Encarna in Ireland 31st & 1st

New Year's Eve in Bray with Haji (AKA Ann), Gonzalo, Rebecca and Isidora. There is a whole other book to be written about these people suffice to say that they are some of my closest friends and we were invited to have dinner. Gonzalo cooked a hefty roast lamb. Rebecca did the veg, Isi did Wii activities, Haj was the hostess with the mostest and Encarna got to practice her Spanish. I made a vain attempt to drain the European cider lake. Thank you for a great evening and the lift home - all these grumbling taxi drivers and you can't get one when you want. 1st of Jan '09!!! The year when the world implodes. No stopping us though as we strike out for the south. First port of call is Morriseys pub in Abbeyleix. This is the place that Guinness used as a template for one of their 'Irish pub' concept schamozzle. You really have to visit it. The original pub/grocers with excellent Knorr catering pack soup and big toasted sarnis. The Rock of Cashel was scaled, well you leave the wheels in the car-park and negotiate the incline to the pay desk. It's a very historic place with lots of unturned stones and crows. Google it. Cork! The rebel county or city, whatever you want to call it. I call it a large town near Kinsale. We checked in to the Clarion, a smart hotel overlooking the river with a bathroom the size of my house. When in Cork there are one or two important places to visit; The Hi B on Oliver Plunkett St. has to be one of the most original bars in Ireland, it's like being in a scene from 'One flew over the cuckoo's nest'. Counihans, (The place around the corner from it up an alley), The Oak, The Mutton Chop and The Roundy House. There are a few other places whose names escape me but I shall be returning to Cork for an in-depth blog report. For eats we went to 'Soho' for trendy bar food in comfortable and friendly surroundings - blahblahblah. It was also a chance to meet up with Mama T (who was visiting for the state opening of Martin's tool shed), A, Martin, Rory and Ciarain. Just opposite it is The English Market which is a veritable cornucopia of goodies and just the place to stock up the hamper before continuing the tour.