Cork, Ireland and the Blarney Stone

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A two-fer today.   Our day will begin with a trip to Blarney Castle. And the Stone.   Later this evening we visit the Jameson distillery for a wee bit of spirits.   It is Ireland, after all. As we pull into Cork Bay, it is easy to see why they are called the “Emerald Isle”.   Under grey skies, we slowly drift between luscious banks.   The variety of plants is impressive. The bus ride today is short by comparison; just under an hour.   We drive through a lovely countryside and quaint villages, finally arriving in Blarney. The castle, well maintained, looms ahead.   It is not an imposing castle.   Size-wise, it does not compare to some of the castles we have seen on this trip.   It is dominated mostly by its tower.   As with every castle, it is built on a hill with a dominating view of the countryside.   Most of the surrounding lands have been converted to gardens and beyond, cow pastures. We of course have to kiss the stone despite J...
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Casablanca, Morocco

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Casablanca.  The Casbah.  After several delays, we are finally in port and ready to start our day.

Although I should know better by now, we start with preconceived ideas of where we are going and what we will see.  The first stop throws us for a loop ...


The Museum of Moroccan Jews (Not a typo).  I’m not sure what the messaging in this choice was meant to be.  A small affair, barely three rooms, it contains pictures of normal Jewish life and a couple of artifacts on display.  Attached to the museum is a small active synagogue.  OK.  No guide ... just left to wander on our own. 🤔. Are you trying to communicate tolerance?  Since there is a mosque later in the tour are you trying to create the contrast?  Not sure.  But it leaves us with an unpleasant karma about this excursion.



We next walk about parts of the new “old” city!?!?!  OK.  This tour seems haphazard.  A walk past the Royal residence (where the king .... who lives in Rabat! .... stays when he’s in Casablanca.  There really doesn’t seem to be a point to this walk.



Back on the bus, we head to lunch.  Lunch is at a seaside restaurant overlooking the Atlantic.  We dine at a rooftop seating area.  The lunch was exquisite; certainly the best part of the tour.  The hummus was among the best we’ve had the whole trip.  Lunch was good, a bowl of cellophane noodles with mixed veggies finished with the most delicious lemon cheese cake in the WORLD!


The danger now is that the tummy is full, temp is in the 90’s and I’m already drifting off in the bus.


The highlight of the tour is next: the King Hassan II Mosque, the Grand Mosque of Casablanca.  The scale is pretty immense and would have impressed more if we had not seen the Mosques in the Emirates and Istanbul.  Not to take away from Hassan II, just that the others were so over the top!



Finally we move on to the market.  Curiously, it is not the Casbah that Casablanca is famous for!?!  Instead it is a more modern rendition with wide boulevards and generous storefronts.  Not really in the mood to walk with only a 30-minute stop, we find a sidewalk cafe, order a couple of cold drinks and people watch.


Curiously, although it is an overwhelmingly Muslim country, the weekend in Saturday/Sunday.  As it is Sunday, many of the stores are closed and families are out enjoying the beautiful day.


En route to the ship, a stop at an iconic Casablanca landmark: Rick’s Cafe!  Ah, “Play it again, Sam” as we celebrate a film that was not even filmed here! 🙄. But yes, we got the obligatory pics 😂.




CK/jk






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Cork, Ireland and the Blarney Stone

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A two-fer today.   Our day will begin with a trip to Blarney Castle. And the Stone.   Later this evening we visit the Jameson distillery for a wee bit of spirits.   It is Ireland, after all. As we pull into Cork Bay, it is easy to see why they are called the “Emerald Isle”.   Under grey skies, we slowly drift between luscious banks.   The variety of plants is impressive. The bus ride today is short by comparison; just under an hour.   We drive through a lovely countryside and quaint villages, finally arriving in Blarney. The castle, well maintained, looms ahead.   It is not an imposing castle.   Size-wise, it does not compare to some of the castles we have seen on this trip.   It is dominated mostly by its tower.   As with every castle, it is built on a hill with a dominating view of the countryside.   Most of the surrounding lands have been converted to gardens and beyond, cow pastures. We of course have to kiss the stone despite J...
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