Day 19

0700 GMT - We awake and decide to have breakfast. Having better prepared ourselves for both the lack of a high chair, and Eamon's volume, we make it through this morning much more efficiently. We finish packing and load up the car. We once more need to pay with cash, so we decide to hike into town, and stop at the stone circle along the way so that Eamon can have a chance to see it and Amy can take some photographs. We make it to the circle with very little complaint from Eamon, and he asks many questions as we look around. There are a couple of other men there as well, and we allow each other respectful quiet. As we start to leave, however, they ask me if I know what this place is. I explain what little I know, and they thank me. As we reach the road, they approach again and ask some additional questions. We strike up a conversation and learn that they are several friends from Barcelona traveling around Ireland for their holiday, all in one van. They are surprised to learn that we are Americans, assuming that we are Irish. Obviously our accents sound the same to those who speak English as a second language. They are fascinated in the fact that we are traveling with the boys, and one of the men is quite interested in Eamon, commenting on how aware he is of everything. Amy asks them if they are a band, since they seem an eclectic group of friends, but they say no, that they are just friends. Two of the men are Rugby players in Barcelona, and Eamon asks what Rugby is. They run to their van to show him a rugby ball. They talk for a little about how important Rugby is to them, saying that very few Spaniards play the sport. They say that it reminds them of the days when their were knights and men lived lives of honor. With great emotion, one of the man offers his Rugby ball to Eamon. Eamon is a bit overwhelmed and at first says no thank you, but when the man explains how important it is to him, and that he wishes for Eamon to have it, because he feels Eamon would appreciate the importance, Eamon accepts the gift and thanks them. They head on their way once goodbyes are shared all around. We pick up cash from the bank and some snacks for the road from the local bakery. Once we pay our hosts, we head out on the road, with Amy at the wheel.
1100 GMT - We take the scenic route to Cork, with our first stop north of the city at Blarney Castle. We are inundated with the smell sheep manure from the moment we enter the park. We hike round the castle grounds, exploring the Witch's Kitchen, Druid's Cave, stone circle, fairy glen and sacrificial, stone altar




Finally we hike to the castle itself. Amy picks up a promised piece of the Blarney Castle for Bob's mother, and we head inside. It is quite small, and in rather good shape, though the main hall has large wooden stairs built to provide access to the upper levels. Once we enter the small tower stairs which wind to the top of the castle, Eamon has a panic attack. We handle it quite poorly, Amy is responding to her own claustrophobia and to Eamon's panicked crying, but finally we manage to get out of the tower and back down. Amy returns to the top on her own so that she can have the opportunity to kiss the Blarney Stone itself.

I stay with the kids, and my frustration is so high, that I decide not to bother going to the top myself. We return to the car and head into the city.
1630 GMT- We are unable to find the address for the hotel on the map of Cork that we have. We spend quite a bit of time driving around, and finally get some directions from a lady who doesn't quite seem to know how to get there, and then from one who does, but they are too confusing to follow. At one point we are stuck in traffic and I hop out of the car to run ahead through the main shopping district and look at the end of the road. I can't see the hotel in either direction. We take a guess and head left along the river until we finally see an officer directing traffic. Amy asks him directions and he tells her to pull over. He leans in Amy's window, but will only look at me while he gives directions. He then stops traffic and allows us to do a U-Turn...had we gone right earlier, we would have passed the hotel. There is no place to park and we end up driving around quite a bit before we finally are able to pull up the gate of the parking lot. They tell us however that the lot is full and we need to drive around front, check in, and pay for parking across the river. Amy is quite cranky, since she selected this hotel for its free parking, and was not told that there were only 15 spots available. I wait in the car while she checks in, and argues with them until they agree to let her in the lot to unload. We unload the car and while I bring the kids and the luggage up to the room, Amy manages to get a spot in the lot as someone else pulls out.
1730 GMT - We decide to walk into the shopping district and try to find some food. We pass a breakfast spot along the way, and decide to go there tomorrow. Next we find a Thai restaurant and decide that it would make a lovely break from pub food. Eamon decides that he likes nothing on the menu, but we talk him into Phad Thai, and he asks for no vegetables. I order a satay appetizer to share with Connor, but as I figured, Eamon decides that this is very yummy, too. The food is good, though not great, with the exception of Eamon's noodles. They had to improvise, and they made him a delicious dish that he loves. We split a dessert, and decide to head out for a little walk. Finally we head back to the hotel, where we all crash for a good night's sleep.