http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Ireland , County Cork en-us Wed, 22 May 2013 09:51:55 +0000 Wed, 22 May 2013 09:51:55 +0000 I woke up and started my way on my last trip in Ireland. I cannot believe this all went by so fast. Randi and I took a bus to Cork and caught a bus to Blarney from there. As we walked onto the castle grounds I was amazed at the flower and scenery. I am so glad that I didn39t visit until now when the flowers were in bloom. We followed a river to the castle to make our way up to the infamous Bl http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Cork/blog-782063.html Are you projcting next huge makeover and due to this undertaking you need to be well prepared Your former overhaul was a huge catastrophe and you don39t want to make a mistake this time If you are bent on changing the colour of the walls you have to read our tips we have something for you we want to afford you some advice we to bring about that changing the colour won39t be a diff http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Cork/blog-751638.html Leaving my castle this morning was indescribably difficult. I thought really hard about grabbing a coat of armor or marble lion statue on my way out as a little souvenir.Today was a looong day tour to Cork and Blarney Castle. We started at 650am and drove for an hour through Leish County and over the Three Sisters rivers before stopping for some breakfast rolls at a little convenience store in http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Blarney/blog-751490.html Saturday turned out to be another clear sunny day Lili and I made the most of the fine weather and went walking further along the Sheeps Head peninsula www.sheepsheadroutes.ie. We did two loops and about 5 miles in total plus a good deal of going up and down steep hills. The first walk was at the very end of the peninsula where we clambered around to reach the Sheeps Head lighthouse. T http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Bantry/blog-749074.html I finished the polytunnel on Monday with a little help from Annabel and Sarah. This involved digging the remaining weeds scrubbing the the polytunnel plastic clean inside and out with a broom and soapy water to allow more light to reach the plants and planting salads whilst Annabel and Sarah planted salad seeds broad beans carrots and cabbages. Seeing it all completed brought a huge sense o http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Bantry/blog-747926.html Saturday came around a beautiful day perhaps the last of the year. Klaus needed to work at the gallery shop in Schull so he took me along with him. In Schull I went down to the pier where I collected some seawashed glass for Annabel and looked for the renound pier seal but didnt spot him. Around 11.30 I picked up my rucksack from the gallery and walked up the Schull road where I was tol http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Bantry/blog-746852.html After almost 20 hours of travelling and less than an hours continuous sleep I arrived in Bantry County Cork South West Ireland. To make matters worse the moment I stepped off the bus it started raining. I wasnt put off from the wall I sat on I had a good view of a small harbour which contained a few sailing boats and the peninsula behind it. To the left of me was the town square and http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Bantry/blog-746627.html Our trip to Ireland didnt really turn out as planned. I managed to pick up a rather nasty seafood related bug on day two of the four day long weekend. It was rather scary as it led to numbness and gripping pains and given it struck Sunday and nothing was open we ended up taking a quick trip to the Bantry hospital to ensure it was nothing more sinister.However let me start from the beginning. W http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Cork/blog-740398.html Sunday August 12 Kinsale Im wrapping things up here in Kinsale. Its a very quiet and restful Sunday at the hostel.Im trying to get packed away anything that I wont need today and tonight so I can pack up quickly tomorrow morning.Tomorrow will be a long day I suppose. I will catch the 249 bus in front of the hostel at 1030 and take it to Cork Parnell Bus Station.There I will catch http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Kinsale/blog-738848.html August 10 Kinsale Harbor CruiseToday the weather was so perfect I knew this was the day I had been waiting for to catch the harbor cruise. I walked down the hill and arrived at exactly 2PM while they were loading for the cruise. Because the weather was so perfect it was a phenomenal cruise. Everything was like a picture postcard. And there were some nice people sitting next to me and we had a nice http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Kinsale/blog-736585.html August 9 2012 Kinsale to Garrettstown Old head of Kinsale and returnToday I had my tea and thought things over and then scurried down the hill to catch the 249 bus to Kinsale. As usual there was no need to scurry to the bus stop because as usual the bus was 20 minutes. In any case I bought a ticket to Garrettstown with a return for about 7 and rode down to Garrettstown. The bus stopped at th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Kinsale/blog-736576.html August 8 Kinsale Compass HillI caught a taxi from the hostel to The Mall which is a road above the green that connects with the Compass Hill walk.As I was going to walk around Compass Hill I knew that would be enough and so just caught a cab to the alms houses intending to walk up the hill from there. The cab cost 6 and was well worth it as while I like taking a walk climbing ste http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Kinsale/blog-736560.html Tuesday August 7 KinsaleCloudy and drizzly but the weather looks very nice for the next 3 days. I figure tomorrow I will make another stab at hiking Compass hill and Thursday I will go to the beach at Garrettstown. I can use the 249 bus to get to Garrettstown beach. Maybe next week I will take the bus to Clonakilty Skibbereen and Bantry. I could probably get tours to Mizen Head etc from Skibb http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Kinsale/blog-736543.html August 5 Sunday KinsaleI walked down to the harbor to watch the events for today. The tide had went out and was still out to such a degree that all there was was mud where the previous days events had been held. I went to the other end of the harbor where todays events were being held. There were various sailboat races being held. I watched them a bit and then started up the hill to the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Kinsale/blog-735133.html August 4 Kinsale SaturdayToday I walked into town and had another look around at things and did a little shopping. I stopped at a restaurant called The Shack which was a nice restaurant and had a delicious Murder by Mushroom burger. I didnt think I could eat the whole thing but I did. I did have to cut it into pieces and eat it with a fork as it was too sloppy to try and hold http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/blog-735125.html Sunday 5th August We had our tea and coffee just after the QE berthed in Cobh on a beautiful sunny morning. We had a nice leisurely breakfast and then disembarked for a lovely saunter around Cobh. It is only a small town so it didnt take too long. It is very very hilly but commands great views over the bay. We were invited to a memorial service in memory of those who died on the Lucitania and http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/blog-735041.html Thursday 2nd August continued Back on board we had afternoon tea and then time for Barry to have a little snooze whilst Nicky sorted out the laundry for tomorrow hang the expense.Dinner this evening was semi formal suit and tie but as usual we had an excellent dinner. After dinner we decided not to go to the theatre as it was going to be quite a lot of jazz which neither of us particularly l http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Cobh/blog-734996.html August 3 Friday KinlayToday the weather was a bit cold but nice and it warmed up after I walked into Kinlay. I toured the Kinlay museum and then hiked up the hill to Desmond Castle which is really only a tower house. It was used as a customs house first then by the Spanish to store arms. Then it was used by the English first to keep French Prisoners and then American Prisoners from the Revolu http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Kinsale/blog-734769.html August 2 Thursday KinsaleTook it easy today and caught up on my blog up till the time I left Cork. Quite a bit of work but actually for a cold and windy and later on rainy day it keeps one busy.The weather looks good for this weekend in Kinsale for the regatta.I have been updating blogs most of the day and now at 1030 Pm it is raining on the roof of the patio and I am listening to that as wel http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Kinsale/blog-734762.html August 1st Wednesday Kinsale Finally got a good days weather and made the best use of it. Went down to the pier in Kinsale and walked around a bit. Then I took the train to Charles Fort. The beautiful weather coupled with the beautiful view made it a very pleasant time.After a leisurely tour of the fort I took the train back into Kinsale and had some fish and chips at Dinos Res http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Kinsale/blog-734757.html