Thursday, August 7, 2008

Day 6






Day 6: We awoke to a beautiful morning and an even better surprise: The White house has PANCAKES on the menu. After so many mornings of rashers and sausages, rashers and eggs and sausages, toe-mah-toes rashers mushrooms and eggs and sausages and blood and white pudding, we were ready for anything different. The pancakes were covered in fruit and maple syrup and powdered sugar, and they were divine. Tom and Lisa’s studio assistant Erin would have appreciated the carb-coma that came on after consuming these treats.

Blarney Castle was every bit as beautiful as I remembered. Just like Powerscourt Gardens, we got to see corners of it previously unexplored this time. They had built a new pedestrian footpath and bridge over to a hidden grotto and waterfall that were previously unaccessible through the marshland. We even found a large dolmen butted up against a hillside and got to traverse the wishing steps to the Druid Circle.

Eric, Laura, Lisa and Clare braved the winding spiral stone staircase up to the top of the Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney stone. Lisa was crushing the bones in Clare’s hand because it was so slippery high up on the parapet, and while little one didn’t kiss the stone (too dangerous to lay her down and lean her backwards over a grate 4 stories above a rocky ledge) Lisa got great pictures of her puckering up and pretending. After Lisa kissed the Blarney stone (again) she kissed Clare so as to transfer the gift of the gab (as if it were even remotely necessary!) ☺ Laura and Eric both had their turn, and judging from the running blather between them, it worked!

After a visit to the Fairy Glen and a trip up the wishing steps we wandered back out of Blarney and left for the car ride to our cottage in Durrus, stopping along the way for a visit to Clonakilty, one of Tom and Lisa’s favorite towns. We had lunch at Richey’s restaurant. We expected it to be a good as our other meals, and it surpassed our expectations. We shared a lovely meal of mussels in wine and cream, a goat cheese tart, lasagna (with fries!), creamy chicken pasta, pea curry, and spaghetti bolognese for the tot.

We toured Clonakilty, stopping at DeBarra’s pub where many famous musicians often pop in to play sessions and mingle with the crowds, and then wandered to the building that Tom and Lisa had looked at buying many years ago. It was repainted on the outside, but the interior only had the front room remodeled. We wondered why, after six years, the person or company that bought it hadn’t fixed it up yet. At the off license (liquor store) around the corner, the clerk told Tom that they had only JUST started working on it since the sale. We selected some Rose, Merlot, Stella Artois, and Jameson’s to stock up for cottage stay.

We only got lost once on our drive to find our cottage just outside Durrus in the tiniest wedge of a town edge called Derryfunchion. It is literally a single unpaved tractor road with a green swinging sign and five “houses” (some are ancient converted out buildings) with one shy Sheltie dog and two semi-neglected cats. The Derryfunchion cottage itself is an L-shaped farmhouse, with the center having three-foot-thick stone walls, a peat burning stove, and sloping white washed ceilings and walls. The outer angle of the L is newer, the walls thinner (the rooms colder) and that is where the bedrooms are. There are two double bedrooms, two twin bedrooms, and two bathrooms. The floors are Irish white pine running at crazy angles, and there are steps and ramps going up and down all through the house. There is a VERY simple kitchen and a scattering of mismatched furniture throughout. Tom is in heaven.

It is so quiet you can hear the bees humming in loud drones and the sheep Baaaa-ing from the next field over. Laura and Eric and Clare traipsed across the neighboring field shortly after we got there to visit the flock of sheep cooling their heels in the grass. As soon as Lola and Eric and Clare approached the gates, though, the sheep started BBBBBAAAAAAing frantically and bolted around in circles. Laura finally got her sheep experience but not as close as she probably would have liked. Maybe we’ll find a place closer to them soon.

Clare has found a simple wooden chest filled with old and broken and mismatched toys to be a trove of happiness and good times. There are puzzles with pieces missing and apologetic notes left, warning of the difficulty levels of the puzzle and how long it might take to finish.

After settling in, we left Clare with Nana and Pop and head back into town looking for provisions. After spending 95 EU (160 dollars on enough to get us 7 through one day and a half, we return to eat frozen pizzas, tossed salad, frozen veggies, and enough wine and Jameson’s to float us halfway back home. Bill, Cindy, Laura and Eric sipped on Irish Sheridan’s liqueur to celebrate Eric’s last night in Ireland

téigh in éag (means: to end!)

1 comment:

k said...

Irish Sheridan’s liqueur is our favorite, Laura sent us a text saying they were having a few for us too! It sounds like an amazing trip. Miss you guys! I know you are having a great time and we will see you when you get back!