Another busy day today! This morning I slept in a bit and then took my time packing up since I’m heading to Tralee later today. I Googled the best scones in Cork and opted to try a place called The Bookshelf in Cork. I parked and started the 10 minute walk there, but as I was walking I passed a cute little café called the Greenwich Café, and since I learned my lesson about not passing by a place that sounds good just because I found a place online, I decided to stop in, and boy am I glad I did! I had a plain scone (my favorite, fruit in scones are a little much, and while I won’t say no to a fruit scone, just a plain Irish soda scone is where it’s at) with raspberry jam and cream and, of course, an Earl Grey tea. Oh man, this scone was so good, it might even give the scone in Derry a run for it’s money! It was so buttery and soft, I’m going to need to find a good scone recipe when I get home, I’m not sure I can go back now.

I scheduled a tour of the Cork City Gaol today at 1400 and I had about an hour to kill so I wandered around downtown Cork a little and stumbled upon the Butter Museum. Since I’m a proud resident of the Dairy State, I felt obligated to check this museum out, and since it was only a 5 euro entry fee I felt ok about it. The museum was interesting, it highlighted the butter making process in Ireland and Kerrygold, Ireland’s most successful butter company, and on the second floor it talked about Ireland’s most successful Butter Market, which used to be right outside the doors of the Butter Museum.

After the Butter Museum it was time for the jail tour. Cork City Gaol opened in 1824 and housed both men and women until 1878 when prison reform acts turned it into a women’s jail and the Cork County Gaol near the University College Cork became the men’s jail. In 1922 and 1923, the jail was repurposed to hold both male and female Republican prisoners from the Irish Civil War. When it was originally opened it included a women’s wing, a men’s wing, and the Governor’s (warden’s) house. The Governor and his family were expected to live in the jail, they were given housing, and a stipend for food and fuel, and a wage. The first Governor didn’t like the idea of his children living in a prison so he bought a house down the street and dug a tunnel from his house to the jail. Apparently his bosses found out on an inspection and weren’t very impressed with his plan. They were paying him to live in the jail and to keep the prisoners inline and he quite literally dug a tunnel out of the jail, if they prisoners found out that could be very bad, especially since he dug the tunnel directly to his own house where his family was living. The bosses ordered the tunnel destroyed so they stuck a bunch of explosives down there and collapsed the tunnel, and then a few years later the tunnel completely flooded. The jail was closed in August of 1923 after concerns over sanitation and living conditions were raised. In 1927 the top floor of the Governor’s house was used as a radio broadcasting station, by 6CK, the first official radio station in Cork, and then a national radio station- Radio Eireann, who broadcast out of the jail until the 1950s. The building was opened for tours in 1993.

After the jail I decided to hop over to the Blarney Castle an Gardens. I had (and still have) absolutely 0 desire to kiss the Blarney Stone. First of all, that’s very unsanitary, also I read an article once that the locals pee on the stone and then laugh about all the tourists that kiss it, and finally, if you know me, you know I don’t need anymore help in the Gab department, I got plenty of that magic from the Bates side of the family. But I did want to check out the Gardens because I thought I might get some good pictures, and let me tell you, the grounds did not disappoint. (I did go into the castle, and thought about climbing to the top just to take some pictures, but if you know me you also know I have a crippling fear of heights, so I chickened out halfway through the climb at the “last chance to exit before the stone” sign- no regrets.) I walked around the ground for almost 2 hours and probably could’ve walked around for a few hours more but I knew they were closing up soon. I did find the wishing steps, but apparently to have your wish fulfilled you have to walk down the steps backwards with your eyes closed and then walk back up with your eyes closed, and while two very nice girls offered to help me and to take a video, the only wish I would’ve been able to concentrate on would be to not die on those steps and that felt like a waste, so I just walked down them with my eyes open, thought of a wish just in case, and continued to explore the beautiful landscapes.

After Blarney Castle and Gardens I went in search of food and found a cute little Italian place nearby. I had a pineapple pizza and a salad. It was delicious and the owner, an adorable Italian woman, came out to check on me. When I checked out she asked me about my trip and she seemed genuinely excited for me. She said that was something she had always wanted to do, she wished me safe travels and I was on my way. Then it was time for my next adventure- getting gas- or I guess Petrol. It took me a few minutes, but I figured it out (figuring out how to pay was the longest setback, and then guessing how much I would need to spend to fill up, and then making sure I didn’t overflow my tank since they don’t have the little pump lock thing), apparently I estimated well since my tank was full when I started the car and it didn’t overflow! Now on to my AirBnB in Tralee! The views were beautiful on the drive, I attempted to take some photos of the mountains, but my one handed attempts didn’t do them justice, hopefully I’ll get some better shots while I’m out and about tomorrow, but simply put, the beauty of this country never ceases to amaze me!