The Ghost Bus to Blarney Castle
Yesterday's blue skies were gone. It was overcast in the morning and drizzled on and off throughout the day. Turns out that's about the perfect kind of weather for a trip to Blarney Castle.
I grabbed a quick breakfast and then went back to the hotel to check out of the room, leaving my bags so I could do the day trip to Blarney Castle. All I had to do was get on bus number 215, and in 30 minutes I would be at the castle for less than $3 fare.
It only took about 30 minutes to find the correct bus stop, which had been moved for road construction. The electronic board indicated the bus would arrive in about 16 minutes. During that time I started up a conversation with a woman named Katrina from South Africa. Soon the clock ticked down to one minute before the bus arrival—but a few minutes later, it disappeared off the board, and the next bus was listed as being about 25 minutes away.
The cab stand was nearby, so I asked Katrina if she wanted to split a cab up to the castle. We were there in 20 minutes. The cab driver explained that the missing bus scenario happens all the time in Ireland. They actually call them Ghost Buses.
Blarney Castle looked imposing under the clouds and rain. There really isn't much to do in the structure except climb the stairs and kiss the Blarney Stone.
There are lots of gardens and exhibits to see on the property, aside from the castle itself. Luckily we arrived before the line was very long. Seniors move very slowly up tight stairwells, and even more slowly when they have to get down on the ground, roll over onto their backs, and slide under the stone. By the time we left, the line was at least four times longer than when we arrived.
Back at the hotel, I grabbed my bags and headed to the train station for the trip to Kilarney. Buses were an option, but after the morning experience I definitely was taking the train. I met a nice couple while riding. Lily and Greg are from Atlanta and he is a dispatcher for a freight airline. Since I’m a retired airline pilot, we had lots of industry stuff to talk about.
Arrived in Killarney just a little behind schedule, with my hotel less than 10 minutes walk away. It's not a big town. The total population is about 14,000, but it's flooded with tourists during the season. The Kerry Ring is a very popular circuit to do on foot or by vehicle. The main streets are loaded with restaurants and bars to serve the visitors.
One fun challenge that arises when staying in old hotels or boarding houses is the quirky plumbing. This hotel is no exception. In order to make the hot water work, you have to turn on the cold water. But there is not enough hot water to overcome the cold water unless it is turned way down. Playing with the taps was like safe cracking. Fortunately it didn't take all that long to figure out the right combination.
Tomorrow morning is relaxed. I'll run a few errands and then get on a train about midday to head to Tralee, my jumping-off point for the official Dingle Way.