"A Taste of Cork- 17th-19th November 2008" Personal Page by suvanki

Ekaterinburg - Katherine -(and Dennis, her husband) -Cork - Ireland - Who organised A Taste of Cork 17th-19th November 2008


Benazer -Az - London - England
dila - Diana - Amsterdam - Netherlands
Nomad7890 - Martha - Lake Mary - USA
Sachara - Ali - Emmen - Netherlands
Songlines - Agnes- Skibbereen - Ireland
tjsomerset - Ted - Ireland
Tripack - Patrick - Valais - Switzerland

Also, VT FLAG, DAO ,Gillybob and Royslaven , who I'd met in Halifax, the previous month.

I'm afraid that I missed meeting those who could just be there for Friday night or Saturday daytime

Eating at Market Lane Restaurant

This was my second VT meet, I hadn't planned to attend, but as I had a flight booked to Dublin for that weekend, I decided to alter my plans, and fly onto Cork. Sadly, I had to miss out on Friday nights Greyhound racing and the traditional pub with live music, and Saturdays Day Out to the coast, which sounded very interesting.
My flight got me there, just in time to join the others for a lovely meal at the Market Lane Restaurant. Time to catch up with Gilly, DAO and John, and meet some new friends.

A pint of The Black Stuff

The annual Cork Film Festival was being held during our meet, so there was quite a lively buzz here. We managed to get served at the busy bar. Beamish or Murphys are the local 'Black Stuff' - not Guinness, which comes from Dublin - or 'The City'

This was a good place to shelter from the rain......

Martha prepares to kiss the Blarney Stone

Sunday morning, Gilly, Martha and myself, caught the bus to Blarney, to see the Village and its castle, where we kissed the famous Blarney Stone...

a 'soft rain' was becoming increasingly heavier

Martha and Gilly in the Gardens

....... and explored the castle grounds and magical gardens, before Martha had to leave us, to catch the bus back to Cork, for her flight back home

Sunday lunchtime in the pub Gilly and DAO

where we were joined by DAO for lunch.
This was a friendly pub, which served traditional Irish fayre, such as boiled bacon with colcannon, mashed potato and parsley sauce-delicious!

The Hurling Cup Final was being held in Dublin, and Blarney were playing....and they won! so as you can imagine, those who hadn't got tickets, were gathered in the pub. Munster were also playing rugby, which was televised, so it was a good day for the sporting fans here!

DAO went to explore the castle, Gilly and I explored Blarney, missed the bus, so headed back to the pub, to wait for the next one!

Eating at Isaacs Restaurant

Gilly had to catch her flight back home, so I went to find the others - Ali, Agnes, Patrick and John, and we went in search of a suitable place for our evening meal.

This restaurant had a good atmosphere, and great food.

It was then time to say our Good-byes, before heading back to my hostel. Patrick was heading in the same direction, so we called into a pub for a night cap of Guinness

I had another day to see Cork, and Katherine had kindly offered to show me around next morning

Katherine in Shandon

Katherine picked me up from near my hostel, and drove us to Shandon, an area of Cork, that has quite an arty feel. Time to ring the bells in St Agnes church!, before zooming over to the University, (which is modelled on one of Oxfords old colleges), then sadly it was time to head for the airport, and my flight home via Dublin.