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Wanderlust (In our own backyard)

 "All that is gold does not glitter. Not all those who wander are lost."- J.R.R. Tolkein

After a weekend full of London adventures, and spring break planning to far away lands (coming for ya Barcelona, Rome, and Budapest!), it hit me that we hadn't even really began to explore our own backyard. Thus, the wandering began.

On one of our first days in Cork, Heidi and I wandered past St. Finn Barre's Cathedral and ooh-ed and ahh-ed at it's magnificent beauty, we even questioned whether or not it was real (it is, don't worry). But this time, we decided to actually go inside- oh, what a revelation. Upon our entrance, we were told that because we go to UCC, we get free admission- thank you God for free things, amen. The inside was glorious, spectacular, and breathtaking. Full of vibrant stained glass, huge vaulted ceilings, and such intricate detail it was almost hard to look at everything.  The stained glass literally glowed throughout the church, due to a rare and flawless blue sky day in Ireland. My most favorite part of the whole experience was the candle stand. When you walk into the building, you are handed a candle, and told to proceed toward the brass candle-stand, where you will light your candle with one already burning, and place it in the rack as you say a little prayer. I could only imagine what it would have looked like if more than two candles were on it.
the candle stand

this would look so good in my room

flawless. 
I wasn't quite sure if anything could be as beautiful as St. Finn's, but I was mistaken the second I hopped off a bus at Blarney Castle. Although it's much older than St. Finn's, and much more beaten up, it was just as incredible. The landscape around it made me feel like I was in the Sound of Music with endless rolling green hills in every direction. Also, I always forget how afraid of heights I am…until I'm looking straight down off the top of a really old castle. Walking up the extremely narrow (I can not emphasize the narrowness enough), very slippery spiral staircase, we were spit out smack dab on top of ol' Blarney. Producing beautiful views and endless greenery, and yes- sheer and utter terror as I looked down and I was standing on a grate that would not be fun to fall through. But, kissing the Blarney Stone is an absolute must (even if the Irish do pee on it **this has not been proven**), and the old man holding your life in his hands- God Bless you (Dia Dhuit in Irish), you are a great man. The rule to kissing the stone is that you have to lie on your back, be suspended by your waist, and reach reallllly far down to kiss this one little speck that remains of the historic stone- oh, all whilst looking directly down to the ground: a world where people look like ants. However terrifying it was, I am in desperate need of the Gift of Gab (eloquence, lol), so dammit I was gonna kiss that stone if it was the last thing I did. 

Ah Blarney!
oh, we found a cave too.

this was an obvious photo must.

Look at all that green!

not quite there yet..

This man is the bees kneez

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