Read, Write, Ramble

We were afforded the luxury of a late start today with no rush to be anywhere until our scheduled coach back to Cork in the early afternoon.  Of course it was drizzling rain, but we ordered a taxi at 10 and set off into Galway City to stow our luggage and explore a little.  First stop, The Spanish Arch, which everyone found a bit underwhelming, but hey, it was built in 1584 and is still standing, surely that is enough to recommend it.  Through the arch is the Long Walk; a promenade along the river Corrib past some coloured houses, but most importantly, there was a coffee shop stop to fuel us for the rest of the morning.  Over the river and the Eglinton Canal Sea Lock, we visited a mysterious sculpture of a seated man and a memorial to some Claddagh Fishermen who were lost at sea in 1902. We saw the Claddagh  mute swans, believed to carry the spirits of old fishermen.  Back in the Latin Quarter we wandered the shops, were entertained by a variety of buskers,...

 The vaguaries of Irish hot water systems have again defeated us and hot showers were not available before bed, despite following the host’s instructions. We did have hot food and breakfast supplies, having found a supermarket within a comfortable walking distance, so we turned in with hope in our hearts and food in our bellies.  The party next door seemed to increase in volume and enthusiasm as we crawled into bed, and continued into the early hours. It was to our combined relief that all went quiet at 1, but this was short-lived, and kicked off again at 3 am.  The alarm at 6:45 was an unwelcome intrusion but necessary, as we had a bus to catch in central Galway at 08:45; a bus that would take us through the misty morning along the Wild Atlantic Way to the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands. And the water was finally hot enough for showers.  On the way we passed through The Burren, an area of ancient limestone hills and a unique landscape designated a UNESCO Globa...

 To complete our stay in the hallowed grounds of Trinity College, we braved breakfast in the Buttery for the final time. I behaved, confining myself to cereal and milk - no fruit and no yoghurt!  I didn’t want to buck the system on my last day.  We packed up and checked out, depositing  our bags with the nice man in the luggage room before assembling in the Front Square for our Trails of Trinity tour.  Our animated guide, a very recent Trinity graduate, described the twin buildings with the matching columns which face each other across the square, as Heaven (the chapel) and Hell (the examination hall). We were told of the student superstitions surrounding the central bell tower, and taken into the very impressive Museum building. Here we could explore the foyer with its samples of Irish granite, which we had seen featured on the outside of the building, and prehistoric elk skeletons!   After a quick look at the College Green and the Samuel Beckett theatre b...

 Having failed to find a cafe that served breakfast in the immediate neighbourhood, we reluctantly ended up at the Buttery (the student cafeteria) for breakfast again. I dared to have fruit and yoghurt on my cereal and was told if I did it again tomorrow, I would have to pay twice because it is two different prices. Huh?! Anyway Wallsy and I headed out after breakfast to catch the commuter train from Tara street to explore the coastal line to the south, with views of Dublin Bay and the coast, while Julie and Mark set off in the opposite direction to spend more time in the city.  We got a lucky break and walked onto the train that goes south through to Rosslaire Aeroport, stopping at Greystones which was the end of the commuter line and as far as we wanted to go, but it got as there in half the time as, unlike the Dart, it didn’t stop at all stations. The sun was shining (worth a mention!) and the ocean was glistening as we glided past. Spectacular!  We had time for a quic...