Hipple Hits the Homeland

Hello again friends and family...

Is there anyone still out there?!?

Just kidding, I know you were all patiently waiting for this excellent post... several weeks in the making! One of the phrases that I have constantly heard people say is: "time flies when you're having fun." Boy, did the time fly. That is why I have so much to write about and why I had absolutely no time to write it. I was having too much fun. Well, here's another glimpse into my life these past few months. Hope you enjoy the ride!

Once upon a time on a rainy day in March, I received the one-worded text message that meant my best friend Annie Hipple was coming to visit. The text read: "ON!!!!" and I immediately knew that my friend, who is a frequent standby flyer, had made it on her flight and was on her way to visit me. After screams of joy and excitement, the next task was to book a bed and breakfast or hostel in Cork, as that would be her destination. Cork turned out to be the perfect spot to meet Annie because it also happened to be one of the places connected to her family. Luckily, Molly and Elisabeth had been deciding on a place to visit that weekend too, so on March 9th the three of us set out on our trek towards Cork. This would be Molly, Annie, and my first time in Cork but Elisabeth's second. Everyone was really excited to see a new city and I was even more excited to see Annie! As we got into the city we spotted our first stop -- the Tourist Office. We picked up some maps and saw signs for tours departing from the city the next day. After grabbing a handful of pamphlets, Elisabeth and Molly waited inside a coffee shop while I went to the bus station to meet Annie. It was a relief to find Annie amidst a group of unfamiliar faces moving through the bus station. Meeting up with Annie was a success and it really seemed that the rest of the trip followed suit. We walked our stuff to the bed and breakfast and were greeted by the lovely receptionist, Kathleen. She let us go to our room earlier than expected and even told us to venture out to their backyard and play with the chickens.

This is what happens when you put a girl who is afraid of birds (Molly) next to chickens.
Photo credit: Annie Hipple

After meeting and playing with the chickens, we decided to check out the Cork City Gaol (Cork City Jail). The walk to the Gaol turned into a tour of the city itself. 

Cork City Cricket Club (I like alliteration) 

Annie and I made a pit stop before entering the Gaol! 

Outside the Gaol!

Inside the Gaol!

The Cork City Gaol offered us a look into the different cells and stories of prisoners throughout its history. I got a creepy feeling the entire time we walked through its walls. It didn't help that the staff rigged a soundtrack of jail-like sounds. I kept hearing chains, slamming cell doors, and stomping feet as I stepped in and out of the tiny cells. After a quick dinner the girls and I went to a pub where we heard traditional music. We each tried a pint of Murphys and decided after hearing heavy rainfall that it was time to head back to the bed and breakfast. The next day we went on a bus tour conducted by the Paddywagon tour company to Blarney Castle and Cobh. Once at Blarney Castle and enjoying the many aspects it has to offer, it became apparent that we must kiss the Blarney Stone. Famed around the world for bestowing the "gift of the gab" onto whoever kisses it, the Blarney Stone has become a very popular tourist attraction. After locking lips with this somewhat disgusting piece of limestone, the person would then be "talking blarney." 

Blarney Castle from afar

Blarney Castle up close

Kissing the Blarney Stone!

After we spent some time at Blarney Castle (we even made wishes at the Wishing Steps!), the tour continued on towards Cobh. Located at the southern tip of Ireland, Cobh (pronounced Cove -- the 'bh' in Gaelic is a 'v' sound) is a town known for its maritime history. Several cruise liners picked up and dropped off passengers in Cobh. The most famous of them all being the RMS Titanic (which makes my introductory video a little ironic). Many people do not know that the Titanic's last stop before it hit that fateful iceberg was in Ireland. In fact, some passengers on the Titanic actually got off at Cobh and, in essence, survived one of the most famous tragedies. Yet another famous boat is tied to the town. The RMS Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat right by the town of Kinsale. Its survivors and victims were brought to Cobh and over a hundred of the victims were buried just outside the town. Due to these two major events, Cobh has memorials set up honoring the victims in its town centre. The town also boasts a cathedral called, St. Colman's. It is very picturesque to look out upon the water from the hill where the cathedral rests. 

                   St. Colman's Cathedral                                                               Up close   

Colorful houses

Colorful boats

Colorful town

Cobh, County Cork

After our wonderful day tour of Blarney and Cobh, we caught a bus from Cork back to Galway. Monday and Tuesday, Annie and I spent our time walking around Galway and doing a bit of shopping at the ever-popular Penneys. As a male worker in the Cork City Tourist Office even explained, "all of Ireland is obsessed with Penneys." I like to refer to Penneys as a glorified Forever 21. Great deals, great styles, thrown in with a little bit of risk as far as quality goes. Overall, I have had great success at Penneys and would highly recommend it. The next day, Annie and I travelled to to the Aran Islands located in Galway Bay. The journey consisted of a bus ride to a village in Connemara called Ros an Mhíl (or Rossaveal) and then a ferry to an island of your choice. 

We choose to go to Inis Mór, which means The Big Island, as it is the most visited and held some interesting attractions we wanted to see. Once on the island we decided to take a bus tour because we thought it would be the best way to move around the island. This turned out to be a great decision on our part because we met Bertie, a local man born and raised on Inis Mór. The Aran Islands are made up of three islands which all speak Gaelic. Bertie shared with us a few phrases and sayings in Gaelic and it was pretty neat hearing the locals speak to each other in Gaelic. One of the things that Bertie said that I remembered most was, "Have a drink, think about it, have another drink, forget about it." Aside from the alcohol, this motto can prove helpful in most modern-day worries. The trick most of the time when something is bothering you is to not harp on it and move on. That's really why I liked his phrase so much :). This has been true for my entire experience thus far in Ireland. Bertie took us on the main "highway" of the island, which turned out to be what looked like a one-lane street. Watching him maneuver the bus to the side while another car squished its way around him was absolutely fascinating; it was an art form. Bertie showed us where they filmed scenes in Leap Year and he took us up to what I believe is the most beautiful part of the island, Dun Aengus. Dun Aengus is a fort located on the edge of the island and boasts beautiful views of the ocean. Unlike the Cliffs of Moher, Dun Aengus has no barriers. Of course the height of it is not as tall as the Cliffs, however, the sights are stunning. 

Dun Aengus Fort

Dun Aengus 

Sitting on the edge of the world with my best friend

Horses!

Best Friends <3

Annie and her pal 

Leap Year road!!!

Annie and I had such a blast finding our way around the island. The next day Annie and I ventured into town again and grew increasingly excited for quite a few upcoming events, including: the arrival of Tess and her mom, the Cliffs of Moher tour, and Saint Patrick's Day in Galway. Sadly, that meant that we were getting near the end of Annie's stay as she had to catch on bus out of Galway on St. Pat's Day. But what better way to end a journey than celebrating? As Olive Pendergast states in Easy A, "not with a fizzle but with a bang"! But more on that in the next blog post... :)

For now, I'll just leave you with this:

"Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught." -Oscar Wilde