Hello everyone!
Below you will find the links to the video from my trip to Cork. In two days I took 451 photos, so this video is a small portion of that.
Also, it was brought to my attention that there were a few spelling errors in my previous two videos, and for that I apologize. Hopefully I edited this one enough to catch any mistakes I made.
All three parts are up and the links are below.
Cork Part 1
Cork Part 2
Cork Part 3
Hope you enjoy!
Cheers
Patrick
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Stories from Cork
The following is a compilation of a few of the stories I lived during my time in Cork this past weekend.
....................
Saturday was to be the first full day of adventures in Cork, and the John Carroll Three (Ellen, Lindsey and myself) decided to venture on northward to Blarney Castle. After getting up and having tea and toast at the hostel, we walked down the hill and across the river to the Cork bus station. We bought out day return tickets on bus route 40 to Blarney and went to wait at the pick-up spot, just up the block about 75 yards.
Upon arriving at the pick-up point, we noticed that street was lined with buses up and down except for the one spot right in front of us. Having gotten there fifteen minutes early, it was concluded we would wait for the next bus to pull in, get on and be on our way to Blarney, no problem. Now, as I am sure you know, there would not be much need to tell a story about this if our first attempt to catch a bus in Ireland went perfectly smoothly. So, naturally, here is where things got interesting.
We noticed about three buses up the way, a big group of people were boarding a bus, but I could not see the route number on the back. Could I have walked an extra ten steps up the sidewalk to see it better? Sure, but that would not make a fun story either. As it would happen, soon after noticing that bus, another bus drove into our spot and stopped, momentarily. This was just a Cork city bus, and thus of no use to us trying to get to Blarney.
Just after the city bus pulled away, and 10:01 am, one minute after our bus was to leave, the bus from three spots ahead pulled out and I look over by chance to see in bright lights along the back of the bus the number "40"
And like that, we were off, full out running through downtown Cork chasing our bus. To our luck, it stopped at the first red light! Which apparently holds the world record for shortest red light in all of Ireland. The bus pulled off just as I get even with the door. Off we go again, three american students, sprinting after a bus though the city centre of Cork on a sunny Saturday morning. Twice more the bus stopped at red lights, twice more it pulled away just as we reached it. So I hatched a plan!
We knew the bus was going to make a turn across the river and then stop up the hill just near our hostel. So, as we approached the next light, which had turned red, I decided that Lindsey and Ellen would stay on the sidewalk, in case the bus was actually stopped for longer than ten seconds, but I would cut across the middle of the street and head up the hill on an angle, in an attempt to beat the bus up the hill. Now, after having just sprinted four Cork blocks, with backpack in tow, this seemed like a great idea at the time. So I spot a break in the traffic, and make the jump across the street and over to the bridge.
Having noticed as I crossed that the bus was still stopped, I figured this was a brilliant plan, and then looked back to notice Lindsey and Ellen talking to the bus driver at the door. They had made it! And I then safely made my way back across the street to the bus, showed my ticket and took my seat, where we then caught our breath and relaxed, all before the bus moved an inch after waiting at that red light for the next three minutes.
....................
While waiting to get my ticket at Blarney Castle, I noticed two wet dogs walking around just inside the gate. They then walked right out the gate, between our legs, and then right back in to explore the river a bit more. Apparently, dogs get into Blarney Castle for free!
...................
quote of the day:
As you walk toward the castle you are given an incredible view of the Castle and surrounding landscape, which creates a perfect photo opportunity. Walking along the path to the castle, there was a big field to our left where we saw a couple who had set up a tripod with their camera, set the timer, and snapped a great photo of the two of them with the beautiful shot of the castle in the background.
Upon seeing this, Ellen, somewhat jokingly, comments to Lindsey, "O, I wish we brought a tripod so we could get a shot of the two of us like that!"
Lindsey replies, "We don't need a tripod! that's what we brought Pat for!"
It turned out to be a great photo.
...................
After walking the grounds and doing lots of cave and dungeon exploring, we stopped just off the east side of the Castle to the bathrooms to wash our hands and have a sit to rest a bit. As I sat on the steps outside waiting for Ellen and Lindsey, a husband and wife from England were coming down the lane after just kissing the Blarney Stone with their young four year-old daughter.
