Getting to first with the Blarney Stone

Yesterday was another eventful day! We got up early while we were still in Cork to go visit Blarney Castle and kiss the famous Blarney stone. And of course, Channing and I took full advantage of our cameras and camera-whored to the max.

Blarney Castle was pretty sweet although some of the staircases were so narrow we wondered how the servants ever made it up them. I guess this is one reason why everyone was so skinny in the Middle Ages. We also kissed the Blarney stone! And were kind of disappointed that it's supposed to make you eloquent, not give you good luck. But we're going to pretend the latter, why not?

After that we got on the bus back to Dublin so we could enjoy our last night in Ireland to the fullest. Upon our return, of course the first thing we do is search out some cupcakes. We had seen some the other night but when we passed by it again it was closed. So we promised ourselves we'd go back and get some (no judgements). They lived up to expectations and the place also provided a delicious and cheap dinner! Hurray!

Then we walked O'Connell Street, getting in a view of the Spire and other statues while also stopping in some stores. And you'd be so proud of us, we didn't buy anything! So next we went on a hunt to find a place to meet some more genuine Irish people. The first bar was a bust so we did a little research to find a better option. Of course, it didn't really occur to us that it was a Monday night and even in Ireland people might not be out.

We did eventually find a place, Pygmalion, with a local clientele who we ended up meeting. We met Magnus (pronouced Man-us, the g is silent), Kevin, and Stuart. Manus is an actor so of course we got his autograph in the event he makes it big so we can say we knew him when! Kevin had a talent for impersonating people in a high pitched voice that had us rolling and Stuart looked like Shia LeBouf. There were a couple others but their names escape me.

All in all, it was a fun night and learned that Dubliners are unfamiliar with the language the boys from the other night taught us. They called them "cultchies" or "bog" because they were from the countryside, so I guess everyone has these prejudices haha. But Channing and I have decided we're going to use what we learned from the cultchies anyway! And we've gotten quite good at impersonating an Irish accent if we do say so ourselves because we've been repeating some of the more memorable lines.