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Just returned from Galway this evening! I can feel myself getting sick - it was cold, windy, and pissing rain when we got there, and kept on being that way until the next morning. But it did not stop the fun! I got to hear what it sounds like when STRONG, STRONG wind blows through the loose rigging of hundreds of sail boats (answer: AWESOME), and Rebekah and I bought each other claddagh rings from Thomas Dillon, who claim to be the original makers of this traditional piece of jewelry. Pictures attached!

Our hostel reminded me of the Mystery House we went to in California, when I was little - stairs, and stairs, and MORE stairs, with doors to strange places, surprise steps, odd skylights, and uneven floors. But it was very clean, and heated, and there was a bathroom with a (hot!) shower right in our room! And, best of all, no one else was sharing our eight-person suite.

A girl from Rebekah's study abroad program, Kayla, met us in a pub, and introduced us to her family, who were all visiting. And I mean ALL. Her mom, aunt, grandparents, and brother were all there, and all really friendly.

After they went home, Kayla took us around to sample Galway's night life, which was pretty hopping even though all the students have gone home for study month/Easter break. I turned in around one thirty, but Rebekah stayed out with Kayla forever! I was dead asleep when she came back.

Today, we were better able to wander Galway - it was sunny and breezy, and not freezing. Galway is pretty small (read REALLY small), so there wasn't too much to see. It actually reminded me A LOT of home. I never quite understand what all the tourists do when they come on the weekends. Shop. Eat. Stare at locals... fair enough. That's what we did, but it sure didn't fill up all of our time! I think it's way more entertaining to be on the other end, and stare at the tourists.

Though, if you do make it to Galway, make sure you get to Tig Coili (pronounced "tigolee," or "tickolee," depending on who's talking), which is an AMAZING trad music pub. It was so packed, we ended up sitting pretty much ON the musicians. No, really. The guy playing the accordion was from New York, and we saw the entire band staffing a music store the next morning. If you need an Irish trad instrument, they know their stuff. They also know a bit about ukuleles, though they didn't have a gig bag to fit mine.

Galway made us both a bit homesick: Rebekah because she lives in L.A., right by the ocean, and me because Galway felt like home! I think I might have got along better there than in Cork, just because it's so small. But you never know - the student housing is half an hour out of town at a walking pace, so I might have never ever left my dorm! Also, Kayla said it's been windy and rainy nonstop for the last two weeks, and in Cork, we've been fortunate enough to have sun nearly every weekend I've been here (you know, minus the freak snow storm the first week or so...).

Hmm... Another choral tomorrow! Doubtlessly, there will be a lot of talk about Italy! It's only a week away now. I looked up temperatures: upper mid sixties. Rats. I was hoping for warmer. But still... it's Italy! And Amanda Palmer in 16 days! And Tony arrives here in EXACTLY a month. *Puts on patient face*

Right. Time to buckle down and study about the Druids. After I put up some photos for ye!

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