The Puma Den: Days 3 – 6

Day 3-6

Sorry for the delay in posts, but I have been on a travel grind and stuck with my mother so I have not really found any time for myself to focus and write at all. Today we got to our first real resort/chill out spot of the trip. I can finally sit in a nice comfortable couch and jam. Today we arrived at the Ashford Castle; it is a legit castle with huge grounds and many activities.

Also while I am on the subject of today, I drove! The first time the entire trip my mom let me drive and I was damn good at it. Never hit a curb, never on the wrong side, and never freaked out on directions. Take that, mom! She freaked a little, but in the end admitted I was better than her.

So the castle we are at, we checked in and immediacy the adventures began with a little falconry lesson. I went out with a guide and my own falcon…well hawk, but a bird of prey none the less. We walked the grounds and Milly (my hawk) would just fly around and when I held up my arm she would glide down and land on my arm. It really was brilliant the way these birds fly and are trained. After about an hour of that I said goodbye to Milly and traveled the grounds to where my mom went horseback riding. I left her there for a bit of solitude and a pot of tea to get the writing going.

Last I left you I was with mom on the way to Waterford from Wicklow. I don’t think I touched on the Gaol. It was an actual jail used in Ireland that was used during the days leading up to and through the Irish Revolution. Cells were small, overcrowded and like most prisons during the 17 and 18 hundreds, it looked like living conditions were shit. We took a walk around and saw/read what life was like for prisoners. I really liked this because of the history that is behind a place like that.

Anyhow, after the jail we drove on toward Waterford, which is the southeastern county of Ireland. We got a little behind schedule and had yet to eat…or find a place to sleep for the night.

As darkness drew upon us we stopped at our first B&B. My mother, who still couldn’t grasp the art of driving in Ireland was about at the end of her wits, and after going off on me several times, decided to stop. Unfortunately the first B&B we found was full. This only did her more into the rage and anxiety she was feeling as she thought all would be full. Luckily for my mom, myself and the rest of the drivers in Ireland, the owner of the B&B directed us to another only a few kilometers away.

We were able to shack up there for the night and get some food at a pub a small drive away. The food was nice and we soon got back to the house we were staying at. I went to bed and dreamt of Guinness, cute girls with Irish accents and lots of green. When I awoke I got to experience my first traditional Irish breakfast, complete with: bacon, sausage, eggs, toast, hash-browns, tomato and tea.

From there we hit the road again. Destination for this day was The Rock of Cashel. It was a castle where one of the first kings of Ireland was baptized by St. Patrick himself. It is also the location of St. Patrick’s Cross. Most of the castle still stands though it’s in ruins but, the view is phenomenal and the original cross is kept in the museum that is right there.

Our next location was the county of Cork. Cork holds the county of Blarney, which you can guess has The Blarney Castle. We arrived at the castle and started the walk across the castle grounds. Upon arrival at the Blarney Castle, we started the walk up the narrow, rounding stairway to the top of the castle and the prized Blarney Stone.

I feel that I should put this out to clear up any misconception that might be out there because I always thought kissing the stone would bring you l good luck. In fact, kissing the stone is actually supposed to bring you “eloquence,” which is the ability to write and speak well. Let me know if it works.

After getting to first base with The Blarney Stone, we strolled the gardens. The gardens at Blarney Castle are very nice, but not only nice, they are entirely poisonous, which I have never seen a poison garden before. It contains many plants we have in the States and tells what they were used for, how they kill you, and small bits of information about them.

We left the castle, and took our second B&B in Cork. This led to my first night out in a town drinking with townies and my mother. This ended not at all how I planned it. First, I forgot how hard it is to hit on girls with your mother around, and even if I left her like she told me too, I would be thinking about it. So I drank, talked to some locals, and drank. This led to a bit of an argument between my mother and me. She jabbed me for not having a job and taking forever to get through school, I of course got defensive, and things spiraled out a bit. Worry not, all was eventually fine, but tensions were high for a bit.

After my second traditional Irish breakfast, we were off once again for the county Kerry. We drove for a small town of Dingle. As we drove, I noticed a lot of flags and decorations up, all of the same color. Upon arriving into town in Dingle, I inquired about the flags and was told that at 3:00 p.m. was the “All Ireland Football Finals,” but this was not football, or even American Football. This was Gaelic Football; the coolest, strangest game I have ever seen. I had to watch a bit in a pub.

Gaelic Football is a mix between American soccer, basketball and American football. Very interesting game. I will try to write more about it at a later time. So after watching a bit of the match, and seeing some nice views of the Dingle Peninsula, we continued on for the city on Bunratty,  in the county Clare. We stopped at a very nice B&B and got some much needed rest and for breakfast, I switched it up and went with smoked salmon.

We left once again on the road for the Bunratty Castle, which was very nice as well. It was actually bought and restored so you can go through the whole thing and see what life would have been like in the castle. The castle also has some nice grounds with a mock up of a village complete with shops and houses that have people in them.

After the castle, we left for the scenic Cliffs of Moher. Unfortunately, the Irish weather decided to come back to Ireland and we had rain and wind on this trip, accompanied by fog. So as far as the cliffs we only got glimpses. Even with that, it was impressive, but I felt that on a clear day we could have see a way better view.

After getting wet at the cliffs, we made a drive north to the county of Galloway. We did this because we wanted to be close to the Ashford Castle in the morning so we could take full advantage. So after dodging some sheep in the road and going through a barren wasteland, we made it to a B&B in the middle of nowhere. Famished and tired, we took a room, ate dinner at a hotel down the road and went to bed.

It is worth mentioning that unsaid “town” we found the population might have been 10. I have a eerie feeling that not many people come to that town…or at least not many people leave the town. Restaurant was owned by a lady who had her son run it and they knew where we were staying. All nice people, just a bit eerie.

Regardless, the people were great, the food was good and we were off. Once again I feel I must mention that I drove from the B&B to the castle we’re at now. I’m basically Irish. We made it to the castle and the adventures of falconry and tea drinking ensued.

Game plan tomorrow is breakfast, Belfast, back to Dublin for mom’s last night, then she is off and my journey alone begins. Stick with me because it should only get better from here.

As for now, enjoy life, keep reading and have adventures,

-Puma