more photos from Blarney Castle and it's grounds

here are some more photos of the grounds of Blarney Castle.

 

Laura and Tammy by the Wishing Steps

this walkway was all through the swampy land

Loved it so that I didn't get all muddy.

The next day the Cliffs of Moher

What's it like to kiss the Blarney Stone?

 

Blarney Castle

As I write this, I am back in the States and guess what's going on outside . . . yes it's snowing, again. I really think they should've held the Olympics somewhere on the East Coast but let's think of something pleasant like the trek to Blarney Castle and Middleton Ireland, home of Jameson distillery.

We made our way to Blarney Castle after a quick breakfast of scones and tea. 

News Flash on the radio, Willie O'Dea, ministry of defense for Ireland, was caught making false allegations against someone in the rival party. What you say a politician was lying? What a shock. Well we heard all about his horrible lie and by the end of the trip he stepped down from his office. I have to say I found this amazing that he was pressured to step down because he lied about another member of the opposite party. Anyway, we traveled through many little roads  and made our way to Blarney Castle. Alaina was determined to kiss the Blarney Stone. She wanted to have that gift of gab. Her aunts and mother not so much. But we tagged along for the journey. 

Alaina taking photos of the castle

So we ventured up the path. It was a crisp day. Sunny and beautiful.

I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

 

Laura, Tammy and Alaina heading to the Castle

 

  

  

  

  

If you can see the iron bars that's where you hang upside down to kiss the stone.

 

inside the castle

 

  

  

Buzz and Woody watching Alaina kiss the Blarney Stone.

If you're wondering if anyone else besides Alaina decided to kiss the Blarney Stone, well her Mom and I did kiss the Blarney Stone, there were pictures taken and for only 15 euros you can buy the photo. They don't allow you to take your own photo. Let me tell you hanging upside down I felt like a tressed pig and looked like one too. Rosy cheeked and being held by my ankles over the side of the castle wall it was an experience and I'm pretty sure I screamed like a little girl. I tried to figure out how I could have buzz and woody kiss the stone but I had to use both hands to hold onto the iron rails so that I wouldn't fall to my death. Didn't think Peter would appreciate my untimely demise. So they just looked on. I will say this if you choose to kiss the Blarney Stone, whatever you do DO NOT LICK YOUR LIPS AFTERWARDS!!! Terribly tasting and I'm not sure what it tasted like but it was  not pleasant. 

 

looking down from the top of the castle

 

more photos later of Blarney Castle grounds.

Off to the Land of Shamrocks

Well, February 16th I met with two of my sisters, Laura and Tammy and Tammy's daughter Alaina at JFK to start our adventures to the Emerald Isle. Our flight didn't leave till 8:30 pm and we met up around 4:30. So what do you do at JFK while waiting for your flight. Try and find a place to eat, window shop and take a few photos of your niece with Woody and Buzz of course.









Soon it was time to board our plane. We bundled up for the night of sleeping in an upright position and we were excited for what the next day would bring. As the light crept in through the crack of the shade. We could see the wing of the plane and down not too far below, our destination for the week. IRELAND

 

We arrived safely in Shannon Ireland at the international airport.It's a lovely small airport. One of the easiest airports I've been through internationally. After signing away our life fortune for a car and the fuel to drive it with, we waited ever so patiently for the van to pick us up to "pick up" said vehicle that we would drive for the week. When I write "we" I must mean the royal we as it was deemed that I would have the honor of holding our lives in my small little nail bitten hands traversing the horse and cart roads of Ireland. 

The tree outside of our villa

We traveled to the quaint little town of Adare where were would make our home for the week. Situated about 40 minutes from Shannon airport it's known as the most beautiful village in Ireland. It was quite pretty. The people were oh so nice and helpful. We stayed at the Adare Manor and Golf Club at the Villas http://www.adaremanor.com/

I think all of us would highly recommend this as a great place to stay. After checking in, we  headed into town to grab a bite to eat at the Collins Bar and Pub. http://www.seancollinsbaradare.com/

This became "our" pub. We ate well and of course Buzz and Woody enjoyed themselves there too.

 

Woody felt Buzz needed a shower after the long flight. 

After lunch we walked a bit in town.

Then we headed back to the "manor" and took a nap.  After our "power" nap, we made our way  back into town for Ash Wednesday services. 

 

One of the many churches in Adare

It was rather interesting as it was in Gaelic, Latin and English. I have to say I didn't feel a bit odd walking into the pub with Ashes on my forehead as many other folks that came in to the pub had ashes on their foreheads too.   What you would think of as a stereotypical night at the pub and that's what we experienced. A football match was on the telly, people coming in from church to have a pint, catch up with friends and family and then listen to some traditional Irish tunes. People were singing and  an older gentleman was asking one of the little girls who was about 10 if she wanted to dance a jig for everyone. It was a great evening and a perfect start for our trip.

 One of the birthday girl's: Tammy and daughter Alaina

Singing Galway Girl

Tomorrow we head to Blarney Castle and to kiss the Blarney Stone. : )

Buzz and Woody in the Tundra of Central PA

 

Winter Landscape in Central PA

Well we've shoveled ourselves out of the snow storm 

 

and Buzz and Woody enjoyed the time as they were able to  practice their summiting skills. They are trying to pitch a new idea after their Caribbean adventure with John Lasseter to explore a variety of environments from snorkeling in the West Indies to trekking in Nepal. 

