So, on a misty May 24th morning, we landed in Cobh, Ireland- a quaint hamlet right on the coast. It boasts a beautiful cathedral on a hill and lovely people. Walking off the ship was a thrill unlike any I've had since I saw Venice for the first time in 1998. The difference here is, not only had I survived seven days at sea as opposed to 15 hours of flight and car travel, I knew that this was the very first definitive example of how much my life had changed and how much I was about to do the same.
The port was located next to the town train station, which also held a mini-plaza of sorts. There were a few tourist shops inside and a small restaurant or two. As I went into one of the souvenir shops, I noticed a rack full of postcards with last names and their Irish history on them. With a hunch, I searched for my surname. Sure enough, there was Jackson! I really am Irish- at least partly, or maybe just due to the fact that some of my ancestors were owned by a rich Irish person. Either way, when I wear the t-shirt that says "I'm the Irishman your mother warned you about" I can do so with pride.
But, I digress.....
We decided that, as lovely as Cobh was, it just wasn't big enough to whet the Irish whistle and boarded the train to Cork- a much bigger town that was approximately 20-30 min. away. So much was already different being in Ireland- the language was different- I mean, Celtic, people- you might as well learn Russian. The pronunciation is so much more different that you'd expect with your roman alphabet and Germanic/Latin sensibilities People did not get much sun there, as to be expected. But there is something about a pale dude with ice blue eyes and dark hair and brooding features that says ZING! Of course, maybe that is just me.
Cork has a truly vibrant energy about it- and seems to be a very open place. we walked from the train- truly the first outing I took with the majority of the cast- and made it to the ped mall. Oh ped mall- the bain and love of my existence for two reasons- H&M and Zara. Those two stores, for those of you not in the know, are SOOO much more appealing in Europe because they are SOOO much different. Fashion, fashion, fashion- and well fitted at that, most of which you'd never find in the US. I did control myself somewhat- getting only one shirt, one pair of pants and two belts.
Needing a caffeine fix, we stopped at a Costa Coffee- a northern European Starbucks-like chain with much more appeal. There, we chilled to a cappuccino and enjoyed feeling a bit bougie. I mean, I was travelling and being paid for it. It just seemed exactly like what I had seen in the movies- I was having my Angelina Jolie moment. Yes, I said Angelina. Why her and not Brad Pitt? Because this is not a period drama- this was happening in real time. Besides, could you see Brad having a coffee in Ireland, or slicing at someone in Greece? I rest my case.
After about an hour, we decided to head back to Cobh so that we could be closer to the ship. Upon arrival, we realized we had not gotten our fill of Irish beer and headed for a pub in town. Lots of dogs wandering around in Cobh, and one made fast friends of Erwin until he knew he wasn't getting anything. On to Vinnie he went, and followed us until we found a bar with a rowdy and decidedly confused crowd of men.
"Arrr arr arrr ar arrrr!" they said. Then, one of them turned to Katelyn and Jessica- the two statuesque and gorgeous dancers and said "IT'S YOU!!!!" To this, the men started jumping up and down and yelling "AAARR AARRRR ARRRRR!" while waving for them to come in. With such a wonderful greeting, we could do nothing more but accept their invitation and promptly head to the bar down the street where they were not.
A nice quiet pub and a nice quiet time, we had a beer or two and walked back to the ship. I had just had my first adventure. And it was exhilarating. I didn't scale a peak or rescue a homeless man or drive 150mph or anything, but the thrill was still concrete, the air was fresh, and my mind was full of possibility.
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