Cork and the Journey to Dublin!

Up and at it! The night’s sleep at the Anchorage B&B was a good one for me. Matt said he didn’t sleep all that great, and Cherie for some reason didn’t have any hot water when she showered that morning. Brrr!

We actually met three girls from DC who were also staying at our B&B. They had their breakfast at the table just behind us and while we waited for our food and told us about Dublin. One of the girls is studying at Trinity College there and said she really enjoys the city. We’re all ready to get there and begin exploring!

Now about Cork… we were disappointed. We’d all heard good things about it, but we were not impressed. Matt really wanted to go to the Cork City Gaol (pronounced “jail”), and that was fairly interesting. I thought it was supposed to be old, but it’s only been around since 1824 and was only in use for 99 years. At first it was co-ed, but from 1878-1923 it became an all-women’s jail. In all honesty, it was pretty hokey. Interesting, but hokey.

Well, surely the good things we’d heard about the English Market were true, right? After a few more adventures in driving around the city center of Cork, we at long last found a place to park and went in search of this market. Eh. It’s like Reading Terminal in Philly or Eastern Market in DC; fresh meats (we saw a man walk by with a whole pig and there were whole fish out in the booths for the pickin’s!), produce, baked goods, novelties, souvenirs, etc. We debated where to eat and what our next thing should be.

We decided on the bell tower Matt had heard about, but we couldn’t remember the name of it. Matt and Cherie seemed afraid to ask anyone about it, but you know me… Take Charge Marge! I went into a bank and asked a nice man in one of the offices. He seemed more than happy to help, which we certainly appreciated! We ate lunch at a deli and then went in search of the Shandon Bell Tower. A few more adventures in driving later, we made it! Matt got to ring the bells! Mission Accomplished.

And then we started the three hour drive up to Dublin! Matt is the best ever because he used his Hilton points to get us a room at the Dublin Hilton in the historic district. Woohoo! The B&Bs were definitely cute and quirky, but I think Matt and Cherie are more comfortable in the Hilton—they cater to Americans. ;)

The first night in Dublin was fine. I got to Skype with a couple of mom’s classes (she teaches jr. high), then we went off to return the car. We got a hefty refund for returning it early and downgrading to a smaller car when we started the trip, so that made for a good night! We got a cab to a restaurant we’d heard was good (called Shack Restaurant in the Temple Bar district), but when the cab driver dropped us off, we weren’t sure exactly where to go. He dropped us off on the correct street, but he didn’t know where the restaurant was exactly. So we walked around a bit until we found it. We got a sure glimpse of the bar scene in Dublin—people were already stumbling around at 9:00 pm!

We found the restaurant and enjoyed a lovely meal there—very traditional, as promised! I got Irish stew. I’m glad I waited till now to get it. Mine looked much more authentic than others I’d seen around at the more tourist-laden restaurants.

We’d been told that the restaurant was walking distance to our hotel, and the map made it look like a manageable distance, but an hour later, when we finally got back to the hotel after a walk in the rain, I think Cherie and Matt began to understand that “walking distance” is a relative term. ;) Those who know me know I don’t mind the walking, but we were all pretty pooped by the time we got back!

And that leads us to day one in Dublin. What will we get into this time? We’ll have to see! =) 

I know, I know. I haven't posted pictures yet. That will come. I promise!