The Last Hurrah for Crinkly - Euro tour (9/7-?) Day 28 Exploring Kilkenny (10/4)

Head over to the Fig for breakfast which is great but a little expensive for what you get. Then I go explore the castle in town as it is open now. Cool place and has a nice expansive garden area that has people just hanging out and enjoying the weather. Go back to the place to book some flights and have some tea as kind of a midday pause. After that, I go try and see the the black abbey as it was closed when I got to it yesterday. 

Crinkly found my street

Crinkly has infiltrated the castle

No other tour would do

The royal drapes

pistol dagger... the ultimate in close combat self defense. Buy yours today

This bad boy looks like it would do some damage

Heading on up the stairway to see what awaits above

Fire blocker

Crinkly feeling at home here

Thats a great view while chilling and reading your book

Unaffected view from another room

Impressive bed

Decorated stairwell

The portrait hall

Some impressive fireplaces in the hall

Look at the wood carvings up there

Castle grounds

Found a lil cafe

If youve been trying to figure out where to take your selfie from

The Sherpa obliges the selfie spot

Crinkly enjoying the fountain views

More castle garden views

St Marys roman catholic cathedral

Found the entrance, lets check it out

Such beauty

You guessed it... Organ time

So many colors, tis awesome

Stained glass windows cause yall now me by now

Bright houses

Unfortunately the black cat was closed

Snuck into the Black Abbey to get a quick pic

Trying to stay dry while enjoying some beautiful city sights

Look familiar?

Stopped into Lenehans pub to get dry and have a pint

Cool place and has a lot of space

Having a beer (or 2) at the Worlds end bar. this is where the magic happens people.

Church of St. John the evangelist at night

Lil creepier pic

Outside of the bar

Another impressive bar

This street just has bars up and down it

All things lead back to the castle

Having a Sullivans cause why not

Matt the Millers was absolutely dead but has plenty of space for when its not

Cool looking spot though

Crinkly says good night

some musical entertainment from worlds end bar

Whiskey in the jar jam

There are people there today so go try and enter but turns out both the church and the tower cost money to enter so I do not go in. Walk north of town and it starts raining so I play duck in cover in pubs, first starting with Lenahans which was a beautiful pub with some barrels to pour shots off of and a decent beer selection. The owner was incredibly friendly (as everyone in the country is) and chatted with me a bit about America and my travels and what not as he was about to go on vacation. After that I head down the road to try and find this place call the Worlds End pub. Eventually I find it (it was hidden as the pub is behind a diner and the diner looked closed but you just have to walk through it) and as I walk in it was one of those scenes out of the movies where an out of towner walks into the local bar and everyone knows he dont belong. I grab a beer from the bar and go post up on a stool and immediately this older lady starts chatting me up and you can tell she has lived a rough life. Eventually this table of younger professional looking people grabs my attention and invites me over to sit with them. I do and before long, theres a massive fight back on/by the pool table that goes for a while with one of the guys coming back inside after he left to continue it for a little bit before the friends finally got them separated and everyone could go back to their drinks. It was amazing how quick the staff/friends/locals took away glasses and pool cues and all that stuff to keep the fight from getting too bad. Talk with the group for a bit and I keep trying to buy them a round of beers because they bought me a few and they just keep returning with more beers before I get a chance to either finish my beer or go buy beers (like literally I would have half a beer and someone from the group would just return with another one for everyone). I had to be pretty emphatic that I had to go after one of them so they wouldnt buy any more beers for me so I could walk home hahaha. At one point some local musicians started playing up front which was really great and unexpected in a place that just had a brawl haha. On multiple occasions while I was in that bar, many of the people were asking why I was in that bar, which after seeing what I saw I understood (no glitz, glamour, etc. that tourists dont go to) why they were asking but I had to explain to them that bars like that are some of my favorite places to grab drinks both at home and while traveling for that very reason. I guess I like danger :) Head across the street to get some singapore noodles from Nore street food which was delicious though anyone who saw me would probably be worried as I was just hunched over a trashcan under an overpass eating my noodles where it was dry. After getting something in my stomach, I go to check out Matt the Millers as its the opposite of the place I just went, known for having lively groups of people and music and good times by all. Well its completely empty hahah so I just have the Sullivans red ale which is good and then head home to get some sleep as I came and conquered and it was time for slumber.

Hostel review - had my own room cause of covid regulations taken by the hostel. Spotty internet in the room as is top floor and I guess the router/source is a ways away. Hot good showers. There was a sink in the room so I didn't have to leave to brush/ get water which is nice. Room had no lockers and a big cabinet area for storage/ hanging but it was tucked away in room. Thin windows so you can hear all the noise on main street. The staff was great and there were lots of tea options that were free for guests. Great location. Comfy bed. All in all not a bad place to stay (but the lack of lockers worries me).