Visiting The Blarney Castle, Blarney, Cork Co., Ireland

Just 10 km away from Cork city center, Blarney Castle is one of the popular tourist destinations of Ireland. Some people love it and some people are repelled by the thought of kissing a stone. Needless to say, the same rock was kissed by thousands of people already. Blarney Castle is more of ruins of the castle than the castle itself. 

The village of Blarney is accessible by car or bus. Numerous travel agencies offer day tours to Blarney Castle from major cities like Cork/ Dublin/ Waterford. There is much more to Blarney Castle than meets the eye. The castle is surrounded by luscious green grounds and a variety of gardens. Still, the admission price is quite steep @ €18  per person for what it has to offer.  The sight of a flowing river, River Martin, through the castle grounds makes it picturesque. Castle and gardens are open throughout the year, but Blarney house is open seasonally. 

There is plenty to explore on the castle grounds. However, it is always better to start the tour of the castle. Depending on the weather, wait times can be very long. Blarney Stone is on the top of the castle. The only way to reach the top is to climb never-ending spiral stone stairs. Each floor has a little something to explore. After reaching the top, get ready to kiss the stone. Don't worry, you will have a lot of help to reach the stone. Don't forget to smile for the camera. You can take your own picture at the stone or purchase your picture at the end of the tour. Thankfully climbing down the stairs was easy.

Beneath the castle, is a dungeon that is mostly inaccessible and to the left of the castle, is a badger cave. We went inside the cave but there is nothing to explore. Duh! it is just a cave with a muddy floor. 

All the walking and climbing made us tired and hungry so we headed right to the café. Stable Yard Café has a nice collection of coffee, tea, ice cream, scones, pizza, and a lot more. With the lovely ambiance and delicious food, the café was a refreshing stop. 

Off we went on our way to explore the castle gardens. There are various gardens around the castle grounds. It can take a whole day to explore this vast area. The poison garden was interesting. However, Rock close is my personal favorite. The rocks and trees are covered with moss and have a fairytale charm to it. 

We dragged a stroller and two kids through the rugged paths and stairs to explore these gardens. Well, they were worth the effort.

Outside the castle is a small shop 'Blarney Chocolate Factory'. As a chocolate lover, I cannot skip any shop that has 'chocolate' in its name. They have quite a good collection of chocolate and fudge at a reasonable price. Dark Orange Bar is the best.

Shandon Bells at St. Anne's Church and Butter Museum, Cork City, Ireland

How many times do you get to ring the bells of the 16th-century church? Not a lot of times to never, right? St Annes's church of Shandon in Cork allows just that. For a nominal fee of 5€ ( 12 € for a family), visitors can ring church bells at any time. Great opportunity for visitors but not so much for the neighbors. At times these bells can be deafening hence all visitors are supplied with a pair of ear protectors.

The church is on the ground floor. But, to ring the infamous bells and to see the beautiful city of Cork, take those narrow, rugged stone stairs. If traveling with kids, note that there is no buggy/wheelchair access, no lift, and no bathrooms on the premises. Unlike the Blarney castle or the English market, this place does not have a lot of tourist footprint. For the most part, we were the only crowd there. 

The first flight of stairs, which are rather easy to climb, opens to a grand hall. Follow the detailed instructions and pull the number chords to ring the bells. As you pull the numbered chords, bells sing a dainty song. Kids will immensely enjoy the experience of ringing bells.

Another flight of stairs leads to another hall with urns on display. Bob and Joan's statues are on display too. Climb another flight of narrow, steep, uneven stone stairs to see the bells and internal mechanism. The last flight of stairs, the most challenging of all, starts with a ladder followed by stone stairs. They can be scary for first-time visitors. Do not turn back yet! Climb the ladder and the stairs as beautiful views of the city awaits.

On a clear day, you can capture magnificent views of this beautiful city from all directions. On your way out, visit the Church. It is no basilica but a quiet place of worship. It has a wide display of old manuscripts and bibles. If time permits, visit the butter museum nearby.  

Butter Museum is just a short walk from St Anne's Church. A small two-storied building houses the museum and wouldn't take more than an hour to visit. The entry fee is around €12 per family of 4.

Tour started with a detailed video about Cork Butter History. The lower level has a wide display of artifacts. How butter was made in the olden days. The upper level has a couple of rooms with more history on Cork's butter trade. It was an ok museum. If you are in a time crunch, by all means, skip this place.

All About English Market, Cork City, Ireland

The English market is one of the highly recommended places to visit in Cork City. It has 7 entry/exit points and is tucked perfectly between Oliver Plunkett Street and St. Patric Street. The only trick is to find a parking spot nearby. The market is accessible for buggies but maneuvering a buggy in the jam-packed narrow aisle is a tough task.  This market is full of stalls with fresh fish, poultry, meat and produce. Stall with a variety of olives is my personal favorite.  

