Oct 1, 2009 - Guinness Day

Now here’s something fun and so Irish that i got to experience. Last Thursday was the 250th anniversary of Guinness. There were commercials and banners and advertisements going on the entire time i’ve been here building up for it and discounted Guinness on the actual day (I know... Irish giving a discount on beer? No way... I don’t know if i’ve mentioned how ridiculously expensive everything here is. Normally a beer is from 3.50 eruo and the cheapest to 4 euro on average, so it was a big deal when the student pub -yes my school does have an...

Oct 1, 2009 - Galway and the Aran Islands

Hey everyone! Sorry it’s been so long since my last blog, life just happens and things just get away from you. But now i’m writing so we’re all good :) So two weekends ago Miranda and I adventured down to Galway for the weekend. Galway is another college town right on the coast close to where i was the week before in Doolin. We took the bus there around noon (it’s about a two and a half hour bus ride) and when we got there we checked into the closest hostel. We left our bags in our 12 bed coed dorm room and headed out to explore the city. ...

Sep 25, 2009 - Galway, the Aran Islands, and off to Westport

Yesterday was Arthur Guinness Day. Enough said. I arrived in Galway 4 days ago and am staying in the Galway City Hostel. I came to Galway with Vince, Asaff, and Dutchy, but I'm going to leave them tomorrow to follow a Canadian to Westport which is north across the bay about an hour. Galway is a beautiful city right on the ocean, filled with artists (jugglers, bands, fire eaters, guitar players) all buskers who spend their days working the streets. There hasn't been a night when town wasn't busy (we arrived on Monday night and there were...

Aug 5, 2009 - Touring the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher

After sleeping fitfully in our Galway hostel, we're up and ready to hit yet again, another site seeing bus tour. I think all the cycling on Inish Mor tired us out - both of us closed our eyes around 9 pm last night! Galway looks like a lovely city, with terrible traffic. Hope to do a bit of a walking tour this evening, to stretch our legs after sitting on the bus.

Aug 4, 2009 - Back to Galway

Have really loved having free access to high speed internet. We're off in a few minutes to Galway. This time we're taking some Gravol, to tame the quesiness (we hope). Oh, and I need to drag Marissa from the Simpsons.... Made it into Galway, but both of us were suffering low energy, coupled with a lack of street signage made it challenging to find our hostel right away. When we did, check-in wasn't until 3:30, so we parked our bags, and went in search of a meal. Food in Ireland is really costly. When you order a salad, it's always a surprise!

Jul 20, 2009 - Galway and coast

Oh such a lovely rest! I slept in this morning, in my beautiful luxurious designer boutique hotel in the middle of nowhere! Ate breakfast like a king and had a long hot bath! By 11am we were on our road trip across to the west passing through Galway and ending up in Clifden, a lovely coastal town. I had the opportunity to drive today which was great fun, the roads are really bendy here which made me feel like a rally driver, much to Dad's displeasure (when he managed to stay awake that is!). One place we took in, but would have liked more...

Jun 25, 2009 - Galway

Traveled from Dublin to Galway yesterday. Stopped at the Strokestown famine museum. Not what I consider "good times". Ireland has a violent past and the people here suffered tremendously. No wonder so many left for America. On a happier note, the scenery is beautiful but it is HOT!. There is no AC in the hotel. This brings me back to my fond days of youth before AC was everywhere (NOT). I am hoping it will pour all day today because eating in a restaurant with no AC and an ambient air temperature of 80F is no fun. I don't think I will be...

Jun 25, 2009 - Connemara

We traveled through Connemara today. Toured Galway Bay and then onto the Kylemore Abbey. Another hot day with no rain. I have a better tan from Ireland than I get from Key West. Maybe there is something to this global warming. At night we went to a traditional Irish step show called Trad on the Prom. Check out the website (same name no spaces). Our tour guide Liam got us tickets and said we would have good seats. We sure did. Karen got kicked in the head accidentally! Of course they were VERY apologetic (just kidding). They WERE good...