The first time I popped in to dine at Fresco Bistro was Sunday brunch. After my friend and I stuffed ourselves silly on their own unique take on Eggs Benedict, two plates of these trio of dessert samplers was sent out to us on the house. Really took us by surprise.

There are all sorts of street performers/artists littering the streets of Cork City Centre. This guy showed up as an accessory to the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s ill-fated maiden voyage, using both real photography and stills from the James Cameron movie as reference for his sidewalk mural. Sadly, I left before he completed his piece.

I was obsessed with the view from my host brothers’ balcony and took an obscene amount of images of the view and the sky in particular. The sky over Ireland is unlike anything I’ve experienced elsewhere. I don’t necessarily mean to idealize it in some poetic way; merely that the clouds always look like they’re within arm’s reach when you’re at a relatively low elevation.

I am a sucker for anything rose flavored and while I am familiar with this brand, I nearly freaked in the Quay Co-Op when I saw this bottle of rose lemonade. It was everything I could have hoped for and a bag of chips. Rose flavored chips. Yum! Now, if only this flavor could make its way to the states (or be as readily available).

I’ll never tire of brightly colored buildings. Ever. This macaroni & cheese nuclear orange building is situated close to Grand Parade, nearish to Washington if memory serves and I really did just stop in my tracks when I was walking by. I guess when the typical backdrop is grey it only makes sense to contrast it and make your own sunshine.

I am sad to say that this was my only bag of Tayto crisps during my stay, but they were damn tasty. I did have two individual sized bags of Walkers, but to be honest they just don’t compare to Ireland’s beloved brand. I’m not just saying that because Walkers is made by the Oppressor, either…

Rolling in to the Shannon Airport on the eve of my return trip home. I was not a happy camper about having to return only 3 weeks in; I’d made so many friends and wanted to stick around a while longer. Regardless, I ought to have used the two and a half bus ride to sleep as I had to bunk down in the airport overnight. It was literally myself and two security guards for a solid five hours. Bus Éireann, you really need to adapt your schedule to include people who have to be at the airport well before 9:30am.

I’ve learned that due to the instability of weather, wearing open-toed shoes and stockings will not earn me so much as a bat of an eyelash. Marvelous news for me as it was either this fun pair from Irregular Choice, my trainers or wellies. Funnily enough, those stockings were only worn once before – two years ago when I bought them last time I was in Cork to wear when I went to the Everyman Theatre to see Little Gem with Steffie. As it happened in 2010, I wore this on my last full night in Cork when I met up with Fiona at The Pavilion to see Funeral Suits. Afterward we met with Kate and headed over to Crane Lane for drinks. It was a wonderful evening with new friends.