From Galway...

Hello folks! And before you ask any questions, I have free internet here at the hostel, so I figure I should use it! I'm currently in Galway, all the way on the other side of the island from Dublin, right on the sea. The River Corrib runs right through the middle of town, and about a block from my hostel along a really pretty little path to the bay, and when the sun comes out of hiding its breath-takingly gorgeous. Even when the clouds are out it's gorgeous, but then your focus tends to be on 'Sweet Jesus it's cold!' so you tend to miss some of the inherent beauty. I'm fairly well stocked for cold weather gear- brought my scarf and gloves, no worries Mom- but I didn't have a hat, so I bought one from one of the reknowned woolen merchants in town. It warm and scratchy, so you just know its through-and-through quality Irish wool. It's also various shades of blue and green which I'm willing to bet are not the natural shade of the sheep, but what's a little dye between friends. Besides, it'd be gauche to say anything.

I've visited the huge church dedicated to St. Nicholas - both of them- and admired the mosaic portrait of JFK in the Catholic one. You'd think that with the profusion of saints the two congergations wouldn't have to share, but apparently St. Nicholas was traditionally the patron saint of sailors- rather than his modern incarnation as the patron saint of soft drinks- and was thusly perfectly suited to Galway. I also strolled through the farmer's market which smelled like incenses and beets- something which appears to be universal. All modern farmer's markets smell like insense and beets, world over.

Befoer leaving Dublin I did get to see a bit of the parade, but it was late in starting and I had a bus to catch... So I didn't get to see any of the floats while the parade stayed parked, mid course, for about fifteen minutes. Oh well. However, on the way into Galway we passed through Loughrea and managed to get entangled in the parade itself. While undoubtedly a much smaller affair, it was a great parade with kids dressed up like mermaids, aliens, seahorses, butterflies, rocket ships, and Jack O' the Green, among others. And if they also happened to be carrying a banner- as a great many of them were- they'd make a special effort to whack it against your window and wave enthusiastically to you. I felt bad for disrupting the parade, but you couldn't beat the view.

It was originally my intention to head on to Belfast from here, but apparently it can't be done unless you hire a car. So It's back to Dublin for me on Mon. just in time to turn around and pick up another bus to Belfast. Ah well, live and learn. And bus fares are relatively cheap so it's not such a bad thing.

Well, I'm off for some pub grub and hopefully some traditional Irish music! Should be a good time. I'll post again soon... But probably not, like, two days soon. Don't get used to frequent posts because I will only disappoint you in the long run. TTFN!