10 Questions About…

You know god loves us best when we have perfect weather on an 8-hour tour around the west of Ireland. It rained just enough to give us a few rainbows and only when we were on the bus or inside. The funny thing is, we intended to do a different tour but the bus was too full for our taste, so we took a gamble.

We left Galway around 10am. The bus driver shares info the tour most of the way, but in a way where you can tune in and tune out. We stopped at a few places before the mainliner – the Cliffs of Moher. First stop was Dunguaire Castle. One of several castle/castle ruins we saw on our trip. I’ve grouped them all together. The buildings are amazing. We also saw some thatched cottages. I’m grouping them here too and sharing a fun etymology lesson. The term “raining cats and dogs” comes from cats and dogs slipping off the thatched roofs in the rain. (That theory is unsubstantiated but is the best one I’ve heard.)

We drove through the Burren, which is an interesting patch of land. It’s half rock and half rough grass. Apparently, it’s the limestone in the rain that helps form the unique structure. (Or that’s what I heard when I tuned in.) Absolute bonus was a stop at a dolmen. A dolmen is a prehistoric tomb. We actually lived near to one in Dublin years ago, but it was much smaller. It looks like a large stone table of some sort. We learned that the top slab of the one we saw was 6 thousands tons when it was built. It’s a mazing to think about how (and why!) people who build them back in the day.

We drove by Lisdoonvarna, home to a famous one-month match making festival. (September if you want to mark your calendars.) We had lunch in Doolin. Sadly no music at the pub. Doolin is famous for traditional music sessions.

We got to the Cliffs after lunch. They are stunning. We went when the girls were young and I had terrible memories of there being no safety features whatsoever on top of a stone cliff 200+ meters over the sea for something like 5 miles. It feels much safer now. I didn’t have to hold Kate back at all. We had 90 minutes to walk around and we used up pretty much all of that time walking the path we could. We didn’t see a puffin, which was a great disappointment but it’s really the wrong season. Another memory from our trip when they kids were little was midges – everywhere. Midges flying around blocking the sun! But we didn’t have that either.

A bonus was that we could see Lahinch from the Cliffs, which brough back great memories from a vacation there with Grandma and Grandpa when the girls were little.

We drove home along the Wild Atlantic Way. We stopped in a pub for a drink. (Or a bonus walk for some of us.) And then a peaceful drive.

Kate and I had a really nice dinner then she went off to get ready for her week and I went to an open mic night at Roisin Dubh. It was fun to hear a lot of local musicians at once and to see the community vibe that always supports a good local music scene. As a bonus, The Fynches were playing in the main room and I got to see them too.

(The videos are slowing uploading while I’m on the bus.)

I know the streets of Galway about as well as anyone now. I’ve walk 10+ miles a day while here. Now that doesn’t mean I know the people, history or culture but I know how to get from A to B. I started the cloudy day with lunch with Kate and then a wake down the river and back to the sea. It really is nice to breathe in the sea air and focus on the steps.

I checked out the regular Saturday market as well as the Christmas market.

Then Kate and I met up for a walk around the city and have a very delicious meal at Dela.

Woke up to lots of rain but as soon as I saw a glimmer of sunshine I was out walking. I found myself visiting a cemetery. There was an amazing view of the bay there.

I stopped into the Galway City Museum. I love to see the Galway hanging from the ceiling. I love the views from the top floor.

Then I walked about the bay. The sun was starting to shine, and I even got a glimpse of a rainbow. I walked out the lighthouse. It was windy but nice.

And when I got back to the hotel, they had turned on the Christmas lights. There will be a Christmas market right in front of the hotel. At night, I met up with Kate and her work crew. They were very funny. They seemed very nice and they all seem to like each other, which is nice.

Yesterday I walked about 17 miles around Galway. I started with a walk to Menlo Castle on the River Corrib. It’s nice (and healthy) walk through University College Galway. The campus is an interesting mix of old and new building. It reminds me of University College Dublin in that way.

On the way back, I popped into the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas. It’s a big church and a working church. Lots of hustle and bustle, even on a weekday morning. The art is gorgeous. I really liked the very modern painting of the Nativity.

I got to see the “other” jewelry store where Kate works. It’s in a shopping center near my hotel. Sounds like the shopping center shop does a great business around Christmas and near first communions while the other does well during the tourist season.

In the afternoon, I walked down the Salthill Promenade.

At night Kate and I went to see storytelling at the Crant Bar with Rab Fulton, who also has a podcast of storytelling.

And at night, I found a little music at the King’s Head.

Nothing more peaceful than a 2+ hour bus ride from Dublin to Galway. Guaranteed to have plenty of music from the 1980s on the radio. It’s warm and cozy. And you can watch the sheep and (as a friend used to say) the “natural barriers” (aka fences) roll by. Thanks to the beauty of technology and some memory of the last time I was here, I got to my hotel, which is very central and will be smack dab in the middle of the Christmas fair when it opens, which I think it this weekend.

But the highlight is seeing Kate’s life here. She’s been here two years now. There have been high and low points, of course, but she seems to be in a great place now. She works at a jewelry store. The people seem very nice and it allows here some flexibility and have been a great way to meet folks and see famous folks as they walk by or come in. Apparently, President-Elect Catherine Connolly was a regular passer-by.

I also visited her flat. It’s so central. She shares with a roommate. The place is very artistic but also, big and very nice. In her living room, I spied a poster from her monthly event, a local drink and draw. Each month, she hosts an art night at the Blue Note. She brings some arti supplies, a few lessons (worksheet-style) and the encouragement. They have been very popular.

We had a lovely dinner of tapas at a place called Sangria and walked around town. Everyone knows Kate. Hellos from folks playing music, at the pubs and sitting on the street corner. We saw some much and mostly I took pictures of the street art.