Hurricane Florence from afar and an excursion to Cork

I haven’t posted recently for a variety of reasons, mostly for lack of time. It’s not that I have been so

busy, but I haven’t had the extended periods of time which I need to write. I was also distracted by the fact that my youngest sister, who lives in Wilmington, NC, was a refugee from Hurricane Florence. Fortunately, she and her family were able to stay in Wake Forest, where my nephew lives.

They were safe and sound, but there was still the question of their house. Finally, their neighbor was able to send a picture, It showed a large evergreen resting on the roof of their house. At first glance, it looked worse than it was, but they were still anxious. They were unable to get back to Wilmington because of flooding and so could not see for themselves. They eventually made it back to the house on Tuesday and began the work of cleaning up. My sister described the damage to the house as “manageable”, which is good, because our long-awaited family adventure in Italy is scheduled to begin next week.   I was worried that they wouldn’t be able to come, but I am more optimistic now. This trip has been in the works for a year now, and I really want it to happen.

Fish cake and salad for lunch

So, while they were making their way back to Wilmington, I was on my way to Cork, to visit Ireland’s second largest city. It is a relatively short trip from Glenstal to Cork, a little over an hour by train. I caught the train in Limerick Junction at 12:35 and by 2:00 I was having lunch in Cork. I dropped my bag at the hotel and went straight to the restaurant next door. Despite the dire predictions, it was a beautiful, sunny day; and, given how quickly the weather changes in Ireland, I wanted to see some of the sights while it was still sunny. Fortunately, my food came out quickly – a savory bowl of cream of mushroom soup and a fish cake and salad. The fish cake was the best I had ever eaten! Fortified by my lunch I began my explorations.

The River Lee

I came to Cork without much of a plan. I had done some homework on-line, but there did not seem to be too many “can’t miss” landmarks. I really just wanted to see what it was like and expand my knowledge of Ireland. They say that Cork is a city of bridges and I had to cross one almost immediately to get the “island” that houses the core of the modern city. This island lies between two branches of the River Lee and dozens of bridges connect it with the rest of the surrounding parts of the city.



My primary objective was to visit St. Finbarre’s Cathedral, the Church of Ireland’s cathedral in Cork. My route, however, took me initially along St. Patrick’s Street. My original idea was to follow this street along one side on my way to the cathedral and the other side on my way back. Before long, I was lured into the maze of streets and lanes between the main shopping thoroughfare and the river. Along the way, I came across the Crawford Museum and the Opera House, which also figured in my loosely outlined plan. I enjoyed the hustle and bustle of this very lively university city. The presence of so many young people certainly contributes to the atmosphere in Cork.

A partial view of the façade

As the afternoon progressed, I realized I needed to get back on track. With new resolve, I set off in the direction of the cathedral. It is an imposing neo-Gothic structure that sits on a hill, so it was easy to spot and keep in sight. The walk up is invigorating, but worth it. Unfortunately, the front of the cathedral faces an extremely busy intersection and there is really nowhere to get a good photograph of the entire façade. Although the church was built in the 19^th century, it truly is an homage to the workmanship of the mediaeval cathedral builders. The architect, William Burges, designed every aspect of the cathedral; and, even after his death, work was carried out according to his plans. As a result, there is a harmony about the space, which one does not often find in buildings where many hands have been at work. The stained glass windows were all crafted according to mediaeval standards. The colors are incredibly rich and vibrant. As the late afternoon light shone through them, I was grateful to have visited on a sunny day.

The interior

Sunny day in Cork

I made my way back down the hill. Clearly, the locals were enjoying the sunny weather as much as I was. Outdoor seating was at a premium everywhere. I meandered back towards the hotel, poking my head in here and there. I did come upon the English Market – another of Cork’s most famous sights – and made a quick pass through. I intended to come back in the morning and give it my full attention. I liked what I saw, though.







I eventually made it back to the hotel and checked in. I stopped at the restaurant attached to the hotel, Greene’s, and made a reservation for dinner. The barista was making coffee and it smelled so good, that I ordered an espresso. I sat down outside at a table in front of a small waterfall, which tumbles over rocks in an alley between the two halves of the hotel. I didn’t have the courage to take pictures, but some Eastern European woman was having head-and-shoulder shots being taken by a photographer. Her heavily-mascaraed eyes and her “come-hither” looks were hard to miss. I imagined these were being shot for some on-line escort service . . .

Luckily for you, dear readers, I left my cell phone in my room charging while I dined at Greene’s  that evening. It was an amazing meal, about which I probably could have written at length. But, as they say, one picture is worth a thousand words. So, without pictures, no words either. I’m sure that I will have a chance to make it up to you, though.