I could live here...

This past weekend my friends and I took a trip to Galway, a favorite city of many tourists, also home to an Irish university popular among many American students.  It's much smaller than Cork, but I the weekend was one of the most enjoyable yet.  Galway was a medieval city and during the middle ages was Ireland's main port for trade with Spanish and France and Christopher Columbus even visited. I was surprised to learn that during the 16th century, though, Galway did not really get along with its Irish neighbors because at the time it was ruled by Anglo-Normans, and at one point there was a bye-law that exclaimed "either O' not Mac shall strutte nor swagger through the streets of Galway without permission."

One of my friends and I spent the next day roaming the little city while the majority of our group traveled to Inishmaan, the largest of the Aran Islands.  We started our day over scones and tea, walked along the river banks and cheered on runners in a marathon, and ended up on a little beach.  We each curled up in the dunes and read our books, and I wrote.  During this time, even though the ocean was right in front of us, and a marathon was taking place right behind us, everything was still quiet and calm.  I couldn't help but think, "I could definitely live here one day."  It's just beautiful and perfect. 

We continued our day with a warm Irish lunch at Riordan's, "The Home of Traditional Irish Food."  We ate in a cozy little upstairs sitting room. I had Shepherd's Pie, that they served with a side of potatoes (yes, more potatoes), cabbage, and carrots.  My friend had traditional Irish stew.  It was delicious.

We continued the day with shopping, more reading, napping, and ice cream for dinner.  It was one of the best days I have had since I've been abroad.  One thing I have to keep reminding myself of is that even though I'm in a different country and want to see as many things as possible, it's important to remember that I need to take the time to relax and just simply take in the fact that I'm in Ireland...part of the experience of living in Ireland is doing just that, and being a normal person, not a tourist all the time!

-Mollie