7/12 Creepy Train Guy + Cork, Blarney, and Cobh= My Tuesday

I woke up about 5 mins. before my 5:45 alarm. I had laid out my clothes the night before so I wouldn't wake anyone up rustling through my stuff. I got dressed, grabbed my backpack and went downstairs to wait for my cab. My very awake and enthusiastic driver met me at the door and got me to the train station in what seemed like record time. He laughed at me when I said I was spending the day in Cork, Blarney and Cobh (pronounced "cove.") He said that most tourists like to go there their first time here and then after that they find other small towns that they enjoy better.

I was about 30 mins. early so I bought breakfast from a McD's looking place. I got a sausage and egg sandwich that was smothered in ketchup. Nasty!!!

About 10 mins. later I picked up my travel packet from one of the tour guides. And about 10 mins after that we boarded our train.

I sat down in a row of seats that had a table and faced 2 other seats. I took the window seat and a quiet older man took the aisle seat across from me. About 10 mins. into the flight, a man with a super red face, who stank of booze and cigarettes, walked down the aisle and sat next to me. I also noticed he was holding a DVD copy of the movie Titanic. He smelled so bad I thought I was going to yak in his lap. I got as close as I could to the window. One of the tour guides came down the aisle to check in with the travelers. At that point, creepy guy yelled at the guide "I paid 100 pounds sterling for this ticket! You can't throw me off of this train!" The guide assured him that he couldn't throw him off because he didn't work for the train company. The guy then continued to creepily stare at the women across the aisle, talk to himself, giggle at himself, take out the DVD and stare at it, and repeat "top o the mornin to ya!" over and over.

I kept staring at the women across the aisle, hoping to make eye contact and to somehow communicate that this dude was freaking me out but it didn't work. At one point, the guy left, to my relief, only to come back a few mins. later. He stayed again for about 10 more mins., carrying on his creepiness, until he finally left again. The tour guide followed him and then came back to apologize to me and tell me that he told the guy that he couldn't come in the rail car anymore because it was reserved for a private tour. Thank God!!

The women, named Barbara and Beverly, told me they assumed he was my husband and that we were in a fight or something. Ughhhh sick... I reassured them that I had never seen that freak before and hoped to never see him again.

I passed the time on the train by chatting with the two ladies and Barbara's daughter Katrina. The two women were sisters, traveling for Katrina's 16th birthday. They were from Ohio and were very proud of it.

It was a hour train ride to Cork. We got off the train and transferred to our coach. I sat with Beverly because she seemed pretty harmless. We passes through the city of Cork and went to Blarney, home of the Blarney Castle and stone. We went through the castle's grounds and made our way up the 100 steps to kiss the stone which, as legend says, will bestow the gift of eloquence on anyone who kisses it. Lord knows I could use some if that!

We stood in line and when it was our turn, we got down on the ground, held onto the bars, leaned back, and kissed the stone. It was less than magical, and actually kinda gross if you think about it. But it was something every tourist had to do!

I then walked around the grounds. One cool part was the poisonous garden where you are warned to not touch, taste or smell any plants there. There was also a cool 20 min walk that had placards telling of different legends.

I made my way back to our group's meeting point, which was a pub and a store. I bought a couple things in the shop and grabbed a sandwich at the pub. I shared a table with a man named Joe, who was from Blarney. He told me his son lives in San Jose and he loves California. After lunch I said bye to Joe and got back on the bus.

We dropped Barbara, Beverly and Katrina off at the train station next. They had to cut the tour short because they were going to see River Dance that night.

Our next stop was at an old cemetery where some people who died on the Lusitania were buried. Next, we went to a really nice Cathedral. And finally, we ended in Cobh, pronounced Cove, and went to a museum that had displays about the potato famine, the Titanic and Lusitania, and Irish immigration.

After the museum, our tour group got back on a local train and then switched to our train to take us back to Dublin. It was a nice, smooth 3 hour ride. Once we got in, I decided to get a cab instead of waiting for a bus. When I got back to my hostel, the first thing I did was lay on my bed.

My Canadian roommate Jeff was in there when I got upstairs. He said he was hungry and I realized I hadn't eaten in about 8 hours. I suggested we go to the really good Chinese place down the street. We walked over there and ate. I ordered a Hot Box again because it was sooo good! We sat and chatted. He told me that he is the general manager of an oil company in Alberta and likes hockey. After we were done, we headed back to the hostel. I had intentions of going out to a pub that night but I was too tired from my day trip. I took a shower instead and was in my bed by about 11.