The Rest of Mom and Steph's Trip!

Tuesday, I woke up right on time so I had plenty of time to get ready, but I ended up going too slowly and had to run to the bus station - but I still got there first, so it was ok. Grabbed breakfast at the station with Mom and Steph and then we all got on the bus. I spent that ride showing off my pictures of Ireland so far. We got to Killarney in about an hour and a half and were picked up by the tour company. After a brief stop to pick up another party, we went to the tour company building and all got on the bus.

At this point, I'd love to tell you all about how much I learned about Kerry, but I think by now, you know me well enough to know that I have difficulty staying awake. Needless to say, it was a rather restful tour of the Ring of Kerry, broken by photo ops, a stop at a recreated famine-town, and a lunch stop. The only things I really remember from the tour are that the purple flowers everywhere were heather and the yellow ones were gorse, that shamrocks and four-leaved clovers are different, that the "luck of the Irish" is an American thing, and that the sheep have colored blotches on their fleece to mark ownership.

Once we got back to Killarney, Mom and Steph wanted to walk around for a while so we did - in the process, going in different locations of the same store (Quills, I think) 4 or 5 times. (Incidentally, I just saw one of the same stores in Cork, so now I really feel like it was a waste, but whatever lol.). Mom said we were working our way back to the bus station, but when Steph and I decided to ask someone where the bus station was, it turns out we had been moving away from the station, so we started walking back. We passed some lovely homes on the way and tons of B&Bs. We got back to the station with plenty of time to spare, so we looked at the hotel that was next door (it was VERY cool, lots of red and purple velvet, really interesting light fixtures, beautiful floral arrangements - I forget what it's called or I'd link to the website so you could see it) and walked around the mall that was attached to the bus station. Everything was closing, but we got there in time to grab some of the discount dried fruit that they were selling, which was very exciting.

Finally the bus was ready to leave. I think I fell asleep for the bus ride home. We decided to go to this vegetarian restaurant Cafe Paradiso for dinner, but when we got there and looked at the menu, nothing really appealed to me. I'm normally really easy (it's true, I'm not just saying that), but the menu there was really just not for me. By this point, Steph was feeling rather run down and thought she might be getting sick, so she decided to take a cab back to the hotel, where she could get soup and go to sleep. Mom and I ended up back at Liberty Cafe, ordering the same thing we had had the previous evening. We again arranged to speak a little later and then Mom took a cab back to the hotel and I walked home.

Looking at my schedule, I realized that I really had to be on campus Wednesday. Even though I only had one class, I had a meeting for the English department and the Club Fair, plus I wanted to try to register for the seminar. Regretfully, I told Mom that she and Steph would have to go to Kinsale without me - I had to go to school.

Next day, I got up and walked to meet Mom and Steph for breakfast at their hotel. I might not have been able to sightsee, but I could still see them for part of the day! Their hotel did a lovely buffet and then, with their stuff for the day in hand and my backpack on, we walked to campus, which they had not yet seen. I walked them around the main campus, showed them the President's garden, the quad, and the Student Center. The one thing I was most excited to show them was Honan Chapel, and, lucky for me, it was open when we went by. Needless to say, they both LOVED it. The sunlight streamed through the stained glass and everything just looked magical.

After the mini-tour, I said goodbye and went off to find my class, while Mom and Steph went off on their day trip. The building was easy enough to find, but the classroom was rather less so. I had plenty of time though, and found it in soon enough. I saw several people I knew, including Cara, who had been one of my housemates on Inis Meain. After class, I told her about going to register for the seminar class and she decided to go with me, but when we got to the right building, even though we had gotten there within 15 minutes of registration starting, there were already hundreds of people there. After spending about 15 minutes trying to figure out what we needed to do, we both decided to throw in the towel. I met some friends for lunch and then went to the English department meeting. It was very boring and I fell asleep, but Mary Breen was holding the meeting, so I didn't worry too much. When the meeting ended, I went up to her to ask about the seminar class and she said she'd look into it for me, and that I should check in with her on Friday.

With that hope in my mind, I went home to hang out and clean up. I was to meet Mom and Stephanie at this restaurant called Jacob's on the Mall for dinner and they said it was nice so I couldn't just go in my school clothes. I would like it noted that while I was a minute or two late for dinner, I would NOT have been if the restaurant were more clearly marked (the same thing happened when I tried to go again a month later, as you'll see whenever I get around to writing about that.). The restaurant was very cool: bright blue and red furniture with light brown bricks and white washed walls. Art hung from the walls and trees hung in planters suspended from the high ceilings. The food was delicious and we had lots of fun.

After dinner, we went to Clancy's, a local bar, to listen to some traditional music. Unfortunately, because there was a game on, the band didn't start on time and Steph decided to head back early. Mom and I shared an apple crumble-thing and listened to music for a while before becoming too tired. We said goodnight and goodbye and then Mom hopped in a cab and I walked home. They were to leave early the next morning so it was the final goodbye. It was a wonderful visit - I'm so glad they were able to come! - but now that they were gone, I would be really able to throw myself into life in Cork and student activities.