connemara

Before you say anything... I know, I know. Its been like a week. I am a horrible blogger. I couldn't get myself to sit down and write about my weekend adventure (which was awesome). But now, I will.

The bus ride to Galway was ridiculous. Just plan ridiculous. Long. The guy next to me kept yelling on his phone. When he finally got off an Italian couple made out next to me for the remainder of the trip. It was raining when I got to Galway and I got lost going to my hostel. I know what you are thinking. I thought you said it "was awesome", Jule. I did. Hold your horses.

I finally found it. It was really cool. I met a girl with in a few minutes who had graduated from UF and we chatted and had some tea. Then I met Joey, Josh and Lauren for dinner at the King's Head pub. I finally got those Irish tapas I had been dreaming about. Yumm. Then we met up with the other people who happened to be in Galway that weekend and got drinks. Desi had a friend (from Dallas) named Preston who was studying in Galway who we met up with. He was cool and funny and we got along. He went to high school with Nelson, I later found out. Weirdness.

After a bit I headed back to my hostel as I had an early morning. I got sick during the night. Probably those Irish tapas I had been dreaming off. Not Yumm. I got up eaaaaaaarly to catch the bus to Leenane. It was basically deserted. The bus ride was about an hour and a half... when I finally got there I de-bused and walked down one of two roads in town to my B&B. The people who owned my B&B were.... strange. The young lady who greeted me (I say young... she was probably late 30's) I have decided is actually a character in 'Beauty Queen of Leenane', as is her mother. The Dad was very friendly, though slightly deaf, and made me a fire to sit by and read.

I wandered the town, taking pictures. Got lunch,went to the cultural center and the wool museum (hahah.) and interviewed a lady there. Found out there is actually a woman who called herself the 'beauty queen of Connemara' who lived in Leenane, who everyone believes the play was probably based on. I had dinner at the hotel after over hearing 4 conversations between the mother and daughter that convinced me that my theory was correct. I treated myself to cheese cake (which is NOT the same over here) and then returned to my B&B, read and then called it an early night.

I awoke the next morning to a full Irish breakfast. YUMMMMMMMMMY. Seriously. So good. Then checked out and walked to the Killary Cruises dock so I could take a lovely boat ride around Ireland's only Fjord. HOWEVER. I learned, after my 3 mile walk to the place that was 'just down the road', that in October the 10:30 cruises no longer run. SOOOOO... I walked back to town, wandered around, then headed to Letterfrack which is about 1o miles away, where I was to catch my bus. I met a lady who I talked to more about the 'beauty queen'. She told me she had met her and though everyone thought she was crazy that she had found her to be quite nice.

In Letterfrack, I decided, since I had 6 hours to burn before my bus to Galway, that I would go to the Connemara National Park. I wasn't planning on hiking but one thing led to another and before I knew it (actually it took a while) I was at the top of Diamondhill (not a fitting name for the BEAST I climbed) with torn up, leaky boots, my backpack and an apple. Lucky, I made some Irish friends on the climb, Tristan and Ciarian. They were kind enough to keep me company and offered me some of their food. We all walked down together and they bought me a pint at the bottom and chatted with me till my bus came. The bus ride back to Galway was fine but the bus to Dublin was delayed, then took forever. I got into Dublin around 12:30am, grabbed a taxi and fell asleep the minute my head touched the pillow.

Nothing to exciting has happened since then. I leave for Switzerland on Friday to met Michael and hike the Alps!!! Then I have a day turn around before I go to London for 4 days. Its going to be a wicked sweet and exhausting break. :)

Irish phrase of the day:

Tá mo chroí istigh ionat

My heart is within you.