adventures in 'stab city'

Bunratty Castle--headed for the banquet

Bunratty

This picture turned out a lot cooler for everyone else cos they were tall enough to stick their heads out. thanks mom and dad.

Bunratty Castle

View of Limerick from King James Castle

King James Castle

So Europe has these really amazing things called 'Bank holidays.' Their purpose...who knows. The result...no school (and for some, no work). Awesome if you ask me. Discovering that we were going to have a long weekend, some of my friends and I decided that we wanted to leave Dublin. Our first choice was Galway, but due to a jazz festival (and the city's sheer popularity) all of the hostels were booked. Second choice, Cork, full too. Third choice, Limerick. We found a bus and a hotel (that's right, not even a hostel) for 20 euro a night and booked that little baby up. Soon after booking our trip we find out from Don (one of our directors--'God' as we like to refer to him) that little ol' Limerick is known as 'stab city.' Great. Everyone who we talked to about it said it was great 'crack' (irish slang loosely translated as 'fun') but just to be really careful, hold your purses close and don't go anywhere after the places close (like no food or nothin') and to just take a cab back to the hotel. A little worried we left on Saturday morning, fully prepared for anything and with no clue as to what we were going to do once we got there.

We got to limerick around 2, got to our hotel and found out that we couldn't check in yet (even though online said check in was at 11) so luckily 'Eddie Rockets' (yeah, you guessed it...Ireland's version of Johnny Rockets) was next door so we waited in there with burgers and oreo milk shakes. yummmm. It was really rainy the whole day so we were trying to decide what to do. We decided to stay in our rooms and chill out for a few hours before heading in to city center for dinner and 'pub activities' to follow. The rooms were really nice and there was a double bed and then a couch that had a mattress that pulled out from underneath--holding 3 people in each. A couple hours of napping/reading later we made quite the discovery. The back couch cushion was one giant pillow that made the most awesome flying contraption. Here we were a room full of 20 (and one 21) year olds jumping from the couch on to the bed sailing on a couch cushion. Much more fun than it sounds and I suggest ALL of you (no age requirement here) to try it out. We got some good pictures but they're not on my camera so I'm sorry but you guys will have to imagine. We got the 3 from the other room to come over and insisted they test it out. About an hour later--and after convincing ourselves we could not come all this way just to stay in and 'mattress dive'--we grabbed a taxi and headed for the city.

The Cab drivers were all really amazing and when they found out we had heard it was called 'stab city' they did their best to make us feel comfortable. The driver drove us to the main 2 streets that were safe and told us which bars were good and which place to eat at and he gave us his personal number to call if we were ever lost or needed a ride at any time. It was really nice and his suggestions were great! The club we went to after dinner was owned by his brother (or maybe his brother just worked there, who knows) and after we left we gave the driver a call and told him all was well and thanked him for his help and suggestions! It was just one of many many examples of the good nature people have over here and how willing they are to help and make you feel comfortable.

The next day (as seems to be the pattern) was absolutely beautiful and we were excited to get out there and explore. As recommended by our cab driver the day before, we started off by going to King James Castle. It was really nice and there was a whole little museum before hand that gave you a little history. Turns out King James never lived in the castle and only visited like twice or something weird. The view of Limerick was really pretty and it was a good way to start off our day. From there we decided we would go to Bunratty Castle, which the cab driver had said was more fun (but a little further out). We saw an advertisement for a four course medieval banquet that was held at the castle. Usually this kind of thing isn't really my style. I like more authentic experiences and often enjoy more of a local atmosphere but after thinking about it for a while--the money that would be spent on dinner and a night out as well as the opportunity to experience a huge meal in an old Irish castle--I decided it would be worth it. The promise of free flowing red and white wine didn't hurt either. So after some group collaboration we decided to call and make reservations for that too.

The castle was smaller than King James but BEAUTIFUL. There was a recreated village around it with shops and houses and farm animals. I can't stress enough how beautiful it was. It felt so much like fall and all around were amazing fall colors and fallen leaves. It was like Oregon only with a castle. The only thing i was missing was a cup of hot apple cider and capping the night off with pumpkin carving. We walked around for a couple hours and saw piglets, goats, Irish wolfhounds (freaking cute), ducks, chicken, a peacock and I'm probably forgetting some others. They were all sooooo cute.

The Banquet was really great. All the people working at it were in full medieval gear and said things like lords and ladies. We started with some honey-mead wine and Irish brown bread. Then came some delicious potato and parsnip soup. Then spare ribs. Then chicken and vegetables. Then this amazing desert. And, I can't seem to mention enough, red and white wine throughout all. Oh and to make it a truly authentic meal, we had no silverware just steak knives--our dagger. The people working at it stood up front and sang good ol' Irish folk songs during the meal and even included us in 'wild rover.':

(chorus)
And it's no, nay, never, (4 claps)
No nay never no more,(2 claps)
Will I play the wild rover (1 clap)
No never no more.

The meal was finished with tea and coffee and wine induced song outside the castle (journey and johnny cash would be proud their songs are sung so frequently outside pubs and even castles) as people headed for their cars (which now that I write that seems a little frightening) and cabs. It was a really great day and I was glad we decided to do the banquet. We left the next day, having survived 'stab city,' and learning that the greatest threat there may not be the stabbings but unlimited wine.

We leave for northern Ireland on Thursday which I am really looking forward to. I have spent so much of my time here learning about it, it will be cool to see the place where so much happened. As I realize that I only have 2 free weekends (probably only 1, realistically--as I still hope to meet up with Melinda) I am starting to stress out about all of the work and essays that I need to complete by the time I leave. A few of my essays aren't technically due until the 14th of January (because that's when their semester actually ends) but I am going to do my best to get them done before I leave--I know the last thing I'm going to want to do when I get home is write essays. We'll see how it goes. I've never been one to turn down an all-nighter and I don't see why one in Ireland should be any exception.

Hope you all have a good Halloween! (by the way--be excited for pictures from Halloween in northern Ireland. I hear they do it big up there and I have a mask that will make you proud)

sláinte!