March 20-21
Despite having not received my luggage yet, Maura and I proceeded to follow through with our plans to visit Galway, Ireland. Clean clothes were not going to get in our way of having fun and seeing the beautiful nature of Ireland!
We took a three hour bus ride on bus Eireann and stayed at the Kinlay Hostel. I have stayed in a hostel in Arusha, Tanzania, before but this was much different. In fact, Kinlay was surprisingly similar to a dorm. We stayed in an eight person room that had metal cages under the bunk beds so we could keep our stuff in it when we went site seeing. Now, to those of you who frequent hostels, I am sure this is nothing new. But to me, I was pleasantly surprised!
Our first night, we ventured out into the downtown of Galway to find an awesome pub called the Front Door where we had a refreshing glass of Smithwicks and unique chicken and falafel burgers. The next morning we hopped on a tour bus that departed from our hostel for a days worth of Irish jokes and stories as we approached the awe-inspiring Cliffs of Moher. These cliffs were so incredibly beautiful and the vast green, rolling prairies we passed to get there certainly make you feel like a small being on such a large canvas of God’s creation. We enjoyed some authentic beef stew and seafood chowder at a stop on the way back to Galway.
We debated on returning home on Sunday after receiving a call that my luggage had been found (YAY!). So close, yet so far. However, after seeing the brochures for the Connemara and the Kylemore Abbey, we knew we had to see it in person. The Kylemore Abbey has a fascinating history that you can read about it in the link above. The quick version is that Mitchell Henry built this castle for his wife Margaret. After his wife passed, the Benedictine Nuns bought the castle and created a school for girls. It just recently shut down in 2010 as the laws changed regarding religion in schools. How cool would it be to go to school in this castle in the Irish country?!
Goal #12…run to catch a bus. CHECK! We made it back early enough into town that we caught bus home an hour before we thought we’d be able to. However, it was in reverse as we were grabbing our luggage from the Connemara tour bus. We were relieved when they let us board the bus. Unfortunately, they let a few other not-so-sober guys on after us, making us wish we would’ve missed it. Nonetheless, we were happy to be back nearly 2 hours before the other bus was scheduled to be back.
I finally received my luggage today! Monday at 3:45 in the afternoon. I was SO happy to see it. Unfortunately, I wasted the whole day waiting for it because they said it could arrive anywhere from 11am-1pm. They failed to mention that they run approximately 2 hours behind schedule on deliveries. Let’s just say that Aer Lingus and I will not be seeing each other anytime soon.
My last day in Ireland is tomorrow. I am excited to check out the Guinness Storehouse and some other local delicacies. Next stop (and blog post) …Madrid!
Ciao for now,
Rachel
Despite having not received my luggage yet, Maura and I proceeded to follow through with our plans to visit Galway, Ireland. Clean clothes were not going to get in our way of having fun and seeing the beautiful nature of Ireland!
We took a three hour bus ride on bus Eireann and stayed at the Kinlay Hostel. I have stayed in a hostel in Arusha, Tanzania, before but this was much different. In fact, Kinlay was surprisingly similar to a dorm. We stayed in an eight person room that had metal cages under the bunk beds so we could keep our stuff in it when we went site seeing. Now, to those of you who frequent hostels, I am sure this is nothing new. But to me, I was pleasantly surprised!
Our first night, we ventured out into the downtown of Galway to find an awesome pub called the Front Door where we had a refreshing glass of Smithwicks and unique chicken and falafel burgers. The next morning we hopped on a tour bus that departed from our hostel for a days worth of Irish jokes and stories as we approached the awe-inspiring Cliffs of Moher. These cliffs were so incredibly beautiful and the vast green, rolling prairies we passed to get there certainly make you feel like a small being on such a large canvas of God’s creation. We enjoyed some authentic beef stew and seafood chowder at a stop on the way back to Galway.
We debated on returning home on Sunday after receiving a call that my luggage had been found (YAY!). So close, yet so far. However, after seeing the brochures for the Connemara and the Kylemore Abbey, we knew we had to see it in person. The Kylemore Abbey has a fascinating history that you can read about it in the link above. The quick version is that Mitchell Henry built this castle for his wife Margaret. After his wife passed, the Benedictine Nuns bought the castle and created a school for girls. It just recently shut down in 2010 as the laws changed regarding religion in schools. How cool would it be to go to school in this castle in the Irish country?!
Goal #12…run to catch a bus. CHECK! We made it back early enough into town that we caught bus home an hour before we thought we’d be able to. However, it was in reverse as we were grabbing our luggage from the Connemara tour bus. We were relieved when they let us board the bus. Unfortunately, they let a few other not-so-sober guys on after us, making us wish we would’ve missed it. Nonetheless, we were happy to be back nearly 2 hours before the other bus was scheduled to be back.
I finally received my luggage today! Monday at 3:45 in the afternoon. I was SO happy to see it. Unfortunately, I wasted the whole day waiting for it because they said it could arrive anywhere from 11am-1pm. They failed to mention that they run approximately 2 hours behind schedule on deliveries. Let’s just say that Aer Lingus and I will not be seeing each other anytime soon.
My last day in Ireland is tomorrow. I am excited to check out the Guinness Storehouse and some other local delicacies. Next stop (and blog post) …Madrid!
Ciao for now,
Rachel