The young girl exclaimed to her mother, "Mummy, why did we go all the way up there to kiss a stone?"
At this the mother went into a short explanation of the Irish lore of kissing the Blarney stone for eloquence and the traditions behind visiting the castle. After this there was an extended pause as the young girl processed all that her mother has just said.
Then she finally thought of her response, "But Mummy, you mustn't kiss stones! They spend all day outside!"
...................
While enjoying a nice relaxing evening at a pub in Cork, listening to traditional Irish music, I was approached by a man who kept looking at my sweatshirt from across the bar. (it was my MUHS football hoddie from senior year"
"Marquette right?" he says to me
"Um, yes" I replied, caught a little off guard.
"Do you go there now? In Milwaukee correct?"
"Well, yes sort of," I told him, "I am from Milwaukee and I went to Marquette University High School. I go to John Carroll University in Cleveland now, but I know tons of people who go to Marquette, including many close friends."
"O, cool. Well I am from Cork all my life, but I studied at Marquette many, many years ago." he exclaimed. "I absolutely loved it! Such a lovely city and wonderful university. I'll have to go back to visit sometime. Well anyway, my wife and I are off, but I had to come say hi before I left so we could share our love of Marquette!"
And with that he was off.
I add this story to let all you Marquette students, alumni, fans and friends that you are deeply loved, especially in Ireland!
...................
After learning our lessons from he first bus attempt on Saturday, surely the John Carroll Three would have figured it out for our journey to Middletown on Sunday morning, right? Well if there is one thing I learned in Cork, its that the buses are either always on time, or early, never late. Sunday, our bus left five minutes early, as we arrived one minute early.
So we then tried to find a way to get to Middleton for the 11:30 am tour of the Jameson distillery, this then giving us time to get back to Cork early enough to walk round the city before we left back for Maynooth at 5pm. We noticed that the bus to Waterford went right through Middleton. Bingo! We just buy a Middleton ticket, get on the Waterford bus, and get off at Middleton.
Easier said then done. So we went to talk with the man in charge. Literally, this turned out to be the guy in charge of every bus in the whole station. He told us that since the Waterford bus was non-stop, this would only work if we "felt sick near Middleton", and asked the bus driver to let us off.
Did he really just say that??
After letting it sink in for a few seconds, he laughed and informed us that he knows the Waterford driver personally and he will ask him to let us off in Middleton, no worries. As he put it, "I am the man in charge. If I say it will happen, it will happen, you have my word"
If there was any doubt that the Irish are the best hosts to tourists in the world, this story summed it up for me.
...................
After taking the Jameson tour, we were all invited to become official whiskey tasters and then have a free Jameson drink before we left. I thought this would be a fun thing to do, especially since both my father and older brother have done it. I couldn't go all the way to Ireland and not try some Jameson from the source, right?
Now, I have been 21 since November, and even when I was in Ireland 5 years ago, some people thought I was 23 then, and you only have to be 18 in Ireland anyway. Plus I am the oldest member of the John Carroll Three, and there was only seven other people in our tour. No issues then right?
I was carded for the first time ever for "looking 17".
................
Those are some of the stories from Cork, but there is plenty more history and lore to be told from my pictures and explorations. I will surely tell many more in person, as I am now blessed with "The Gift of Eloquent Speech" from the Blarney stone itself!
....................
Saturday was to be the first full day of adventures in Cork, and the John Carroll Three (Ellen, Lindsey and myself) decided to venture on northward to Blarney Castle. After getting up and having tea and toast at the hostel, we walked down the hill and across the river to the Cork bus station. We bought out day return tickets on bus route 40 to Blarney and went to wait at the pick-up spot, just up the block about 75 yards.
Upon arriving at the pick-up point, we noticed that street was lined with buses up and down except for the one spot right in front of us. Having gotten there fifteen minutes early, it was concluded we would wait for the next bus to pull in, get on and be on our way to Blarney, no problem. Now, as I am sure you know, there would not be much need to tell a story about this if our first attempt to catch a bus in Ireland went perfectly smoothly. So, naturally, here is where things got interesting.