 

All is well and they are counting the days till the next adventure in Ireland. 

Where's Grand Turk?

We woke up and were ready to visit another favorite place in the Caribbean, Grand Turk and to have a day pass at a nice little B & B that's owned by two Australian sisters, Katrina and Sandy, The Grand Turk Inn. Check it out online. It's one of Jimmy Buffet's favorite places to stay in the islands. Buzz and Woody were excited too, mainly  about the prospects of laying in the little hammock that was made to fit them.

    re-enactment photo ( taken in 2007)

 The last time we were here was in 07 I think in the previous blog of Tortola I had written 06 but that would be incorrect sir.

So, any way we looked outside the port hole and saw the island of Grand Turk not too far off and then we noticed . . .  duh duh duh dunnn  . . . we weren't getting any closer but actually we were, GASP,  going away from Grand Turk.

                                                                    
 "Ding Ding Ding" over the loud speaker the Captain explained the seas were too rough and that he had been trying for more than hour to make the approach to the dock but alas, it was not to be. Yes King Trident and the mer-people decided that they wanted to cause a bit of havoc and so the ship was not able to dock.  This did not sit well with our two cabin mates. Their dream of laying in the hammock would not materialize this day.

 

Yes, Buzz and Woody had a bit of a melt down . They were telling me how I had let them down, and that it was my fault . . . and that I didn't understand them . . .  and that they didn't like me  . . . and that I snored !! Well you get the picture. Any way instead of frolicking in the waves and enjoying Katrina's nice lunch we had to stay on a boat, in the middle of shark infested seas.  Okay so we didn't actually see any sharks but is was a big boat, and boy we had to read  . . .  by the pool  . . .and then we had to eat and then we had to eat some more and read some more and OH MY GOSH, it was just plain torture. But somehow, we survived. I know it was a horrible way to spend a day. Lounging by a pool. Sunny skies overhead, dipping in the heated salt-water pool. Sipping exotic drinks and having grapes fed to you. (okay well maybe no one actually fed me the grapes) Needless to say, we made the best of a most difficult situation. I know we were sooooo brave.

As we had two days to make it to Miami instead of one, the ship slowed it's speed down  so that made the seas not seem quite so rough. As we were traveling back towards Miami we passed Cuba and let me say it's big!! I never realized how long of an island Cuba is, sorry no photos of Cuba.

 

Back in Miami

So now the time has come to say good bye to our ocean voyage in the Eastern Caribbean.

Stay tuned as in a few weeks Buzz and Woody and I will be joining two of my sisters and a niece to the Emerald Isle.  My one sister has commented that she's enjoyed looking at the photos on this blog. We'll see how much she enjoys it when I'm taking snaps constantly and asking her to hold Buzz and Woody's hands. 

: ) Ciao.

Dominican Republic

 First let me say that we visited the Dominican Republic the day before the earthquake hit Haiti. If you have the chance or are able to afford to help those people please do so. They are some of the poorest of the poor living there.
The ship was rolling a bit and the skies were gray. I went for a walk, for a walk . . . sorry just singing to the Mamas and the Papas.  Yes a squall of some sort not major by any means but definitely a downpour of  rain has hit the island of Hispanola. The island that we were to tender to is too difficult to get to because of the rough sea, so we sit in port watching the fisherman fish and those brave folks willing to go exploring in the pouring rain.

Fortunately Peter and I were not planning on disembarking today but to just enjoy a day on board the ship. 9:30 a.m. I headed to the spa and had a wonderful pedicure. Someone else had a pedicure that day too. His first pedicure, he was nervous but he did go through with it. I didn't help him through his fears as I was telling him about the razors they use to make your heels so silky smooth. : )

After the pedicure we enjoyed our time in the spa's thermal pool and just reading on a private deck.

such a flattering picture I know. : {

 then it was off to tea.

Then we just enjoyed the evening .

and please don't think I forgot about Buzz and Woody

Here they are planning their escapades for Grand Turk.

Their favorite island getaway.

Tortola Mateys

We arrived in Tortola and met with our driver, David where he took us to Brewer's Bay. We had met David on our previous trip to Tortola in 06. He is just as kind and generous as we remembered. We had our snorkeling gear and we were ready to go out into the water and have some fun. Buzz and Woody were excited to go too.

We were in the water and then relaxing on the beach, Peter reading back issues of the NY Times and me a book for my book group when a rain storm came through. Peter decided to go back in the water and I decided to head for some shelter. David came by to pick us up and take us to Banana-keet for a bit of brunch. Last time we dined there and watched the sunset. It was lovely. This time it was as beautiful as ever but in full daylight. After a pleasant brunch, David returned and brought us back to the ship. We were so thankful for his driving skills as the roads are really tight and mountainous.

below Brewer's Bay great place for snorkeling

 

view from Banana-keet

Buzz and Woody enjoying themselves at Banana-keet

Next stop Dominican Republic