Hello again, took a brief holiday from the blog yesterday for two reasons. Firstly not too much to say and secondly, had a bit of writers block!

After another slap up breakfast at Kilmurvey House yesterday, I went for a walk to the 7 churches…an ancient monastic site…only 2 ruins are still standing. Then I just wandered around for a while. I was collected at 12.45pm for the quick flight back to Inverin. All uneventful thank heavens, yesterday was the perfect day weatherwise. You know its a good day, when everyone you make eye contact with tells you…’Tis a lovely day’.

A cute idiosyncrasy that the Irish have, is to answer  in the almost triple affirmative. For example…is this the way to the Spanish Arch….’Aye, yes it is, indeed it is yes’ .

I  picked up my car and drove the short 35km trip to Salthill where I am staying in a really nice, but terribly bland beach front holiday apartment. It is spacious and clean and has the most awesome view of the bay. But after some of the interesting places I have been to, it just pales. First priority was a load of washing, which was duly done. My apartment overlooks the Promenade and it was heaving with people, making the most of the sunshine and families spending the day on the beach. It was really a glorious day…..but for me not beach weather!  So many lobster red and sunburned people yesterday.

I then caught the local bus and decided to go into Galway city for the afternoon and have dinner there!  I confess I am not enamoured of Galway at all. The bus arrived in the city centre and it was just wall to wall people, some very bohemian, dirty looking, many without enough clothing on, mostly drunk with that glaasy eyed alcohol dazed expression. The banks of the river and the area near the Spanish arch was just a sea of binge drinking louts. it actually reminded me of the Ellis Park rugby stadium parking lot, after the local team lost the game!

I wondered around the town for a while, but it was really unpleasant, drunk people just irritate the crap out of me, especially when they are unable to  behave. Screaming and raucus laughter, stumbling about….not my scene. So I jumped on the bus and headed home. I finally decided to have another go at fish and chips Mom! But nope still dont like it..that batter is just too much. Anyway I sat on the promenade on bench and ate my fish and chips…so that was fun.

Then my phone rang, and it was John (the footman from Ashford Castle.) Well he caught me off guard, I had forgotten about him and was not sure that he would follow up. Anyway, I ran back to apartment, got the ticket and he paid cash for it. We then sat on the bench and chatted about Springsteens songs for half an hour so.

I watched the sun sink low and then came home at about 9.45pm. Did not have a great night’s sleep as the promenade road below my window, was really noisy all night. I am also nursing a bit of a sore throat and fluish feeling, so was not the picture of happiness this morning.

I had an Irish breakfast again, I must say I thoroughly enjoy both black pudding and white pudding! It has a really meaty taste. I then got on the hop on hop off bus, which is about a 2 hour trip theough Galway.

Right now I am off to the Trad on the Prom. An Irish traditional river dancing evening, so I eill finish the post later on!

Its now 11pm and I just got home from a great show. Real foot tapping, hand clapping feel good stuff. A huge cast of very talented people from Lord of the Dance, Riverdance and the Chieftains. Very pleasant evening. Now I am pcking and tomorrow I head off to Doolin. Not sad to be leaving Galway.

Shop street in Galway…jampacked

16th century front door

Latin Quarter in Galway

Only one beetroot needed for a salad

Spanish arch

Spanish arch

John the proud owner of a Boss ticket

Sunset in Galway feom my balcony

Sunset in Galway

Irish breakfast with black pudding

Galway

Trad on the Prom