A Perk of Driving a BMW

Yesterday Bob and I drove to Cork with the intention of watching some of the Irish Open.  When we arrived at the five parking lots, we were waved through and through until one of the fellows told us that because we were driving a BMW, we had preferred parking.  BMW is a major sponsor of the event which was a big favor to us.  A few handicapped people were parked by the ticket booth and then we BMW drivers were in the next line.  Bonus!

It was the Pro-Am day so photo taking was allowed.  During the rest of the tournament photos aren't allowed.  Apparently the amateurs have to qualify and then pay in excess of 5000 euros ($7500) to play.  Each foursome is made up of one pro and three amateurs.

On the way to Cork we stopped at the Rock of Cashel which had huge scaffolding up as they do restoration.  I have utter admiration for the people who research how to do restoration and then the people trained to do it.

Blarney Castle hadn't been on our agenda until Alvena told me it has a poison garden.  I didn't want to miss that.  We couldn't get into the castle to see what was there because you have to go in the same line as people wanting to kiss the Blarney Stone and that line went from ground level to the top of the castle.  Bob could have improved on their system within minutes if only they would bring him in as a consultant.  The poison garden is great because of two things.  One is that most of the plants are ones Shakespeare used in his plays and specifically many are in a couple of Ophelia's speeches.  The other is that I grow a lot of them!  I hope that doesn't stop anyone from accepting dinner invitations to my house.  One of the notes in the garden said that only about 5 Americans die directly from these plants each year.  However, many die from using by-products of them such as opium, etc.  Tobacco is one of the plants in the garden too.  You wouldn't die from eating it, but you will die from smoking it.  Rhubarb leaves were another interesting one since many ate the leaves - and died - when food was scarce during the world wars.

Let me end today's post with a photo of part of a beautiful, mainly non-poisonous Irish garden.