Cobh to Cork, Ireland

Wednesday, September 3, 2014    Cobh to Cork, Ireland

The ship came into port at 10:00am receiving clearance for us to leave at 10:30am. After breakfast we met the Sugg’s and caught the local train to Cork…a half an hour ride.

                                                              Train Station in Cobh

The train was a quick ride because we were busy using the free internet to call home and catch up on emails.

                                                                
Train Terminal in Cork


Our intention was to take the Hop On Hop Off Bus around Ireland’s second largest city, Cork. We waited at the bus stop and unfortunately…the bus had only five empty seats which we did not get. So we walked 15 minutes deeper into the town and waited for the next bus to come around. The wait gave us an opportunity to talk with other cruisers who were waiting along with us. Unfortunately that Hop On Hop Off Bus was completely full… so we crossed over the bridge and walked down to the water and went into an Irish Pub.
                                                                                                     Cork was kind of a blue collar town.

 This restaurant had the most relaxing little waterfall right in the middle of all the city traffic.

                                                           Outside the pub   
 We enjoyed some ice tea and conversations with the locals and the waitress…and honorable Irish tradition. Never met a Irish stranger! We took a hike up a huge hill to the church that sat looking over the town and caught the last train back to the ship just in time to beat the 4:00pm boarding time. Did this day go by fast? WAY TOO FAST!

Cobh, Ireland

All of us went on the top deck to watch the sail away getting a gorgeous view of Cohb. It was a lovely little village. The Titantic picked up its last passengers here in Cobh in 1912. In honor of the Titantic the dock had dozens of beautiful Victorian ladies dressed in pink waving to the ship to send us off!
                                                                        

Before dinner,  we all met in the Centrum to listen to the classical guitar sounds of Pedro Espedido….OH MY!!! He could make that guitar talk! What a talent! Larry and I took  an early evening retreat while Debi and Lindsey went to the Irish joke teller show!  I fell asleep before it was even 9:00pm…all that fresh air, walking and talking just knocked me out early!