Somewhere Over the Rainbow
The title of this post has nothing really do with my day, except that song makes me sad. Like my last day in Ireland, I also only hear the Wizard of Oz version (who needs a ukulele?!). I keep putting on sparkly shoes and clicking my heels, but here I sit in America. One day! One day.
Our plan for the day was to drive to Kilkenny, Prash's other old hometown, and then finish up in Dublin to catch my flight and his boat the next morning. However, what's a girl to do on a Saturday morning if not to get a mimosa and some brunch!? If you google "Best Brunch in Cork", the first result is the Liberty Grill. It deserves to be number one. It was a short walk from our hotel, and consequently a short wait in line for a table. This place was busy! But so worth it. They had many different kinds of champagne cocktails AND a breakfast called "Full American". I don't know if you can tell...but I just really love breakfast. I had quite enough full Irish breakfasts, time for the American one. Which is really just an Irish breakfast, minus sausage, black and/or white puddings, tomato, and mushrooms. The cocktail of the day was Champagne with Chambord. They put alcohol in my alcohol. Which, if we're being honest, is the best way to brunch. Prash had cinnamon toast for the first time, and his life was changed. I love cinnamon toast. I wish every meal could be breakfast.
After brunch, we went strolled through the city in search of an Ireland jersey to Prash could rep the
best county. Then, made our way back to get the car and make our way to Kilkenny. We thought it would be a good idea, again, to follow the brown signs to a tourist destination! This time, we were pretty sure we wouldn't get murdered. We were headed to Killavullen caves to go spelunking. Just kidding, it was a guided tour; but, spelunking sounds much cooler. The caves ended up being pretty far from the motorway...and where did we end up again?! Limerick. What the actual hell. Neither of us was pleased about this, but we trudged on. We made it to the caves just as a tour was starting. The girl selling tickets told us to run and we could probably make it. So, for the third time in our lives, the mancub ran up a hill with me! and I won because I'm fast and fantastic (fastastic!) and love running hills. Buuuuuuut...we missed the tour. womp womp. So we walked back down the hill and got on the motorway again and continued on our way.
Prash had been saying there isn't anything to do in Kilkenny, and it's not very fun, and we wouldn't want to spend much time there. But, he did say Kilkenny Castle was well worth it. So every time I saw anything that looked like a castle (and one silo) on the way, I asked if that was it. I'm sure that didn't get old at all. But anyway, we made it to Kilkenny and it was the cutest city ever. We parked right across from the castle, and the ice cream truck for the Mancub, and it was just as spectacular as he said. Except for the fact that it's missing a wall thanks to that giant asshat Oliver Cromwell. Thanks alot for knocking a hole in it, you jerk. Moving on.
That's what happens when a boy buys me a castle to live in. I'm going to have great Christmas parties with Gatsby style punch glasses - you're all invited. Expect delivery of your invitations via turtle doves.
There's also a great park on the castle grounds that I would LOVE to run. If only I felt like digging out my running shoes instead of eating...but that was definitely not the case. We walked around Kilkenny until Prash found his rugby jersey, and then I had a happy mancub. As a trade off for being so patient while he tried on clothes like a lady, we went for wine and tapas! AKA my favorite activity. He was a good sport even though he doesn't love wine. He did love the nachos that came with the wine.
After that, we went to check in on his family's property there, to make sure everything was in order. It is occupied by a very nice doctor and his family. He tried to force feed us juice and water in the nicest way possible. I like when people have Southern Hospitality. Yes, I'm aware the South isn't the only place that is hospitable, but it's what I know. We were planning on having dinner at Langton's, so Prash drove me around showing me his old school, tennis club, and all of his other favorite places. It is actually stupid how quickly I fell in love with a city. It kind of hurts right now that I can't just go there. Before you think, whattt? You actually stopped in a city that didn't have a brewery?! You're wrong. Kilkenny has at least 3. We didn't go to them because I just did not even want to look at another beer by that point, but they're there if you feel so inclined to go.
We made it to dinner and I had more wine, because that's what happens with dinner. The food was delicious and the restaurant was excellent! There was also a man there in a cowboy hat wearing a denim shirt with an eagle printed on it...he was also wearing an NC jacket. So, thank you, North Carolina. For reminding me what I was missing.
