Ireland Day 2- Blarney Castle

Adam decided to try the famous Irish blood pudding for breakfast- we all watched in horror...

On Tuesday we traveled by bus to Blarney Castle.

This interesting house was across the street from our hotel.

The sky was overcast and it was chilly, but not too cold.

The grounds were just amazing! Mostly green but a few pops of fall peeking through...

Adam and Nate

Blarney Castle

We looked in these tiny tunnels that were the dungeons... 

I only went so far but Adam went in on his hands and knees.

We loved exploring the castle and going up the stairs to discover the Blarney Stone.

We walked up 100 steps to get there, and there were little rooms off of the stairs to go in.

The main floors in the middle of the castle have since wasted away, but the outsides were still intact.

Little room and window.

Love castle windows- I just imagine them brightening up the dark insides.

Adam, Steve, Karen, Nate and Rajothy

You can see where the floors used to be in the middle of the castle.

Love this parlor!

Going up the twisty stairs...

...and finally at the top. The view was awesome!

Blackbirds on a ledge.

In line to kiss the Blarney Stone. 

I guess people have been kissing it for hundreds of years to get good luck- so weird, but we were there so why not right?

Thanks to a note from Discover Ireland on this post:
According to the legend the Blarney Stone was originally a fragment of the Stone of Scone; used for centuries in the coronation of the monarchs of Scotland and England. The stone might have been given to Cormac McCarthy (King of Munster) by Robert the Bruce in 1314 in recognition of his support in the Battle of Bannockburn. Since then, thousands of people kiss the Blarney Stone every year, in order to gain the gift of eloquence! :)

Top of the castle.

In order to kiss the Blarney stone you have to lay on your back while this guy holds you- and it's underneath the wall! Apparently millions of people have kissed the stone- and now I am one of them...

Here are some people kissing the stone back in 1897.

There haven't always been bars underneath so it used to be a real risk to do it. 

Adam's turn!

Love Karen's artistic picture of us- oops!

Steve pointed out this mossy tree and told me to take a picture- 

sounds like he's trying to find his inner SPOL?? (simple pleasures of life)

We ate lunch at a cool dining hall- roasted veggies and chicken. The dessert was the best chocolate cake I've ever had! I love rich chocolate (not bitter) and even I had to take breaks between bites of this thing- so. dang. good!

Afterwards we did a little shopping at the Woolen Mills, where Adam picked up an Irish cap for him and his friend Bryan who was back at the hotel with his sick wife.

Napping in his new Irish cap.

That night we ate dinner with Bryan and Jen, and Steve and Karen in downtown Killarney.

Yummy soups and delectable salads. 

Let's just say I gained a few lbs, no thanks to the pregnancy.

But eating in Europe does make me thankful for FREE water at dinner, and ICE!

Buddies.

Sini, Adam, Jen and Bryan

Such a fun busy day!