Tue, A 27-Day 15, early start for us in Kinsale, out just after 9 am to catch a bus to Cork, then another to Galway, right across the country, from East to West. Arrived in Galway around 2 pm, in time for lunch. Very busy place compared to Kinsale. University students just returned yesterday. Staying about 30 minutes down the coast, anticipating some good coastal hikes.
Wed, A 28-Day 16, mostly spent in Galway, after an hour late bus in the morning and an hour late bus coming back home. Bustling city, lots going on. People are swimming in the Atlantic, if you can imagine… Tourist office to help plan the next few days, and a very busy Post Office to top up our bus cards (Leap). Hop on and off tour for just over an hour. There’s a cruise ship in the bay from Malta, a small one, but they are planning harbour revisions to accommodate more and bigger. And visited a guitar/art store combination…I asked where were the bikes, but they just looked at me as if the three weren’t normal…….
Thu, A 29-Day 17, Spiddall. Some ocean side hiking, mostly to dead ends and back, but awesome weather and views…..
Fri, A 30-Day 18, Spiddall. Bus ride to Carraroe, down the coast, and very pleasant hike down to the Coral Strand beach. Awesome weather.
Sat, A 31-Day 19, did what we usually avoid and took an all-day bus tour to Connemara and Kylemore Abbey. Turned out okay. Ordered tickets by phone and they agreed to pick us up and drop us off very near to our BnB. Very good commentary and most stops had options besides a crappy gift shop, like mountain views and lakesides.
Sun, S 1-Day 20, hung out around Spiddall, hiking, walking, eating….Another blue sky day….told some locals that good weather tends to follow us and that they were welcome…not sure they understood….most people speak Irish around here (Irish alphabet has 18 letters, and there is no phonetic relationship to English) and is very hard to read, sound-out, or follow. Most also speak English, too, fortunately….
Mon, S 2-Day 21, slept poorly for several nights in a row due to street noise and some other issues with the BnB, so got cranky and decided to bail and get a hotel for a night in Galway. Took another bus tour (reluctantly) to cliffs of Moher. Most trails have been closed due to some incidents earlier this year….incidents from which the people didn’t survive….. Very windy at the top, some great views, but I am really strengthening my aversion to the well known, ‘must see’, tourist hangouts….yuck. Off tomorrow to Belfast, and this hotel puts us closer to the rail station and hopefully gives a good night sleep in a proper king bed!!!
