Day 4 & 5 - From Galway to Killarney
Day 4: Lazy Day...
For our last day in Galway we planned to go to the races, the biggest event of the year in Galway city. Because we were tired we decided to bag the races and chose instead to hang around in town one more day. We walked around and shopped a little, since we were finally able to find Vera Moda and I got a faux-leather jacket that's SO cute like the rest of the European girls walking around. And there's a purpose to the faux-leather, by the way--it's because it always RAINS here and real leather would get destroyed. That didn't stop me from wanting to buy a cute pair of Uggs I saw, but Cheryl was quick to intervene and not allow me to make that purchase. A smart move, considering they'd be ruined already because of the puddle-trekking we do every day. We worked our way down to NUI, so I got to see the campus where Cheryl spent her last month at school, and we walked for what seemed like miles, just talking about life and its highs and lows... We stopped at a little hippie shop with incense and funky jewelry, and had a blast in there. Cheryl got a beautiful dress that makes her look like a little Irish Tinkerbell. Then it was pouring and we ran back to our safe little Indian restaurant for one last dinner in Galway. Last order of business was to Skype mom and let her know we were alive and well, and we were interrupted by a couple of drunk young men looking for a good time at our expense. That's OK, we hung out for a while with them chatting about the USA and Ireland and Slim Shady!
Day 5 - Bus Trip to Killarney
Five hours on a bus to kick off our fifth day in Galway. We left early in the morning and took a trip down to Killarney, stopping at Limerick on the way, which a dirty, dilapidated crap hole, which is what everyone told us it would be. But, heeding not their warnings, we ventured into the crap. Even our cab driver who drove us back to the bus station remarked with distaste when we said we had come to see King John's Castle. He said, "you came to see Limerick?" No, we just have an hour to kill at this bus stop.
The castle was cool, though--especially the archeological digs still in the process. The coolest part was seeing the ruins dating back to the 1200's and the Sallyport, or "emergency exit" of sorts, which allowed the King to escape underground and down to the river if need be.
Around 2:15 PM we arrived in Killarney, and I was so relieved to see such a CUTE town!!! The little streets crowded with colorful buildings and shops of all sorts were a nice surprise when we had no idea what to expect. I didn't think anything else on our trip would measure up to Galway, but this was beautiful and attractive in a different way. Misty, green swells were the mountains in the distance and the backdrop to the proud, bustling town. Just outside of town is the entrance to the Killarney National Park, a 26,000-acre park with rolling hills and green mountains, fields, forest, garden and House, and a quaint little tea cottage that Cheryl and I visited before trekking to Ross Castle. Unfortunately we were too late to make any tour,but we were able to walk around the outside and take some GORGEOUS pictures. Note for next time: make it in time for the horseback-ride tour, or for a horse drawn carriage ride to the castle and around the paths of the park. This will ensure that you don't step in any of the shit they leave on the path, and will cut your time down significantly. I won't complain about the walk, though--we enjoyed every minute of our venture!
Back in the common room at the hotel, it was like College Week Spring Break or something--the average age of guests was about 20 years old with the behavior of 8 year olds! SOO loud and rowdy. Cheryl and I had a couple drinks but turned in early because we wanted to get an early start tomorrow. Tonight back at the room, we pleasantly surprised to see Canada Boy was our roommate, but then disturbed when we were trying to get to sleep because he was snoring like a bear! It was like a GROWWWLLLL. But, I must have fallen alseep anyway....
For our last day in Galway we planned to go to the races, the biggest event of the year in Galway city. Because we were tired we decided to bag the races and chose instead to hang around in town one more day. We walked around and shopped a little, since we were finally able to find Vera Moda and I got a faux-leather jacket that's SO cute like the rest of the European girls walking around. And there's a purpose to the faux-leather, by the way--it's because it always RAINS here and real leather would get destroyed. That didn't stop me from wanting to buy a cute pair of Uggs I saw, but Cheryl was quick to intervene and not allow me to make that purchase. A smart move, considering they'd be ruined already because of the puddle-trekking we do every day. We worked our way down to NUI, so I got to see the campus where Cheryl spent her last month at school, and we walked for what seemed like miles, just talking about life and its highs and lows... We stopped at a little hippie shop with incense and funky jewelry, and had a blast in there. Cheryl got a beautiful dress that makes her look like a little Irish Tinkerbell. Then it was pouring and we ran back to our safe little Indian restaurant for one last dinner in Galway. Last order of business was to Skype mom and let her know we were alive and well, and we were interrupted by a couple of drunk young men looking for a good time at our expense. That's OK, we hung out for a while with them chatting about the USA and Ireland and Slim Shady!
Day 5 - Bus Trip to Killarney
Five hours on a bus to kick off our fifth day in Galway. We left early in the morning and took a trip down to Killarney, stopping at Limerick on the way, which a dirty, dilapidated crap hole, which is what everyone told us it would be. But, heeding not their warnings, we ventured into the crap. Even our cab driver who drove us back to the bus station remarked with distaste when we said we had come to see King John's Castle. He said, "you came to see Limerick?" No, we just have an hour to kill at this bus stop.
The castle was cool, though--especially the archeological digs still in the process. The coolest part was seeing the ruins dating back to the 1200's and the Sallyport, or "emergency exit" of sorts, which allowed the King to escape underground and down to the river if need be.
Around 2:15 PM we arrived in Killarney, and I was so relieved to see such a CUTE town!!! The little streets crowded with colorful buildings and shops of all sorts were a nice surprise when we had no idea what to expect. I didn't think anything else on our trip would measure up to Galway, but this was beautiful and attractive in a different way. Misty, green swells were the mountains in the distance and the backdrop to the proud, bustling town. Just outside of town is the entrance to the Killarney National Park, a 26,000-acre park with rolling hills and green mountains, fields, forest, garden and House, and a quaint little tea cottage that Cheryl and I visited before trekking to Ross Castle. Unfortunately we were too late to make any tour,but we were able to walk around the outside and take some GORGEOUS pictures. Note for next time: make it in time for the horseback-ride tour, or for a horse drawn carriage ride to the castle and around the paths of the park. This will ensure that you don't step in any of the shit they leave on the path, and will cut your time down significantly. I won't complain about the walk, though--we enjoyed every minute of our venture!
Back in the common room at the hotel, it was like College Week Spring Break or something--the average age of guests was about 20 years old with the behavior of 8 year olds! SOO loud and rowdy. Cheryl and I had a couple drinks but turned in early because we wanted to get an early start tomorrow. Tonight back at the room, we pleasantly surprised to see Canada Boy was our roommate, but then disturbed when we were trying to get to sleep because he was snoring like a bear! It was like a GROWWWLLLL. But, I must have fallen alseep anyway....
posted by J's Travel Blog | 15:50
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