Galway & Aran Islands

I went away for the weekend all by myself. I have never traveled on personal time alone and it was actually good. I met lots of interesting people that probably never would have talked to me if I was traveling with someone. I took the train from Dublin to Galway on Saturday morning, arrived in Galway located my hotel and toured Galway on foot. It is a really charming town. I don't know if I would call it a city, but it does have great shopping! It has a pedestrian only street with restaurants, pubs, clothing and jewelry stores and of course the cheesy tourist shops. Now that tourist season is over (I think it officially ends in late September), the stores had some sales. I enjoyed the shops and then found a quaint little restaurant for dinner. I was the first person in the restaurant and about 20 min. later an American couple from Texas came in. The man was joking with the waiter, and I could tell they were American, so I asked where they were from and the three of us ended up talking all the way through dinner and then going to a local pub. The pub had the most fantastic music I had heard in Ireland. There were 8 musicians and the place was packed!

On Sunday, I took the bus and the ferry to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands, off the western side of Ireland. The American couple from the night before were on the ferry too. Our ferry ride was quite rocky and we had a bit of excitement when a coast guard helicopter landed on the back of our boat. We later found out it was just a drill, but they attached a basket to the helicopter before it took off. I spent the day touring with a group of 8 and we hiked up to Dun Aengus in the pouring rain! The island of Inishmore is actually the largest of the Aran Islands and it is only 9 miles by 2 miles. The islands are very desolate! I think one day on Inishmore was enough for me! On Monday, I walked around Galway and caught a train back to Dublin. All in all it was a great trip!

Yesterday was Oct.16 and I fly home on Nov. 16. Only one month left! I have come down with a cold and I am missing Panera soup, medicine that I know what it is and my comfy bed! I went to the pharmacy yesterday and I asked what you take for a cold and they recommended lemsips, strepsips and Day nurse...I didn't have any idea what they were! I'll be home soon!