Cork City Gaol

We didn't get to see much of Cork (we'll save that for another time) but we did enjoy our visit the City Gaol.

The model gives you a good idea of its layout...

...very impressive on our arrival.

Imagine the prisoners behind these barred windows...

...many of them paupers or political prisoners.

One wing has been renovated to show how life was in the 19th & early 20th centuries...

...probably not as clean as now.

There are mannequins/figures everywhere and they certainly help you to imagine prison life. The one on the right is Tine by the way.

Some of the passages off the main wing weren't very welcoming.

The view from a cell...

...and the steps down to who knows where?!

Oops, that funny person's here again!

All this excitement, I deserve an Irish stout, Murphy's in practice for the real thing!

This video gives a very good impression of our visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6c851g5vu0

Back on our travels

In September we were very excited to be invited to Norma & Niall's wedding in Ireland and we decided to make a holiday of it.

 

Tine & 'Er from Brittany (and no, you won't be seeing much of Miss Camera-Shy) on the ferry from Roscoff. 

 

14 hours later after a roller-coaster crossing we arrived in Cork. 

First stop, Blarney Castle...

...with a wonderful welcome.

We joined the queue to climb to the top...

...to kiss the Blarney Stone.

Well, Tine attempted but she's bit too short to manage.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blarney_Stone

Look at the gap in the middle.

I enjoyed the view instead...

...discovering this fun loving criminal!

Last few days in La Tranche (for now)

Our final visitors of the year were Pauline & David, this time just the two of them.

I reckon you'll recognise l'Embarcadère by now...

...the food's pretty good too!

We drove to Les Sables and visited L'Île Penotte, a small area of narrow passageways.

The locals have created friezes and pictures using shells

Some are particularly good...

...others are funny!

Obviously there's often a marine influence.

These three look very realistic!

Driving back along the corniche there were very dramatic waves...

...ideal conditions to visit le Puits d'Enfer (the Well of Hell).

Our three wistfully looking out to sea.

That's better!

Big tide at La Terrière and back to school

It's now the end of August and we're briefly just the two of us at home. It's the time of year when we get big tides so a visit up the coast was in order.

The sea was pretty rough.

As we approached the main swimming area...

...the crowds got busier.

I wouldn't fancy the lifeguards' jobs!

Meanwhile it's back to school for Alfie, Sacha & Betty

Alfie showing off his new haircut...

 

...Sacha waiting for the school bus...

 

...and AlfnBets in their new uniforms. 

Junior cousinade

It was great to have a family get-together at Monique's house mid-August, with just Monique, Tine & moi from our generation!

I won't label everyone but you can see there was a good turnout.

The junior table

Rémy & Jennifer popped in to say hi after a hard day's work at the campsite. Here with Manu & Laurence.

Charles & Mathilde's son Jules with Betty.

Your Faithful Blogger with the Hills 3.

That's Mathilde in orange...

...& Charles chatting to Matt. Mathilda & Charles got married a few weeks later, sadly we were double-booked as you will see in a future post.

Our hostess Monique, often missing in photos but present in this and the one above!

As you can see we had fun into the night with a few shushes from Monique so that we didn't disturb the campers.