Brit Isles - Sea Day and Cork Ireland

Our first full day on the ship was a day at sea so it was pretty relaxing.

There was a "champagne fountain" in the lobby, where anyone could come and pour champagne over it.  I was waiting for one of the bottom glasses to wobble and fall, but it didn't happen

VIDEO:

Getting ready for the nightly show

They went all out for the production shows and the singers and dancers could actually sing and dance!  They were all so good

When we got back to our room, our room steward wrote this on one of the mirrors

The next morning we woke up in Cobh, Ireland - a short distance away from Cork which is where we were headed

About a 20 minute train ride away and 10 minute bus ride, was our destination - Blarney Castle.  The castle is mostly ruins now, but dates back to 1446.  The "Blarney Stone" sits up high and inside the tower and if you kiss it, you will have the gift of "eloquence" or the gift of being able to hold, start and carry on conversations.  Being the quiet people we are, we had no need for this gift, so we didn't do it...nor did we want to wait in the 90 minute line.  To kiss the stone, you have to lay on your back, with your head hanging over the edge, while a worker holds you so you don't fall.  (They then wipe the stone to clean it for the next person)

We opted instead to walk around the beautiful gardens and paths that surround the castle.

People were lined up taking photos through this little hole in a rock so we tried it to see how it looked.  What do you think?

This rock is called "Witch Rock" and is a witch's face with the eyes and nose on the right.  It was also a geo-cache!

We took a 2 mile walk/path around the castle area and lake and it was breathtaking how peaceful and beautiful it was. We were pretty much the only ones around - everyone else was waiting in that 90 minute line - silly people, that's all they got to see and do

We came to Blarney Lake which is where the stone was found

VIDEO:

The Blarney House/Mansion which is still lived in today

The kissing stone is at the top of the right tower, on the other side

            

We then headed back to Cork to explore the city 

We walked to Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral where Christian worship has continued since the 7th Century AD.  The current cathedral however, wasn't built until the mid 1800's using all local stone.  They were having services inside so we were not able to go in - we arrived late

Shelley made it to the middle!  Now she will have peace and zen

Right next to the cathedral, was Elizabeth Fort built in 1626 as a defense stronghold for the city.

The cathedral is right across the street

Back on the ship, part of the night's show was some Irish dance:

VIDEO:

This ship had so many live performers all around from singers of all kinds of music and bands.  Every bar and lounge had someone different. In the main lobby, this lady was having a great time by herself and then others finally joined.  I would have joined in, but then nobody would be getting the video.

VIDEO:

Our first day in Ireland was fantastic!  We loved it!