Absolutely thrilled to see something on the menu other than sausage and eggs.
Had some smoked salmon & fruit/yogurt and grabbed the 10:05 bus to Kinsale. Kinsale is a small port town (population ~5,000) and I hadn't researched it too much knowing that Id be getting great advice and guidance from a true local.
Never having met Ria before, I wasn't completely sure who I'd be looking for at the station when I got off the bus. Ria is my first cousin on my dads side of the family, born and raised in Kinsale. 2 little ones and a husband, she lives a busy life over here and I was thrilled for the opportunity to meet! Like instant old friends, we chatted over coffee about our lives at home, family and all things Ireland. She took me on a short walking tour and pointed me in the right direction on how I should spend the rest of the afternoon. She's absolutely fantastic and it was the perfect start to the day!
Per her recommendation, I found the Scilly Walk that takes you all along the water, through some absolutely beautiful grounds and up and down some pretty intense hills (which I have to say, I didn't quite believe her when she said they were tough), but ultimately ends at Charles Fort...which I never actually made it to, but you'll find out why. She had encouraged me to stop at the bottom of the hill at a place called the Bullman Bar. Overcast and cool, it was too nice to sit inside, but the only 2 tables on the patio were occupied. Lucky for me, the 4 older gentlemen were more than thrilled when I asked if I could join their table for a pint.
These men were British sailors (sailboat sailors) and they had just landed in Kinsale for the night - out on a 2 week sail along the entire coastline of Ireland, ultimately ending in Dublin. Went inside to order and when I came out, a family of 4 from Boston had also joined our table. Their younger son had been working as a traveling home-school teacher for a very affluent family as they ventures through Europe the last 2 years. His family came over to see him for a last hoorah before he headed back to Boston for his MBA - fascinating! Had the best seafood chowder I've ever experienced (not a single potato, all local fish) and right about the time I finished, the skies opened up and we ended our lunch in the rain. Couldn't complain too much, given this was the first rain wed seen on the trip. The Boston family was nice enough to give me a ride back into town and we headed back to Cork in time to catch the World Cup (way to go, America!)
Had our final dinner as a group at a beautiful restaurant called Market Lane - the grass fed Irish beef made for an incredible steak, and there was actually veggies on the menu!
Hard to believe the trip is coming to an end, back to Dublin tomorrow. Swapped my Temple Bar hotel for a cute little bungalow in Howth, another sleepy seaside town - a quiet night is in order before my travels home. Cheers!
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