If you are passing through the busy streets of St Patrick's, stop by for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine or a quick bite. The Farmgate Cafe upstairs has a variety of food options to choose from but it is always jam-packed. There are few cafés, bakeries, delis, and stores for Irish trinkets too. Ironically this place is always crawling with tourists although there is nothing much for tourists to buy. But worth a quick visit if you happen to be in this area. 

Chocolates always have a special place in my heart and tummy. The chocolate shop in the market has a good assortment of locally made chocolate. Click the link for the list of shops and the location layout. 

A Beautiful Rainbow

Moving to Ireland - Important things to know

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I would never ever write a post this long. But the first two weeks in Ireland had been the most stressful days for our family. There is enough information on the internet but not in order and not definitely from the start to the end. So I thought of including all the necessary information in one post so someone like me would find this post helpful.

One fine day, we decided to move to the Republic of Ireland for my spouse's work purpose. He visited the country a couple of times before and I checked out via face time. We wanted to take the plunge and explore this part of the world.

Before The Big Move:

If moving to Ireland for work, make sure to apply for a work permit and visa well in advance.  The type of work visa (Critical skills/ general work permit) depends on the type of work you do and your nationality. 

Processing takes around 4-6 weeks for work permit approval and another 4-6 weeks for visa approvals irrespective of the location of your embassy. Few embassies have visa decisions updated on their website but there is no centralized process to track your visa application.

Visa officers were considerate and pleasant. They took the time to verify application and crosscheck documents and called us regarding additional documents and updated us every step of the way. We were told that the children below 16 do not need a visa even if the stay is > 90 days. Just carry their original birth certificates while entering Ireland.

Upon Arrival:

Upon arrival, you will go through immigration and customs just like any other county. I found the immigration procedure to be different from USA/ Canada. The immigration officer will place a landing stamp in the passport and date is indicated. landing stamp gives you permission to stay in the country up to 90 days. Before the expiry date on landing stamp, register at a local garda station. Once registered, the IRP card will be issued in a month. If not, you might have to leave the country.

After Entering Ireland:

If you are entering the country for work, there are several formalities/ cards you need to apply for

• Phone number: It is easier to get a prepaid mobile number initially to start things off. A local phone number is essential for house hunting, PPS application, bank account opening, etc. for two-factor authentication. I got a basic prepaid plan from Tesco Mobile SIM only plan. 

• Bank Account: BOI (Bank of Ireland) provides an option to open a bank account from overseas. We filled application before entering Ireland and provided the bank with all the necessary documentation. Bank never processed our application because our application had Ohio and our driver's license had OH and they never cared to inform us. After reaching Ireland, we opened a bank account with Permanent TSB. Walked into a bank with all original documents like passport, work authorization, a letter from employer stating hotel address as out temporary accommodation and such. We were able to open a bank account immediately and account took 48hrs to be activated and the debit card was mailed to our hotel address. However, we were able to carry online transactions within 48 hrs. 

• House Hunting: House hunting is the craziest experience in Ireland.  I loathed the house hunt in Ireland. Later I got to know that all my other European friends have a similar experience with house hunting for rent. For the GNIB / IRP application, a lease agreement is mandatory as a proof of address. They do not accept temporary hotel address and for that very reason, we had to find a house fast. First of all, there are no houses in the market for rent. Few houses that were priced for €1500 reeked of a musty smell, had major cracks and water stains in the ceiling. Rental agencies and landlords insisted on references from the previous landlord. So have a solid reference from your employer. Homeowners will ask for PPS numbers, bank account details, one month rent as advance and one-month rent deposit. We wrote a heartfelt mail to the owner along with our application stating why we would be the perfect tenant. To our surprise, we got selected and thus thankfully ended our house hunt.
• Register for alerts with sites like daft.ie, sherryfitz.ie
• Book first available viewing and verify the house thoroughly during viewing
• There will be multiple appointments for the same time slot. don't be surprised if 20 people show up at the same time slot
• Fill the application and follow up with an agent and let them know why you are interested in this house
• Pay a deposit on time and get the lease signed by both parties. don't forget the receipt for your rent and deposit
• If there are any additional requests, make sure to add them in the agreement
• Read the agreement thoroughly before signing

• PPS Number (Personal Public Service Number) and PSC (Public Services Card): PSC card is used as an ID and is required for all most everything including driving license, rental agreement, bank accounts, etc. Personal Public Service number is required for social security benefits, child benefits, rent application, filing taxes, etc. This is similar to SSN (USA), Adhar Card (India).  Registration is free of cost. Make an appointment at your local welfare office for all family members. During an appointment at the welfare office, you would fill out an application for each person including kids and state the reason for a PPS number (employment, child benefits, tax purposes if the spouse is unemployed at the time of application, etc). Officer would verify all documents, take a picture for ID and verify the online account. PPS number will be mailed within 5 days and the PSC card will take another week. Carry below original documents for your PPS appointment 
• All Passports old and new
• Marriage certificate
• Kids birth certificates
• Letter from children's school
• Letter from employer 
• Address proof
• The temporary address is accepted for PPS applications.