That was really the end of Kilkenny. We had to get back to Dublin to check into the hotel. By the time we got there, I was hungry again and the hotel restaurant was closed...so I made Prash take me to McDonalds. They have fried mozzarella sticks at Ireland McDonald's. What a beautiful, beautiful thing. Needless to say after all of the driving, wine, and McDonalds, I passed out as soon as we got back to the hotel. Only to have McDonalds again the next morning for breakfast. What do you want from me? It was on the way to the airport.
I know this post is getting long, but this is a very important piece of information, so pay attention. In the Dublin airport, there are signs telling you how long it is expected to take you to make it through security. However, if you are going to America, what they don't tell you is that you also have to go through American Customs in Dublin! So, I get to the security line and get to that woman who packs like my mother and thinks she can have any sized bottle in her carry on so long as it fits in a gallon sized bag. I'm in this line while she is debating what to keep and what to lose and they are literally paging me by name over the intercom. I finally get through the security line and realize I left my water bottle in my bag with 1/2 inch of water in there. So they have to run it through again. Finally, I'm good to go (have yet to figure out the thing about American customs) and run to my gate to be greeted by a Delta employee. He takes me to the second level of security where my carry on is screened again...and then I am greeted with the longest line ever. I begged the security guy to let me skip so I didn't miss my flight and he obliged. The second thing to know, they have machines that scan your passport and make you take the world's worst selfie for verification. Once that's done, you have to get in another line, where a TSA agent shows you a picture of your suitcase and makes you solemnly swear that that's your bag and there isn't anything in there that shouldn't be. I'm definitely not saying I had anything in there that wasn't written on my claim card...but if I did, I would have been very nervous because I would think they were going to arrest me. I finally make it to the gate just before they close the doors, I wasn't even the last one on the plane!! I had a whole row to myself and it was great. Until just after take off, when a distinguished looking man came and sat on the other aisle seat. If I'd had something in my bag that I shouldn't have and didn't tell anyone, I would have thought he was an air marshall waiting to arrest me as soon as we landed. But he didn't because I didn't have anything. Gosh, guys.
Anyway! That's my entire trip, hope you enjoyed at least parts of it, and be sure to allow plenty of time when travelling from Dublin to America!
Our plan for the day was to drive to Kilkenny, Prash's other old hometown, and then finish up in Dublin to catch my flight and his boat the next morning. However, what's a girl to do on a Saturday morning if not to get a mimosa and some brunch!? If you google "Best Brunch in Cork", the first result is the Liberty Grill. It deserves to be number one. It was a short walk from our hotel, and consequently a short wait in line for a table. This place was busy! But so worth it. They had many different kinds of champagne cocktails AND a breakfast called "Full American". I don't know if you can tell...but I just really love breakfast. I had quite enough full Irish breakfasts, time for the American one. Which is really just an Irish breakfast, minus sausage, black and/or white puddings, tomato, and mushrooms. The cocktail of the day was Champagne with Chambord. They put alcohol in my alcohol. Which, if we're being honest, is the best way to brunch. Prash had cinnamon toast for the first time, and his life was changed. I love cinnamon toast. I wish every meal could be breakfast.
After brunch, we went strolled through the city in search of an Ireland jersey to Prash could rep the best county. Then, made our way back to get the car and make our way to Kilkenny. We thought it would be a good idea, again, to follow the brown signs to a tourist destination! This time, we were pretty sure we wouldn't get murdered. We were headed to Killavullen caves to go spelunking. Just kidding, it was a guided tour; but, spelunking sounds much cooler. The caves ended up being pretty far from the motorway...and where did we end up again?! Limerick. What the actual hell. Neither of us was pleased about this, but we trudged on. We made it to the caves just as a tour was starting. The girl selling tickets told us to run and we could probably make it. So, for the third time in our lives, the mancub ran up a hill with me! and I won because I'm fast and fantastic (fastastic!) and love running hills. Buuuuuuut...we missed the tour. womp womp. So we walked back down the hill and got on the motorway again and continued on our way.
