Days 11 (Tues) & 12 (Wed) Galway to Dublin

 Good evening all.

Well we are back in Dublin.  Where our Irish adventure started a dozen days ago.  While it is exciting to look around Ireland's capitol, it is also sad because it means we are coming to the end of travels here.  And that is disappointing.  It went so fast.

I am driving around on the left side of the road like it is old habit.  Though Anita may argue just how good I am at it.  She has to admit that she does have to remind every minute to stay left.

Here is the link to today and yesterdays pics and videos: Day 11 & 12 Pics & Videos

So yesterday we finished out our Galway visit.  We walked down to the Harbor about noon and spent most of the afternoon walking around it at low tide and also seeing some more of the ancient stuff. I believe this one was a cathedral.  LOL

We walked around what is called the "Latin Quarter" which is basically a several block area right near the harbor area full of Pubs and shops and pubs and restaurants and pubs.  We decided to walk back to the B&B, get a nap and then head back down about 6 pm (when the tide was at it highest so we could see the comparison) and then get some supper and some "Ceol agus Craic" (pronounced k-yole ah-gus crack) is the Irish phrase for music and fun.

Which is what we did.  Got back down about to the Harbor about 6:15 to see how far up the tide had come.  That was remarkable that that much water moved in, and was once again on its way out. 12-14' tide stand.  WOW'

Had a nice dinner of beef stew and shrimp scampi.  Then went hunting some craic.  Which we found in pub called Tig Coili.  There are some accents, tildes and some dots that belong over several of those letters.  From what I was told by a fellow pub mate with an Irish accetn, it may mean House, or Place, of Coili (a proper name).  Regardless - we happened onto a "trad' (an informal gathering of traditional musicians jamming together. They may or may not know each other)  and had a great time tapping feet, clapping hands and drinking Guinness Stout.

There are a couple of videos of the music in link to the Pics and Videos if you want to hear more.  It was outstanding playing.  And...

As you would suspect... a good time was had by all and we walked (slightly less than a straight line) back to the B&B and laid our pretty little heads down for the night. 

This morning we arose, a wee bit later and wee bit slower.  The Guinness sleep aid worked great. Only problem was it did nothing to the ease the pain and stiffness of our 60 something bodies as a result of hiking the 2 miles each way to the Harbor - TWICE.  

Yea Yea Yea, I know...  8 miles with a nap half way and I am whining.  Well that's that way it is. We were stiff and sore.

We got down to breakfast, packed up and left for Dublin.  We stopped to go thru an Aquarium on Galway way just outside Galway.  It was a nice little aquarium.  It only took about 30 minutes to go thru.  But it was nice.  Then we were on the way to Dublin again.

Some strange looking fish called Lumpsuckers

It was an easy 2 and a half hour drive over to our Hotel in Dublin.  We got checked in about 2, and headed down to center Dublin for a look see.  (Took a taxi in.)  At about 4 we had the best Ribeye steak I have ever eaten.  Anita and I split the meal.  Good thing.  The Ribeye was 2" thick, cooked medium rare to perfection and served with garlic butter.  OHHHHH BABY!

We walked around a little more and planned out our tour for tomorrow.  The taxi driver was a great old guy.  He gave us great intel on what to avoid and how to get around.  He is the one that turned us to place to get the steak.

We walked around the inside of Trinity College, past all the federal buildings like the Parliament, the Bank of Ireland, etc.  Walked down Temple Bar (which is not single pub but an avenue of pubs and shops and restaurants.)  Then over to Halfpence Bridge before heading back to the Hotel.

Downtown Dublin Hard Rock Cafe

Trinity College in the Quad

We have a pretty good idea of what we are doing tomorrow.  The Taxi driver had the good idea of riding one of the Hop On / Hop Off double decker buses tomorrow for the loop around Dublin.  But stay on it for complete loop and take notes on what we want to see.  Then on the second lap around start the Hop On / Hop Off thing.  We'll let you know how that goes.

The Book of Kells at Trinity College and the Guinness tour on the list to see.  I am also sure that we will be in some ancient stone something or another tomorrow.  Can't be avoided.

So have a good night all and I will let you know how we make out tomorrow in Dublin.

Here is the link again to the pics and videos:   Day 11 & 12 Pics & Videos

Thanks for reading again.

Anita and Jim