• PPS Number (Personal Public Service Number) for kids: There are no PSC cards for kids. But PPS number is issued. Once applied for children PPS number, call the welfare office to receive children PPS number.

• Child Benefits for kids below 16: Each eligible kid would receive child benefit of €140  /month. Child benefit is paid to the mother. There are different options for payment method. You can opt for an online deposit or head to the post office every month and pick up the payment. If you chose to go the bank deposit route, make sure the mother is a joint account holder or the mother should have an individual bank account. Else, the application will be rejected.  Mail original documents to child benefit office in Co. Donegal along with filled application form.
• Mother PPS and PSC card
• Child PPS number
• Verified MyGovID account of applying parent
• IRP/ GNIB of applying parent
• Original passports
• Children birth certificates
• Bank account details
• Address Proof
• Letter from School for school-aged children
• Letter from a doctor for children not of school age

• Under 6Y GP Visit Card: Child care for children under 6 years of age is free. Basic care is covered but medication and hospital care are not covered. You need child PPS number for registration.

• IRP (Irish Residency Permit): IRP is also known as GNIB. IRP is not an ID card but it is a proof of registration with the Irish immigration department ( similar to USA I-94 ). I-94 has issued automatically upon entry to the USA and is valid until your visa expires (6 months for visitors). IRP is issued by local garda station after document verification. Registering for IRP is a separate process and mandatory before the expiry date on landing stamp. Immigration officer generally suggests the registration garda station based on your county of residence. All original documents along with proof of address are required. Temporary proof of address will not be accepted. Registration fee is €300 per person. Once documents are verified, a physical IRP card is issued in a month and needs to be picked up in person (depends on where one resides. IRP card is mailed to applicant's house in Dublin). IRP is valid for a maximum of 1 year and must be renewed every year by paying €300 every year. Fun right!!!. Check with the garda station for appointments and walk-in availability. Children below 16 years of age do not need to be registered. A relief !!! IRP states the type of stamp and validity of your stay. IRP card is mandatory for a re-entry visa. Documents needed
• Original passports
• Marriage certificates
• The lease agreement signed by the tenant and landlord or any utility bill as address proof
• €300 payable by credit card (visa/master) or bank giro

• Re-entry Visa: Edit: No Re-entry visa required for adults after 13 May 2019. http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/abolition-of-adult-re-entry-visas. Children below 16, who are not eligible for IRP still require re-entry visa. Re-Entry visa is dependent on your NATIONALITY. Without a re-entry visa, you cannot travel in and out of Ireland. The application can be posted to Dublin. 
• Filled application based on stamp type
• Filled application for kids above 4
• Filled application for kids below 4 (if applicable)
• Original Passports
• 2 passport size photos of the applicant
• Valid original IRP cards
• Bank draft / Postal order of application fee

House hunting / PPS / IRP / Multiple entry visas is a chicken-egg situation. You need a permanent address to apply for IRP, You will not find a home unless you have PPS and for signing a lease you need PPS. I still do not comprehend the importance of IRP and re-entry visa when they can be easily integrated into one. It is an additional expense and immense stress for the applicant.

Plan ahead and get as many documents as you can from the company HR to successfully navigate this situation. Good luck!!! you need it.

Edit: RECENT CHANGES

•  INIS made a welcoming change by abolishing re-entry visa for adults that hold valid IRP card.

http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/abolition-of-adult-re-entry-visas

• Spouse of Critical skills applicant do not need a separate work permit 

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/migrant_workers/employment_permits/spousal_work_permit_scheme.html

World of Coca-Cola, Atlanta, GA

If you miss this attraction, you really are missing a bottle of free coke and sampling of Coke around the world. Oh wait, there is a 20$ for admission. Entry to the museum is in batches and every guest receives a small coke tin in the front room. Next is the introduction room that holds 125 years of coke artifacts. This is followed by a 6-minute feel-good video.

From the theater guests enter the main lobby. It showcases several coca-cola bottle sculptures from around the world. At this level, guests have the opportunity to take a picture with the infamous polar bear. 

This museum is also a bottling plant but it produces only 1200 bottles per minute. This is way less than the production plants.

 And more memorabilia.

