Some Monday afternoon Blarney

[byslantedlight]

Who's coming with me for the rest of the day...? *g*

When we saw her last, our heroine had just left Hook Lighthouse... ...from which she went past Loftus Hall, which I would have visited if it had been open (candidate for the most haunted house in Ireland - and B&B landlady said it was creepy even in the daytime!)

Can't resist a car ferry... *g*Besides, nipping over the water at Ballyhack saved me quite a drive back up the peninsula, so it was practical... *g*

Then I drove and I drove and I drove, until I came to Blarney Castle... ...complete with guerilla crochet! Perhaps the surprise element would have repelled invaders, back in the day... Watch out everyone - they've used crochet! It's four-ply! *g*

I queued on tiny castle stairs amidst a hundred Americans, and admired the view as we made our slow way up... ...to kiss the Blarney Stone! (Yeah, that's really me - I thought my mum might have a giggle) I am now filled with eloquence, apparently! *g*

Mind you, talk about kiss-me-quick! Very efficient they were about it - sit here, hold here, lean back, now do it... and suddenly you're back on your feet again and joining the queue for the exit! At least the steps down felt easier!

What I didn't know, was that Blarney Castle also has extensive and rather fab gardens.
I loved the Poison Garden, designed to educate visitors about poisonous plants.

There were lovely quiet woods (scented with wild garlic, gorgeous!)

Paths that led through the woods to the ice house... ...and a cool Fern Garden...

Past Blarney House itself to a gorgeous rose-topped passageway... ...and hidden buildings surrounded by flowers.

There were caves... ...and daisies. *g* It was all rather glorious. And of course there was a gift shop, where I bought postcards, a book on Irish women, and a book on Irish ghosts... *g*

Then I pointed the car west again, and headed for my next bed for the night... ...a room to myself at the Killarney IYHA. Nipped to the Golden Nugget around the corner for dinner that involved vegetables (a roasted-vegetable wrap) and red wine, back to my room, internet connection on - lush! *g*

And it's only Monday. *g* Hope you're having a good week so far too! Oh - and oddly enough, I had a text from my mobile phone chaps saying that I had "free" roaming in Ireland! Wish they'd told me that the day before, when I got here and spent time trying to work out whether I could make my phone connect without breaking my bank account (more...!) But it does mean that on my (hopefully) more relaxed day tomorrow, I might again manage multiple posts. From one extreme to the other, innit... *g*