3 Nights in Galway

During one of my "weekends" from working at the hostel (I get 2 days off a week, but they're weekdays) I took a trip to Galway to easier explore some of the picturesque and popular destinations in the west of Ireland. For this trip I didn't have to be alone and one of the other hostel volunteers had the same days off, so she came with me. We booked the Kinlay House hostel, which was a really nice hostel! If you go to Galway, I recommend Kinlay House!

I did quite enjoy this big mural on the wall of the common room, which was a take on The Last Supper but had the interesting addition of a wild haired Anthony Kiedis look-a-like just off center (lead singer of The Red Hot Chili Peppers) leaping into the air while playing a bohdran, which is a traditional Irish drum.

You can click the picture to make it bigger.

After checking in we took a walk around to explore the sights.

Eyre Square, which is right outside the front door of the hostel

A stroll down the street.

Flags representing the 14 original tribes of Galway, dating back to 1232

There were so many swans swimming around

On the way down towards the water.

Saw my first Irish rainbow!

This was some kind of kayaking water polo??

The streets are filled with entertainers, like these ones playing traditional music.

Or this guy on a unicycle

There are many places to see and check out. Restaurants and pubs line the streets. I ate a meal at one place with a bit of history.

We were only supposed to be in Galway for 2 nights, but due to an error from the tour company we had used for day tours we got back to Galway too late the second night to catch the bus back to Westport. The tour company graciously booked us into a different hostel for the evening, complimentary. But it did mean we had to be up at the crack of dawn to catch the 6 AM bus back to Westport in order to start work again in the morning. After all the stress from the late tour, missed bus, and impeding early morning I needed some comfort food. I had dinner at a bar with Blue Moon on tap (one of my favorite American beers) and some chicken wings! Just a bit of American food to comfort me in the stress. I wish I had more time in Galway, but if I ever visit Ireland again it will be on my list of places to visit again!

See ya later Galway, you were grand!

Look for the next entries that will detail the sights I saw on the tours that left from Galway: Connemara and The Cliffs of Moher!