Hello! Today was a great day! Two friends and I went to the Blarney Castle, home of the world famous Blarney Stone!
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| Blarney Castle |
The Blarney Castle is a medieval castle that was built (originally) by Cormac McCarthy, King of Munster. The site on which Blarney stands was also the site of multiple previous fortifications; however, today most (if not all) of the attention is on the current building, and its very famous stone. The Blarney Castle in the town of Blarney, a small town on the outskirts of the larger (very industrialized) city of Cork.
Blarney Castle is a great destination for those of you who, like me, absolutely love Halloween. Not only do fall foliage and kissing ancient stones add up to a great day, but guys, there's even a poison garden! It is full of cool plants and curiously creepy art. In fact, all of the grounds are covered with cool but scary art and sculptures, and plenty of shadows and near death experiences to go around! Near death experiences you say?
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| Circle staircase of DOOM |
The trickiest and scariest part of Blarney Castle is getting up to the Blarney Stone... using twisting, winding, uneven, tiny stone steps! These are in a very easy section of steps, most of the others were even tighter and steeper than the ones shown... also, the ones shown have a hand rail, most of the others have (if anything at all) a soggy rope to cling to as you (literally) climb up to the top of the Castle ruins. Once up (huffing and puffing, probably sweating and a little scared) you see these absolutely terrifying signs:
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| The signs of DOOM |
Letting you know that all of your belongings might fall through a gaping hole as you bend backwards and cling to two bars in order to kiss a stone in the wall. This process was at one point much more dangerous than it is today. They also indicate that there is a height requirement (what if you climbed all the way up there and couldn't go, THE HORROR!)? Luckily, I met the height requirements, phew! Finally, the least terrifying moment of the whole trip (yes, I meant least, they have a nice gentleman who holds on to you, and a conveniently places metal rod to prevent guests from falling!)
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| Mwah! |
Gaining the Gift of Gab (eloquent speech) is your prize for your herculean efforts at Blarney Castle. This gift has been bestowed on many famous people and millions of tourists. Yes, just think, you kissed the same stone that tourists and crazy movie stars have been kissing since the 1800s. Yum. But hey, once you're done with the whole kissing rocks thing, you can explore the dungeons!
And you can have staring contests with odd eye ball lawn ornaments
Or you can simply call it a great day and leave it at that!
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