I made my way to the train station with my backpack full of snacks and lunch. It was a 3 hour ride to Cork from Dublin. I had booked my seat and found one with no one next to me so I was able to spread out and sleep. And boy did I sleep. I woke up at one point and looked out the window and saw the picture perfect view of Ireland. Green hills as far as you can see with hundreds of sheep grazing with overcast skies watching over them and small farm houses tucked into the hills looking over their land with the chimneys blowing out smoke. I had yet another moment.....before I passed back out to sleep.

Next time I opened my eyes my train was pulling into Cork. I made my way out to the main street and followed the noise. It just so happened that I was going to be there during a week long Jazz Festival. So there were hundreds of street performers playing amazing music. I found my way to the visitors center and grabbed a few post cards, some maps and the bus schedule. I made my way to the bus station and was just in time for the bus to Blarney. One 15 min white knuckled bus ride later and I was there.

I can't even begin to tell you how beautiful it is out there. It is so peaceful I swear you can hear the rain clouds moving. It was a lot colder there than in Dublin but I was having such a great time it didn't matter. I met some american girls that where studying over here for a year and just about to leave so they decided they needed to come to do Blarney before they left. The castle is amazing and you know me and my history so I was having a blast. I made my way to the top up some stairs that in any other country would have been banned for being unsafe. The whole time I was walking up the stone spiral stair case that was no wider that 3 feet my knees were shacking. I made it to the top and the wind and the rain hit my face and stopped me in my tracks. I was so high up. It was then that I realized I could so live in a castle with views like this, really who needs indoor plumbing? lol. I took a few pictures and had some people take a few of me and got in line to kiss the Blarney Stone. The myth goes that if you kiss it you will get the gift of Gab and the gift of Eloquence, which who couldn't use that??? I had a split second when I thought I couldn't do it. I was shaking to bad and I am really not of fan of being the first person to die at the Blarney castle. But I sucked it up and realized this was a once and a lifetime opportunity. So I sat next to the old man who threw my ass backwards before I had a chance to back out. He demanded in a thick Irish accent ( I noticed everyone's was thicker in Cork where they don't get as many tourist) "Grab the rails and pucker up lais!" I did what he was told and Kissed the Blanrey Stone. I even bought the pictures to prove it. I was at that moment floating on my dreams. There is no better way to put it, I just did something I have only heard about. I had the same feelings wash over me when I made it to Sydney and saw the Opera House. Something I had only seen on TV was now something I could say I saw with my own two eyes.

I walked around the grounds a little more and could almost picture what it would of looked like back in the height if it's day. There is a myth that a witch lives on the ground and who would steal firewood from the castle to keep warm so the King made a deal with the her that as payment for the wood she had to grant the King's guests wishes. She agreed and said that if his guest could go up and then down her stairs with their eyes closed and think of nothing but their wishes she would grant them.

Well I had to try because I have lots of dreams that need some help in coming true. So I closed my eyes walked, stumbled and wished with all that I had. After that I had enough time to find a stump and eat some lunch on the grounds before heading back to the train station. All in all it was an amazing day tip and I recommend it to everyone.

Once back in Dublin. I met up with Tori (my roomie) and Jared to go out and have a night on the town. And boy did we. We found a pub called Porter house that was very nice and had this fruit cider which was to die for. We had such an amazing time drinking talking and dancing with some other people. After not drinking for so long my 3 bottles of cider kicked my ass and I was having a good time. We walked back to the hotel and laughed our asses off. Tori found a cow.... :0) and we just lived it up. It will be one of the many night from this trip that will be forever in my memories.