Cork it!

Cork was wonderful. I like the smaller cities like that. Big enough that there is stuff to do and things to see, but small enough that you can walk the whole of it. I quite enjoyed just wandering through all the different little stores and markets. I ate a lot of food, and accomplished a lot of nothing. It was wonderful.
The one thing I did do, as was my goal, was Blarney Castle. It was just as I had been told. The castle was quick, cool but nothing stupendous in relation to other castles. But the gardens. Those were amazing. I walked in them for a good couple hours.
Of course, the very first thing I did was bee line it for the top of the castle. Talk about some narrow staircases! And the stone steps were half worn away and rounded and slick from the numerous people tromping up them. I can't imagine living like that. And the kitchen was on the top floor. Talk about a hard working staff you would have in a place like that. Of course the line to the stone wrapped around the top of the castle, so I made small talk with the three Canadian guys behind me. One of them had a hard time with heights and while was braced for the upcoming lean, made an uneasy comment about falling.
This of course led into a whole line of jokes from his friends about not jumping off Blarney Castle. In the end we came to the determination that if this is on your bucket list, it should not be left for last. A person might realize they had finished all the had to live for and just flip off as they kissed the stone! Morbid yes, but we got the guy laughing and he was much more at ease by the time we got up there. He was even nice enough to take a picture for me when it was my turn.
They weren't kidding about leaning back either! I knew the concept of what you do, lean backwards/upside down over the edge of the battlements and kiss the bottom stone. What isn't said is how wide the gap is that you are leaning across. You HAVE to hold on to the bars, cause you are definitely not sitting on anything anymore to reach far enough out. It was a little disconcerting to be dangling like that and knowing that I was only on something solid from just above my knees down. The rest of me was hanging upside down three stories up with only a little hand rail to hold on to. No wonder they have a guy there to brace you! And here I thought it was just a formality to ease peoples minds. Nope, he is very necessary. Quite an experience though, and only time will tell if the eloquence will come to fore now. Should last me seven years though they say.
Now that this was accomplished, I left for the gardens. As I said, stunning. Waterfalls and trees and moss covered boulders everywhere. I found the wishing stairs, but I think I peeked a little on the way down, so I'm fairly sure I'm outta luck there. Though I did get my coin in the stream over my head, so that one is supposed to come true still. There is the Witch's Stone, the Witch's cave, the druids cave and the druid stone circle. There was also a type of passage tomb, that you are supposed to walk through, which I did, though I'm not sure quite what that one achieves. And the whole time it was sunny and gorgeous. How lucky I seem to be with all my traveling. Denmark was a little chilly/rainy, though not bad, but other than that, I have achieved almost perfect weather while traveling. This is through a European fall, winter, and fall. How can you top that!?
This morning I went for breakfast at the English Market, which they claim is one of the oldest markets that is still in it's original location in that fashion. I had a pain de chocolate, and got some pesto potatoes and a sandwich for my train ride. Then I stalled going to the train station until I was at the last train I could catch for the cheaper rate. Somehow, I think I'm not ready to go home yet, though the time seems to have come anyway. While I wasn't ready to stop traveling before, there was reason I was going home before, and that made it easier to make the transition. This time, there is nothing. Not I have to figure out what to do with myself, though I'd rather just keep traveling indefinitely. Guess it's time to start researching jobs, careers, and schools…wooo…