Day 2 - Waterford and Blarney

Before we started day 2, we went to a bank in Kilkenny to exchange our traveler's checks.  It turns out that Ireland stopped accepting them 2-3 years ago.  I'm glad we only brought a couple hundred dollars of them because it looks like we'll be depositing them back into our checking account when we get back to Brownsburg.

Day 2 was very touristy, but VERY amazing!!  We left Kilkenny and headed to Waterford to see the famous crystal.  About 45% of all Waterford crystal is destroyed because of minor flaws.  Only perfect pieces are ever seen by the public.  Looking for the crystal, we mistakenly found the Waterford Castle, which is now a hotel.  This included driving on and off a ferry!!  Chris and LouAnna both took a turn driving onto it!  :)  The people at the hotel were kind enough to direct us to the House of Waterford which had the retail store and factory.  We drove all around Waterford because the GPS didn't want to show us the exact location, but after what seemed like an hour, we found it.  It was free to go into the retail store and we were allowed to take pictures.  The crystal is amazing!!  There are SO many pictures that we aren't posting on this page, but we will be HAPPY to show you when we return!  They were having a sale on all of their Christmas items, so we bought a crystal ornament.  It's a green, glass shamrock.  You will have to come over at Christmas 2015 to see it on our tree!  ;)  LouAnna started to cry in the store because she's been wanting to see Waterford crystal and never thought she'd be able to own some!  Chris must admit that he was overjoyed to be able to share in this and help exceed her expectations of Waterford!  Okay, enough chatting, here are some pics!

LouAnna with her very own piece of Waterford!  She tears up just thinking about it!

Just one of about 40 pictures we took of some amazing pieces!!

The side of Blarney Castle

Then, it was off to Blarney so we could kiss a cold stone!  ;)  Blarney Castle was amazing.  It's a ruin now, but some of the walls are up to 15 feet thick!  The castle is still quite beautiful!  To kiss the Blarney Stone, you have to climb up a circular, stone staircase that is VERY narrow.  There is a rope to hold on to as you climb up the stairs that are the most narrow steps we've ever been on.  LouAnna, who isn't fond of heights, was very scared because she imagined having to climb back down such a narrow path, as well.  We had to stop at a landing for a while because she was on the verge of panic attack.  Poor girl; she really hates heights and steps almost more narrow that her size 10 shoe!  But, she championed on, thanks to the reassurance and calm that Chris gave her.  We made it to the very top of the castle, sat down, and leaned way back and down into the hole in order to kiss the stone!  It was scary and the adrenaline was definitely pumping for LouAnna.  For LouAnna, it was a triumph over fears and having accomplished the feat.  For Chris, it was about tradition and being in community with all the people who have kissed it before and will after him.  By the way, the stairs down were TWICE as wide as the way up, which makes LouAnna wish they were the stairs up AND down!  ;)

Chris puckering up!

LouAnna kissing the stone

Then, we walked around the gardens and landscape a bit, experiencing the calm and beautiful countryside.  It even has a poison garden that contains plants like Mandrake and Wolfsbane, etc! Again, we have WAY more pictures than are being posted, but this gives you a taste of what we saw!

Chris in front of Blarney Castle

By this time, it's 6pm local time, so we head to Killarney where we will stay for the next 2 nights.  We check into the hotel, walk next door to their little restaurant/bar for dinner.  Chris and I both decide to try today's special of roasted lamb, stuffing, mixed veggies, and mashed potatoes.  LouAnna had never had lamb before and it turned out to be VERY tasty!  We were happy with our choice!  Then, we went to our room, took showers and crashed for about 10 hours!  It was a day we will never forget!!