...no thanks...I don´t even know how he got up the stairs, but at that moment...I knew I had made the right decision.

And I´ve been in sales long enough to think I have some gift for talking...if not...I´ve had some very special clients, which is probably closer to the truth. Thanks Lorne and Jim...you guys rock.

The top picture was from the grounds around Blarney Castle which were the best part of Blarney.

As for the Guiness picture...it speaks for itself.

See you in Spain!!