We did not visit Cork on our land journey nor by sea. The local people advised us against it simply because it is just another big city (3rd largest in Ireland). So today we avoid the congestion and explore the port city of Cobh (pronounced "cove"), This is the greeting outside our balcony upon arriving.
Cobh is lovely at first sight.
Annie Moore and her brothers.
Pat, Joanna and I, Kathy, climbed to the TOP of the town. Starting at the top and working our way down. Tom is taking "time off" and has had enough of churches.
This lady is polishing the brass in preparation for a 2 p.m. wedding. This is the third "Friday" wedding we have noted. New tradition? I asked a few folks why Friday....answer is so they can have a longer celebration. Couldn't find any info on Saint Colman in the church and this woman didn't know either. Wikipedia says he was born to a royal family in 550 AD and lived his life as a hermit and a recluse, praying and fasting and founded a monastery.
On our way down the hill to meet Tom
Another memorial to the victims of the "Great Famine", also called the "Great Hunger".
We are united to do the "Titanic Experience"
We each receive a boarding ticket, complete with name, age and sailing class of a real person who sailed from Cobh. The 3 women all sailed 2nd Class and Tom was in 3rd.
The remains of the original dock
An Irish Navy vessel passes as we are there. Hard to imagine a country as small as Ireland having a naval fleet. We were not allowed to take pictures inside the "experience". There were replicas of the Titanic cabins -- 3rd class was very spartan with 2 bathtubs for 700 passengers and not many more toilets. Second class was better, but not much. First class had HUGE suites, private bathrooms and a butler. Third class passage was 8 pounds, second was 12 pounds and first class was more than 800 pounds. Doesn't really matter what that value is worth in today's currency; what is astonishing is the fact that the difference was 100fold!!!!!
According to the information office, this is where the locals gather.
There she is again!
Back onboard, local dancers perform.
This is the first time that this young girl has performed in public. Think she was about 10 years old and she was so excited!
Several shots of Cobh as we pull out of the port. A pretty town with lots of COLOR!!!
