Blarney

On Wednesday of last week, Maggie, her mom and I headed out on an adventure to kiss the Blarney Stone. We all piled into the rental car with maps and crisps (chips) and headed towards Cork. The weather was beautiful and the scenery was wonderful. When we arrived we purchased hot chocolate and coffee and entered the Blarney grounds. Around the castle, there are lovely rivers and diverse plants so the walk up was quite enjoyable. The castle is very interesting as it is surrounded by a watchtower and a place for the sentry guard and his watchdog. We rounded the castle and Maggie pointed up to the top on one side where there was a gap between the outside battlement and the castle and said, "There it is. That is where we kiss the stone."

"Um, WHAT?" I eloquently inquired after I had recovered my ability to speak. (Kissing the Blarney Stone is supposed to give you the gift of gab. This might have proved that I required such a gift).

Someone conveniently forgot to mention that in order to kiss the Blarney Stone, one has to climb up innumerable circular staircases (with very little to hold onto).

That wasn't so bad as long as you are very graceful and don't have a history of falling both up and down stairs. Uh oh. The next step is to walk around the top of the castle and look at all the gorgeous views of Irish countryside. Also, not so bad.

As long as you aren't afraid of heights.

Next you get into line and watch a few other people before you remove their valuables and glasses and put their belongings into the hands of their friends. Then they lay on their backs and basically do a back bend whilst holding on to two large vertical bars. Next, a man (with a few words of encouragement) essentially pushes you down head first. Now you are supposed to kiss the Blarney Stone. As long as you haven't looked below where your head is and realized that you are hanging upside down hundreds of feet above the ground.

Well, I did it. It is on the list of 99 things to do before one dies and I did it. Anyone know what the other 98 are?

The castle and grounds:


Where you kiss the stone (looking across the castle):


Me on one of the most beautiful benches I have seen:


Me pondering what wish to make while walking the wishing steps (up and down, backwards with one's eyes closed... also not a good idea for me, the queen of falling down & up stairs):


The store where you can buy miniature models of myself... on keychains even!