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Our Magnificent Journey
Chapter 11
2009
England / Scotland / Ireland

 

On the coast of Ireland  
09.19.09
Saturday
Day 11
Dublin - Galway
 
  

Woke to the alarm at 7am, packed and met our pre-arranged cab for the ride through a sunny Dublin to the train station, destination Galway. The streets of old Dublin are fairly deserted at this hour and we found ourselves at the station in no time.

  

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Dublin. Our room at the Trinity Capital Hotel was large and quite comfortable. We have found the Irish people as a whole to be warm, humorous, friendly and generous. At one point we jumped on a city bus with only paper money and were informed by the bus driver that only coins were accepted. He kindly allowed us on, and then made sure we knew where to get off at our destination. We have had these sorts of interactions since arriving in Eire.

   

We arrived at the train station with plenty of time to spare so we warmed up with hot coffee and sandwiches.

   

We have always loved the old train stations of Europe and Dublin’s Heuston Station is no exception.

   
Enroute from Dublin to Galway
   

We boarded the Galway-bound train at 9:00 am and at 9:10, Dublin was receding behind us. Soon the sun hid behind gray clouds and it began to rain as the train pulled into Kildare, the first of several stops en route to Galway on Ireland’s west coast. On to Portarlington, Tullamore, Clara and Athlone. The further southwest we go, the greener the countryside is becoming. Gaelic is now the main language. On to Ballinasloe, Woodlawn, Athenry, and at noon the train pulled into Galway Station.

    

We had somewhat of a hassle at the Budget Rental Car office near the train station. Carol had reserved a small automatic car for us, but we were told that none was available. We had to take a larger stick-shift car but we soon acclimated ourselves. Stay away from Budget in Galway – it was not a pleasant experience dealing with the staff there.

    

We managed to get ourselves out of center-city Galway and out to the Abacus B&B on Glenina Heights off Dublin Road. Owned and managed by Breege and Noel O’Shaughnessy and their very-capable, multi-talented daughter Louise, the Abacus is in a nice area close to town. Quite clean with a nice queen-sized bed and modern bath, we were happy to settle in.

    
Our bedroom at the Abacus B&B in Galway
   

Today is “laundry day” for the Traveling Lehrmans so we ventured out into Galway traffic in search of a Laundromat. After some time spent searching ( we managed somehow not to kill anyone or ourselves sinceI have not driven a manual-transmission car for years,) we found a self-service Laundromat close to the center of Galway, the Prospect Hill Laundromat. The manager, Michael, was very helpful and we started the laundry process then walked to Eyre Square and enjoyed mushroom soup, tuna melt, black bread and Guinness at a wonderful old pub where we watched Arsenal football (soccer) on TV.

    
Michael and Carol at the Prospect Hill Laundromat in Galway
   

Picked up our laundry at 3 pm. Thanked Michael for all his help, then drove back to the B&B to stow the clean laundry and rest.

   

At 7:00 pm we visited with our host Noel, who gave us tips for our evening adventure. He suggested that we take the #4 bus to city center and then stroll around, which we did. Galway on a Saturday night at the water’s edge is a bustling melting pot of restaurants, pubs, street musicians and hordes of revelers.

   
River in Galway
   
Old Town - Galway
   

We selected Trattoria Magnetti for mussels, smoked salmon and house wine, and sat off in a quiet cozy candle-lit corner.

   

After a nice, quiet, romantic dinner we walked back to Eyre Park and caught the #9 bus to a stop near the B&B. By 10 pm we were fast asleep after another fun day on the west coast of the Emerald Isle.

    

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