Wednesday found us getting packed and off to the airport for a flight to Cork, Ireland. Brother and Sister Tooley gave us a lift. We were barely out of the car when we saw a lady about my age pushing a luggage trolly fully loaded and then stopping to push a woman in a wheel chair. I offered assistance and she gladly accepted. I pushed the trolly and followed her to their ticket counter. They are sisters headed to the Isle of Wight for a week's holiday. Barbara, the one in the wheel chair has cancer and just had a hip replacement. Pauline, the other one, was busy trying to manage pushing both things. When I offered, she said: "Oh, yes you can help. And I can tell you are American. British people just walk on by without any offer of help." I was surprised by her comment but very happy to be able to help.
We arrived safely and picked up the rental car without any problems. We headed to the guest house via a map, which was a bit of a challenge, but we made it.
We settled in at the Killarney Guest House, the same place Halie stayed when she was here two years ago. We had great plans to unpack, drive to the port where we would be picking up Carson and Kathy Bench tomorrow, and get some sight seeing in. Not so!
A TECHNOLOGY NIGHTMARE!
Before coming to Ireland we checked with our cell phone provider to see if we could use our phones in Ireland since our company is in there as well. We were informed that they would be fine, we could just go and they would take right up once in Ireland. We also asked if Dad's phone was unlocked in case we needed to put in a SIM card. We were told it was. Dad wanted to use Google Maps on his phone for navigating our travels which would be easier than packing the sat nav, etc. Off we went.
When Dad picked up the rental car they offered a sat nav for him to rent and quoted a price. He passed on it as he was very confident his phone would work just fine.
We left out of the airport only to find his phone was not working. Mine seemed to have signal. We arrived at the guest house and Dad began seeing what was going on with his phone. He got no where, including not being able to make a call. Mine would not make a call either. He went to the office to use their phone to call the phone company but the phone company would not pick up. The clerk gave directions to the phone store and off we went. Needless to say, Dad was VERY upset!
We found a place to park, but had to get euros because the meter would not take a card. We found an ATM, got euros, went back to the car park, and fed the meter. Then we went back down the street to the phone store. The clerk in the store was very helpful. He took Dad's phone, swiped, tapped, closed, and swiped again. He said he had to prioritize it to recognize Ireland. He checked my phone as well and said we were good to go to make calls and to use Google Maps.
Off we went only to find out Dad's phone still would not work!!!!!!!!! We tried mine and it did with using Google Maps. We plugged in the port address and off we went. It got us there and back but it lost signal a couple of times. It was so frustrating!!!!!!!!!
We decided to go back to the airport and get a sat nav. We got lost on the way and drove right by the phone store. I jumped out with Dad's phone and he went to park. I was helped by a different clerk. I explained what was going on and he took the phone and swiped, tapped, closed, and swiped again. He then informed me that we needed a SIM card for it to work in Ireland. Dad had come in by now and was steaming.
We could not put a SIM card in Dad's phone because it was locked, after we had been told it was NOT locked. We did put one in my phone and we checked it there before we left and it did work. We found a place to eat and while doing so decided we would get a sat nav anyway because it would not loose signal.
Back to the airport we went. We walked back to the terminal to the car rental counter and Dad explained what we wanted. The agent was happy to help us, but quoted a much higher fee than when we were first there in the afternoon. Dad, with holding back some frustration, let the agent know that was not what he was quoted earlier. When they finished talking, he gave us a sat nav for less than what he said at first but still more than the afternoon quote. He put in the hotel address and showed us how it worked and we were off, walking back to the car in the cold wind.
We got to the car, plugged it in, and a notice came us saying the wrong cord was attached to get traffic information. Dad rummaged through his bag of cords and adapters and found one that fit. We tried it and the same message came up. It was another walk back to the terminal to get the problem solved. Dad explained the situation and the agent said he had never seen that message before. He tested another sat nav, gave it to us, and we were off back to the car.
It didn't work! We went back in and he said to bring the car round and he would check it out. We walked back to the car and drove the half mile by way of round abouts to the terminal. I pointed the wrong way, so we made a double trip! I bet the clerk thought we had fallen off the earth. Anyway, he was waiting for us as we drove up. He got in, plugged in the sat nav, clicked OK when he got to the message, and it worked! Talk about feeling stupid!
Thursday morning we were off to Cobh, pronounced Cove, to pick up Carson and Kathy. They were in port for the day on their cruise.
Carson is to the right. We greeted one another and started talking all about our adventures and deciding on a plan for sight seeing. Our first stop was Blarney Castle.
Carson, Kathy, Barbara, and Bob
Blarney Castle was built by Cormac MacCarthy in 1446. Besieged at least four times, and taken once by Cromwell's army, The MacCarthys held on to their great fortress until forced to leave in the years following the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
The Lookout Tower, above and below, formed part of a curtain wall that in earlier years surrounded the castle. There was a spiral staircase inside to climb to the lookout position. Fall is in the air from the changing leaves.
Yes, I did kiss the Blarney Stone! Kathy joined me and the guys watched. Chicken...........
For over 200 years, world statesmen, literary giants, and legends of the silver screen have joined the millions of pilgrims climbing the steps to kiss the Blarney Stone and gain the gift of eloquence. Its powers are unquestioned but its story still creates debate!
Looks like Rapunzel could be in the window on the right!
The Blarney Stone is at the opening at the very top.
A view from the top of the castle.
The great hall. The bottom floor was the basement. You can see where a beamed floor existed to create the great hall and then another floor above it.
At the bottom of the round tower you can see an opening. It has a locked gate and Kathy and I ventured down to check it out. We were thinking of how we could get a picture of us. A couple was on the outside and he said if I handed him my camera he would take our photo.
From the castle we ventured into town to find a place to eat. We stopped at two different eateries only to find they were closed, out of business. On we went and the next place we saw was McDonald's! You are right, we ate there. Carson and Kathy posed for picture as they have a collection of photos of them eating at McDonald's in different parts of the world.
We made our way to St. Fin Barre's Cathedral in Cork. St. Fin Barre is the patron saint of Cork.
This site dates back to the seventh century when a monastery was founded here.
The current cathedral was consecrated in 1870
The pulpit was completed in 1874, but was not painted until 1935. It shows the four evangelists with their symbols, together with St. Paul.
The choir looking towards the high altar.
The organ has almost 4,000 pipes and is one of the biggest and finest organs in Ireland.
It rained on us going to the cathedral and rained on us coming out. From here we headed back to Cobh where Carson and Kathy boarded ship. We drove on to Killarney to stay the night.