We noticed about three buses up the way, a big group of people were boarding a bus, but I could not see the route number on the back. Could I have walked an extra ten steps up the sidewalk to see it better? Sure, but that would not make a fun story either. As it would happen, soon after noticing that bus, another bus drove into our spot and stopped, momentarily. This was just a Cork city bus, and thus of no use to us trying to get to Blarney.
Just after the city bus pulled away, and 10:01 am, one minute after our bus was to leave, the bus from three spots ahead pulled out and I look over by chance to see in bright lights along the back of the bus the number "40"
And like that, we were off, full out running through downtown Cork chasing our bus. To our luck, it stopped at the first red light! Which apparently holds the world record for shortest red light in all of Ireland. The bus pulled off just as I get even with the door. Off we go again, three american students, sprinting after a bus though the city centre of Cork on a sunny Saturday morning. Twice more the bus stopped at red lights, twice more it pulled away just as we reached it. So I hatched a plan!
We knew the bus was going to make a turn across the river and then stop up the hill just near our hostel. So, as we approached the next light, which had turned red, I decided that Lindsey and Ellen would stay on the sidewalk, in case the bus was actually stopped for longer than ten seconds, but I would cut across the middle of the street and head up the hill on an angle, in an attempt to beat the bus up the hill. Now, after having just sprinted four Cork blocks, with backpack in tow, this seemed like a great idea at the time. So I spot a break in the traffic, and make the jump across the street and over to the bridge.
Having noticed as I crossed that the bus was still stopped, I figured this was a brilliant plan, and then looked back to notice Lindsey and Ellen talking to the bus driver at the door. They had made it! And I then safely made my way back across the street to the bus, showed my ticket and took my seat, where we then caught our breath and relaxed, all before the bus moved an inch after waiting at that red light for the next three minutes.
....................
While waiting to get my ticket at Blarney Castle, I noticed two wet dogs walking around just inside the gate. They then walked right out the gate, between our legs, and then right back in to explore the river a bit more. Apparently, dogs get into Blarney Castle for free!
...................
quote of the day:
As you walk toward the castle you are given an incredible view of the Castle and surrounding landscape, which creates a perfect photo opportunity. Walking along the path to the castle, there was a big field to our left where we saw a couple who had set up a tripod with their camera, set the timer, and snapped a great photo of the two of them with the beautiful shot of the castle in the background.
Upon seeing this, Ellen, somewhat jokingly, comments to Lindsey, "O, I wish we brought a tripod so we could get a shot of the two of us like that!"
Lindsey replies, "We don't need a tripod! that's what we brought Pat for!"
It turned out to be a great photo.
...................
After walking the grounds and doing lots of cave and dungeon exploring, we stopped just off the east side of the Castle to the bathrooms to wash our hands and have a sit to rest a bit. As I sat on the steps outside waiting for Ellen and Lindsey, a husband and wife from England were coming down the lane after just kissing the Blarney Stone with their young four year-old daughter.
The young girl exclaimed to her mother, "Mummy, why did we go all the way up there to kiss a stone?"
At this the mother went into a short explanation of the Irish lore of kissing the Blarney stone for eloquence and the traditions behind visiting the castle. After this there was an extended pause as the young girl processed all that her mother has just said.
Then she finally thought of her response, "But Mummy, you mustn't kiss stones! They spend all day outside!"
...................
While enjoying a nice relaxing evening at a pub in Cork, listening to traditional Irish music, I was approached by a man who kept looking at my sweatshirt from across the bar. (it was my MUHS football hoddie from senior year"
"Marquette right?" he says to me
"Um, yes" I replied, caught a little off guard.
"Do you go there now? In Milwaukee correct?"
"Well, yes sort of," I told him, "I am from Milwaukee and I went to Marquette University High School. I go to John Carroll University in Cleveland now, but I know tons of people who go to Marquette, including many close friends."
"O, cool. Well I am from Cork all my life, but I studied at Marquette many, many years ago." he exclaimed. "I absolutely loved it! Such a lovely city and wonderful university. I'll have to go back to visit sometime. Well anyway, my wife and I are off, but I had to come say hi before I left so we could share our love of Marquette!"
And with that he was off.
I add this story to let all you Marquette students, alumni, fans and friends that you are deeply loved, especially in Ireland!
