Blarney Castle

Yeah. Castles! This was so amazing to see! First off, I rented my little car and drove three hours to Cork to see the Blarney Castle, because it is one of those things you just have to do. The amazing thing was realizing on the drive there that there are literally castles EVERYWHERE! There were signs on the freeway for castles at an exit just the same as there being gas stations there! The drive was beautiful by the way. So green it looks like everyone is using some sort of fertilizer or something! On the way there I decided to just take the direct route, and planned on doing some stopping and more sightseeing by taking the scenic route by the water on the way back...kinda a loop if you will! But Blarney was amazing. You get to go in and explore, and the Blarney Stone is at the very top. Yes I kissed it...but the guys there had a sanitizing spray to use so the legends of locals peeing on it didn't really bother me anymore :) To kiss it you have to lay on your back and be suspended over a gap in the wall, all the way at the top of the castle! Scary!

Isn't this a cute bench? Just had to show it here...

Someone had signed the window ledge inside the castle in 1827! I saw one from 1822 but the pic was blurry. Pretty cool the castle has been so popular for so long.

There is a garden area next to the castle with a walking trail with interesting facts. There is a cave to the bottom right of the tree where scholars believe some of the oldest cave dwellers in Ireland lived! There is also a witch's kitchen in a nearby cave which supposedly has embers burning in the mornings....spooky! She is the witch who gave the Blarney Stone its powers....also, along the walk there is a staircase called the wishing steps. If you close your eyes and walk up and down the steps while thinking of only one wish it will come true. Too bad I hit my head on the top rock and suffered a brain injury during the process. :(

This is a pic of the Blarney Stone...its between the yellow tape. See how far down the fall would be?! You lay down on your back and lean backward to kiss it while someone holds your legs.