While on a two week vacation in Ireland & London, I kept track of what we did and my own thoughts in order to help me remember. Two weeks is a long time! I realized other might benefit from my experience, or at least enjoy my photos. This should not serve as the definitive guide to Ireland, just my own wandering trip.

Day 7 – Galway

 Phew, on day 7 we decided we needed a day off and took it! We were supposed to go to the Aran Islands, but once I realized it was a 2-hour trip there, we decided to just spend the day around Galway. I was pretty pleased with myself for being flexible and not getting upset about the “plan” changing. The whole goal of this trip!

We slept in (8:30!) had some breakfast and then walked around the town. It was a beautiful, sunny day. Crystal clean blue skies that I don’t think you see often in Ireland. We looked for a park to settle down in, like we did in Dublin, to read our books, but didn’t find anything great.

So instead we hit up the coffee shops in the main shopping area. We sat outside in the sun, drinking cappuccinos, frilly hot chocolates and tea while we read our books. Ireland has, like America, instituted a no smoking inside rule. Unfortunately, this means the patios and outdoor seating have become the home for all the smokers. I really wanted to be outside, but finally we needed a way to be outside relaxing, where we weren’t surrounded by smokers!

We headed to the beach. I was again grateful to have a car, because it allowed us to go a little further form the city (about 20 minutes) and go to a beach that was all Irish. We spent a couple of hours soaking in the sun, napping, reading our books and watching mothers chase their children around the beach. It was exactly what we needed.

After we headed back to the B&B, I went out on a much-needed run and Jared went to the pub to watch the Ireland football match. We met up after and discussed the next couple of days of our trip, deciding to head for Sligo (Sl-i-go, Sl-e-go…I have no idea) and then on into Donegal and Northern Ireland. (Again, notice all my FLEXIBILITY!) 

The evening was spent having a lovely dinner (Celeraic and thyme soup, which was divine!) and then watching the England football match. The craic wasn’t so wonderful, so we came home and called our parents. We are such good children!