The fun part is tasting beverages from around the world. Some were great but some were disgusting. If you have the time and wouldn't mind spending money or just want to visit this place out of curiosity, go ahead and visit. But you won't miss much if you decide to skip this museum.

48hrs in New York City with young kids

New York City is on every tourist bucket list. When it comes to places to visit in a limited time frame, can be extremely overwhelming. But the timeframe of my visit and size of the group I was with narrowed down my choices for me. We visited NYC with two young kids and our parents. So anything involving long walks, hikes, public transportation, stairs, and booze is out of my list. I see various posts on Pinterest listing about 10-15 places to cover in 48hrs with kids. I cant imagine how efficient they must be if they were able to visit so many places in 48hrs with young kids.

Day1 Statue Cruises: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Statue Cruises is a must-do attraction in NYC.  The cruise tours Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty. Always reserve tickets online and be prepared for extended wait times based on the time and day of the year. Cruise is reasonably priced around 18$ per adult. Kids enjoyed the cruise, views, and snack bar on the cruise ship. This tour kept us busy the whole day.

Day1 Broadway & Times Square: Even though the morning view of NYC is amazing, nothing can top off night time view of NYC. Time Square is one of the busiest streets in NYC and is known for its LED screens. Feel the warmth of Time square's neon screens at night. The best part is munching on roasted nuts on a cold day. No other city is quite as vibrant as the Big Apple at night. Kids loved meeting their favorite Disney character at the Time Square. Be sure to tip them.

Broadway- The best place for theater in the world. If you can add a play or a musical to your itinerary, go for it. Time Square would be a good spot for visiting once. I wouldn't do it more than once since it is crowded, expensive to park and there is nothing more to see. I would spend my time elsewhere next time.

Day2 9/11 Memorial: The 9/11 Memorial is free of cost but the visit to the museum is around 25$ per person. the visit takes around 4 hrs. Admission to the museum is free on Tuesday from 5pm till closing. Reserve tickets online before your visit. Free admission needs ticket reservations too.

Day2 One World Observatory: If you can do one observatory, this has to be it. Located right next to the 9/11 memorial, One world observatory has the best views of NYC.

Standard tickets are around 35$. Do not miss the introduction video at the auditorium. We did the priority reserved at 56$ a ticket, it skips a lot of lines and waits times. The views are amazing even though tickets are pricy.

Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park and Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois

No trip to the windy city Chicago is ever complete without a picture with the big shiny bean in the Millennium Park. We chose a Thursday to cover Millennium Park, Grant Park and the Art Institute of Chicago as the Art institute has free entry on Thursdays. Parking is very expensive and any discounts on entry fee is always welcome. 

Art museum has an amazing collections from across the world. It has a wide array of collections and prepare for miles of walking if you are visiting all locations at once.

One World Observatory, New York City, NY

Located right next to 9/11 Memorial, One World Observatory has the best views of New York compared to other sky scrapers. If you want to do one skyscraper during your next visit, this should be the one. Ticket price is steep but the views are absolutely worth it.

Visitors have to go through TSA like security process. Elevator takes you all the way to 102 floor. Introduction video in the auditorium was amazing. It walks you through the construction of Freedom tower and reveals New York sky line at the end.

Views are amazing and the best.

No doubt it is a concrete jungle out there. But, still love the Big Apple.

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, New York & New Jersey, USA

New York!!! A trip to New York city is never complete without a visit to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Best time of the year to visit is around late April- early or early September right after schools start. Crowd is comparatively light on a week day. Statue cruises start from either Battery park on the NY side or Liberty state park on the NJ side. Both cruises stop at Ellis Island and Liberty statue. The cruise ships are pretty good with enough seating and refreshments on board. If you wish to get a good picture of Manhattan sky line or Statue of Liberty, head to the top deck of the ship.

Before boarding the cruise, expect a TSA level security check and very long lines. Visitors have three levels of access at Statue of Liberty. Regular access, Pedestal and Crown access. it is always a good idea to reserve tickets from StatueCruises before visiting. Regular access and Pedestal access have almost same prices. I would strongly recommend Pedestal access as it gives a better vantage point, lesser crowds and beautiful pictures.

Pedestal access has elevator access for most of it. Strollers/ wheel chairs are not allowed. How ever, there are a flight of stairs at the start and end of elevator. Views from the top of pedestal are amazing. you would be amazed by the construction of huge granite pedestal. From pedestal starts the Crown access.

Crown access is whole another story.  It is very hard to come across an open reservation to Crown Access. There is no elevator access to the top. Spiral stairs are the only way to reach Crown and boy they look exhausting. Climbing that stairs with two young kids at this point seems like a circus feet. Hence, I am saving it for later date. May be some day in next 10 years !!!!!!Visit to Ellis Island was pleasant. Museum with audio tour and exhibits was a very nice addition to the cruise.