Prash had been saying there isn't anything to do in Kilkenny, and it's not very fun, and we wouldn't want to spend much time there. But, he did say Kilkenny Castle was well worth it. So every time I saw anything that looked like a castle (and one silo) on the way, I asked if that was it. I'm sure that didn't get old at all. But anyway, we made it to Kilkenny and it was the cutest city ever. We parked right across from the castle, and the ice cream truck for the Mancub, and it was just as spectacular as he said. Except for the fact that it's missing a wall thanks to that giant asshat Oliver Cromwell. Thanks alot for knocking a hole in it, you jerk. Moving on.
That's what happens when a boy buys me a castle to live in. I'm going to have great Christmas parties with Gatsby style punch glasses - you're all invited. Expect delivery of your invitations via turtle doves.
There's also a great park on the castle grounds that I would LOVE to run. If only I felt like digging out my running shoes instead of eating...but that was definitely not the case. We walked around Kilkenny until Prash found his rugby jersey, and then I had a happy mancub. As a trade off for being so patient while he tried on clothes like a lady, we went for wine and tapas! AKA my favorite activity. He was a good sport even though he doesn't love wine. He did love the nachos that came with the wine.
After that, we went to check in on his family's property there, to make sure everything was in order. It is occupied by a very nice doctor and his family. He tried to force feed us juice and water in the nicest way possible. I like when people have Southern Hospitality. Yes, I'm aware the South isn't the only place that is hospitable, but it's what I know. We were planning on having dinner at Langton's, so Prash drove me around showing me his old school, tennis club, and all of his other favorite places. It is actually stupid how quickly I fell in love with a city. It kind of hurts right now that I can't just go there. Before you think, whattt? You actually stopped in a city that didn't have a brewery?! You're wrong. Kilkenny has at least 3. We didn't go to them because I just did not even want to look at another beer by that point, but they're there if you feel so inclined to go.
We made it to dinner and I had more wine, because that's what happens with dinner. The food was delicious and the restaurant was excellent! There was also a man there in a cowboy hat wearing a denim shirt with an eagle printed on it...he was also wearing an NC jacket. So, thank you, North Carolina. For reminding me what I was missing.
That was really the end of Kilkenny. We had to get back to Dublin to check into the hotel. By the time we got there, I was hungry again and the hotel restaurant was closed...so I made Prash take me to McDonalds. They have fried mozzarella sticks at Ireland McDonald's. What a beautiful, beautiful thing. Needless to say after all of the driving, wine, and McDonalds, I passed out as soon as we got back to the hotel. Only to have McDonalds again the next morning for breakfast. What do you want from me? It was on the way to the airport.
I know this post is getting long, but this is a very important piece of information, so pay attention. In the Dublin airport, there are signs telling you how long it is expected to take you to make it through security. However, if you are going to America, what they don't tell you is that you also have to go through American Customs in Dublin! So, I get to the security line and get to that woman who packs like my mother and thinks she can have any sized bottle in her carry on so long as it fits in a gallon sized bag. I'm in this line while she is debating what to keep and what to lose and they are literally paging me by name over the intercom. I finally get through the security line and realize I left my water bottle in my bag with 1/2 inch of water in there. So they have to run it through again. Finally, I'm good to go (have yet to figure out the thing about American customs) and run to my gate to be greeted by a Delta employee. He takes me to the second level of security where my carry on is screened again...and then I am greeted with the longest line ever. I begged the security guy to let me skip so I didn't miss my flight and he obliged. The second thing to know, they have machines that scan your passport and make you take the world's worst selfie for verification. Once that's done, you have to get in another line, where a TSA agent shows you a picture of your suitcase and makes you solemnly swear that that's your bag and there isn't anything in there that shouldn't be. I'm definitely not saying I had anything in there that wasn't written on my claim card...but if I did, I would have been very nervous because I would think they were going to arrest me. I finally make it to the gate just before they close the doors, I wasn't even the last one on the plane!! I had a whole row to myself and it was great. Until just after take off, when a distinguished looking man came and sat on the other aisle seat. If I'd had something in my bag that I shouldn't have and didn't tell anyone, I would have thought he was an air marshall waiting to arrest me as soon as we landed. But he didn't because I didn't have anything. Gosh, guys.
Anyway! That's my entire trip, hope you enjoyed at least parts of it, and be sure to allow plenty of time when travelling from Dublin to America!
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