...................
After learning our lessons from he first bus attempt on Saturday, surely the John Carroll Three would have figured it out for our journey to Middletown on Sunday morning, right? Well if there is one thing I learned in Cork, its that the buses are either always on time, or early, never late. Sunday, our bus left five minutes early, as we arrived one minute early.
So we then tried to find a way to get to Middleton for the 11:30 am tour of the Jameson distillery, this then giving us time to get back to Cork early enough to walk round the city before we left back for Maynooth at 5pm. We noticed that the bus to Waterford went right through Middleton. Bingo! We just buy a Middleton ticket, get on the Waterford bus, and get off at Middleton.
Easier said then done. So we went to talk with the man in charge. Literally, this turned out to be the guy in charge of every bus in the whole station. He told us that since the Waterford bus was non-stop, this would only work if we "felt sick near Middleton", and asked the bus driver to let us off.
Did he really just say that??
After letting it sink in for a few seconds, he laughed and informed us that he knows the Waterford driver personally and he will ask him to let us off in Middleton, no worries. As he put it, "I am the man in charge. If I say it will happen, it will happen, you have my word"
If there was any doubt that the Irish are the best hosts to tourists in the world, this story summed it up for me.
...................
After taking the Jameson tour, we were all invited to become official whiskey tasters and then have a free Jameson drink before we left. I thought this would be a fun thing to do, especially since both my father and older brother have done it. I couldn't go all the way to Ireland and not try some Jameson from the source, right?
Now, I have been 21 since November, and even when I was in Ireland 5 years ago, some people thought I was 23 then, and you only have to be 18 in Ireland anyway. Plus I am the oldest member of the John Carroll Three, and there was only seven other people in our tour. No issues then right?
I was carded for the first time ever for "looking 17".
................
Those are some of the stories from Cork, but there is plenty more history and lore to be told from my pictures and explorations. I will surely tell many more in person, as I am now blessed with "The Gift of Eloquent Speech" from the Blarney stone itself!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Maynooth Video: Part 2!
Hi everyone!
Here is the link to Part 2 of my Maynooth living environment videos. Again, its mostly a tour of the campus to give you an idea of where I live.
This weekend I am headed to Cork!
So I will be sure to share my fun times with friends and The Fuchsia Band here sometime next week!
Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0xuUJtXsMc
Maynooth Video: Part 2
(also, due to copy-right issues with the original cut of the video, the new music on Maynooth: Part 2 is "Surfacing", by Vincent Cordel)
Here is the link to Part 2 of my Maynooth living environment videos. Again, its mostly a tour of the campus to give you an idea of where I live.
This weekend I am headed to Cork!
So I will be sure to share my fun times with friends and The Fuchsia Band here sometime next week!
Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0xuUJtXsMc
Maynooth Video: Part 2
(also, due to copy-right issues with the original cut of the video, the new music on Maynooth: Part 2 is "Surfacing", by Vincent Cordel)
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Maynooth Pictures Video
Here is the link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnJipbGNTNg
Maynooth Video: Part 1
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnJipbGNTNg
Maynooth Video: Part 1
Enjoy!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Welcome!
Welcome everyone to my site!
Above is the first few line of Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", the novel for which this blog is named after.
I am glad I finally got this site going and I am very excited to begin sharing my adventures with all of you, as the character spoken about above did so in the novel.
I have been in Maynooth for two weeks now, and I am finally getting use to things and getting situated.
So, done with the welcome, I would like to start things off by giving you a visual show of what my new environment looks like. I just made this video today, and it does not include any of the North Campus, so I will make a second video to add on to this one, but I think this is a good starter.
Hope you all enjoy! More adventures to come soon!
Above is the first few line of Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", the novel for which this blog is named after.
I am glad I finally got this site going and I am very excited to begin sharing my adventures with all of you, as the character spoken about above did so in the novel.
I have been in Maynooth for two weeks now, and I am finally getting use to things and getting situated.
So, done with the welcome, I would like to start things off by giving you a visual show of what my new environment looks like. I just made this video today, and it does not include any of the North Campus, so I will make a second video to add on to this one, but I think this is a good starter.
Hope you all enjoy! More adventures to come soon!
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