Ireland Day 7

Today was another day spent around Galway, but our trip was closer to the hotel and on foot. Arlene and Kelly took back the rental car as we're taking the train to Dublin tomorrow. Before picking him up, Arlene, Amy, and I walked the tight little streets. It was a beautiful day weatherwise, the best yet. It was warm in the sun, and everyone was out and about. There's a park square nearby that was filled with people, sitting and talking, laying in the sun, laughing and walking--and smoking. The Irish seem to smoke and drink a lot, though they can't smoke indoors, which I was glad for, especially since I'm fighting a chest cold.

The narrow, cobble-stoned streets reminded me of Bourbon Street in New Orleans, only cleaner. There were tons of little shops and not so little shops, street singers, and I think I may have even seen a couple of Mormon missionaries walking by.

This street isn't so busy, but it shows the Irish love of colorful buildings.

We visited the mall, which was huge and included some of the old walls that used to surround Galway.

After the car was taken care of we went to dinner at McSwiggans. Amy and her hubby Darrell didn't eat with us, since it's their anniversary today, but they were at the restaurant, too.

The food was yummy, and the atmosphere was awesome. The owners bought two buildings separated by an alley and filled in the alley to make a large restaurant. When inside, if you look closely (not in this photo) you can see the original block whitewashed walls and the newer brick. By the restroom there's even cobblestones from the original street preserved in the floor.