Walking about Limerick City Centre

[kybearfuzz]

Visiting King John's Castle, Limerick, Ireland

I finally got out of the hotel, well rested and ready to go. I had heard that the Limerick City Centre was about a 1/2 hour walk (if you've got good legs, as one older man told me). So I started hoofing it, it's not like I don't need the exercise. Along the way, I spied a McDonald's, they must literally be everywhere. Like any bad American tourist, I stopped there for lunch. Well, there are very few restaurants around the hotel. There is also a large mall next to MickeyD's. I made note of that for later.

It felt like longer than 30 minutes of walking, but I was taking pictures along the way. I knew I was getting closer to the City Centre when there were more and more people around. Not a bad downtown area, loaded with pubs, no surprise. There was a charity drive for cancer going on, lots of guys on motorcycles for a race going on too. I wanted to snap pictures of some of the more burly ones, but they were a rough looking crowd. I decided to err on the side of caution and just admire them from afar.

The only real tourist attraction open today was King John's Castle. King John was quite the scoundrel, the brother of Richard I, and known villian in most Robin Hood movies (Yes! That King John!) the castle was impressive, a large courtyard, surrounded by turrets and some beautiful views of the River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland. There was some decent eye candy there too, but it was hard to snap good pictures of them from a distance. I did get one of a daddy bear with a great beard. It was fun roaming about the castle, checking out some of the excavation they've been doing. There were some creepy parts where they have manikins (sp?) in rooms, re-enacting historical events.. *shiver*.

I had seen enough after a couple of hours, so I stopped off in the gift shop for family stuff and postcards. I hope I can get the mugs home without breaking them.


"AOA Biker Bar"
On the way back, I noticed several of the motorcycles parked outside a shady bar "AOA." I wondered if it was a straight bar or not. Like a scene from Will & Grace when Will and Jack wonder if the bar is gay, I heard Gloria Gaynor belting out "I Will Survive" booming through the bar walls. I laughed out loud at the implication. I'm sure it's probably not a gay bar, as I saw many men and women entering and leaving, but it struck me funny.

More of the day's pictures taken are located here.

I was exhausted when I got back to the hotel, covered in sweat, I decided to lift weights in the gym for a bit and then showered. I ran into Tim the Dubliner again, had a pint with him and grabbed dinner. Tomorrow.. work... :(

Comments

[jeremasaur.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a very cool day there. Glad you're having a great time! :-)

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

I am, it's a beautiful country. Actually, the weather has been the most surprising, so sunny and mild, in the low 70's... Loving it!

[jeremasaur.livejournal.com]

Oh man... lucky! It hit 98 today here. lol

[bleuvalentines.livejournal.com]

McDonald's, Mark?!? *laugh* ;)

Looks like a fun day! Enjoyed the pictures and looking forward to more!

By the way ... what does your t-shirt say (in the pics)?

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

A hungry man will do just about anything for lunch. And a chicken sandwich combo cost me 7 Euro (about 10 bucks!).

And my shirt says "Old Navy"... nothing like wearing something that pegs you as a foreigner! :)

[bleuvalentines.livejournal.com]

7 Euro ... ah, that's nothing! Wait until you get to England and that 7 Euro combo now costs 7 pounds! Whoo hoo! $13 for a Mickey D's lunch!

[rockyjohn.livejournal.com]

Weeee, pics of the Capt. :D

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

LOL... you're too funny :)

[jbear70.livejournal.com]

So were people there walking around speaking a light humorous, nonsensical, or bawdy verse of five anapestic lines usually with the rhyme scheme aabba? [grin].

Glad you had a good time today.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

LOL.. no rhyming on the streets :)

[chriscub.livejournal.com]

very cool, glad to see its not all work..hugs bud and hope its a fun next days

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

Hey Chris! I try to have some fun whenever I can :)

[mikiedoggie.livejournal.com]

Very cool to see you got out for a day in Limerick. Cute legs, too. ;-)

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

LOL.. glad you like them :)

Variety

[arktos62.livejournal.com]

Well, Mark,this email has everything - history, food (ahem, well Macdonalds), Will, Grace, Guinness and sweat. It's already turning into a memorable trip :-)

Re: Variety

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

LOL.. it does have good elements, the Guinness was the best part I think.

[pariahcub.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you had a full day out there. LMAO @ the Gloria Gaynor reference! With Ireland being famous for hauntings, were their any ghost tours available?
And, btw, you have the Legs of Life, Mark ;)

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

LOL.. thanks for the compliment :)

I never thought about a ghost tour, I'll have to look into that!

[boobooirl.livejournal.com]

Great pics!
You actually make Limerick look MUCH nicer than I expected it to be.

hmmm... can you pop up to the dump of a town I'm from and take pretty pics of it too? lol

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

LOL! I'm glad you like them. I have to say that the weather has made a big difference, from what I hear from everyone.