Kara's Hop Across the Pond: Study Abroad: Day Seven

Today started out with a lot of excitement, as we knew we were going to do some adventurous activities!

Starting off, we proceeded to the Jameson Distillery Experience tour in Cork. This tour was truly realistic as our tour guide took us through the grounds of the Jameson Factory, showing us how the whiskey is created through a very specific process. I learned what “triple distillation” meant, and how it makes it smoother than American and Scotch whiskeys. The distillation process from Jameson also allows it to be gluten-free, which I thought was quite interesting. At the end of the tour, some of our classmates were able to taste test the difference, and we all were able to have a drink with Jameson and a mixer, like ginger ale.

In front of Jameson Distillery before our tour!

Jameson Bottle Chandelier.

Barrels of Jameson ranging from in age such as 3 years up to 18 years. The darker the whiskey, the more aged.

Whitney and I.

We hopped back on the bus and headed for Blarney Castle to “kiss the rock.” Even though it was raining and a little cool, we had a blast! I think it was one of my favorite tours since it was self-guided. Whitney, me, and a couple other classmates were not sure where to head into the castle first, so we started in the dungeon. I was at the front trying to navigate the way.

Whoops.

As we headed along the dungeon, the cave kept getting narrower and narrower until we were literally having to duck and squat and hold on to the wall to keep from slipping or falling. Well, we got to the end.

A dead end.

Haha! But it really was fun! We then figured out the way to go up into the castle and kiss the stone. It is said that by kissing the stone, you will receive the “gift of eloquence,” otherwise known as the “gift to gab.”

I kissed the stone twice!

Blarney Castle!

This is me crouched down in the "dungeon."

Kissing the Blarney Stone!

We ate lunch at a mill near the castle, did some shopping at this large market, and then we headed back on the bus to ride to our hotel. Let me say you all, I don't believe I have ever stayed in a 5-star hotel, so I was like a child in a candy store when we arrived. It is so gorgeous, and boasts such elegant accommodations (like a towel rack to warm your towels, and a beautiful balcony that enables you to see the lake and mountains)! It also has a spa, indoor pool and Jacuzzi, sauna/steam room, and a salt-water pool! Dinner was also amazing here at the hotel, and I was able to go do some reading for class near a fire, call mom and dad, and sip on wine and a hot coffee.