Day 3, Waterford/Blarney

Day 3, Waterford to Blarney

I was pretty excited about Waterford. While the boys played golf, the girls went into town to take the Waterford tour and shop :) I accumulated a few Waterford pieces from our wedding and was pumped to pick out something from the actual Waterford factory. (I sound like an old woman...) Mom, Maxine, and I took the tour on how the crystal is made. I found it pretty interesting because although they have incorporated some machines for the process, they still use original tools. We have the technology to melt, shape, and cut a piece of crystal to your liking without it ever touching human hands...but is that really something special? Hell no! I want the piece where someone actually took the time to blow the glass to a particular shape, a different person sanded it down and then someone else gently cut every line to make the vase, bowl, or whatever just perfect.

 Mold for "American Football"

2012 Superbowl

 Drawing lines for the cuts, by hand

 Cutting

 More cutting...

I tried to stick around to see a mistake

Waterford Chandelier. 

It will be mine....oh yes, It will be mine.

After a day of shopping, golfing and touring we made the voyage to Blarney! We didn't have any accommodations arranged so we picked up a Bed and Breakfasts of Ireland book....we went down a list of potential B&B's and came across an old farm house. They only had 2 rooms available but 1 room had 3 twins and a double bed. We took the offer and decided to hit a pub (surprised?). This particular pub was a reeaaalll Irish pub. It was on the outskirts of Blarney and the majority of the crowd was locals who were regulars. We made friends with 3-5 of them and had a great night out. Kurt and I always get the same reactions when meeting someone....A. that we're 24 and B. that we're married. We usually get "You look like babies", "You're too young" something along those lines....but here at the Waterloo, I got told to F off by Stephen the drunk road constructor. I loved him in an instant :) I hope to make it to the Waterloo in Blarney again before we leave!