Galway, and back to Dublin

I am sitting on a bus, heading back to Dublin. I spent last night and today in Galway, a gorgeous little town which sits on the west coast of Ireland, on the fast flowing Corrib River (where this morning I watched daring Irishmen fall out of their kayaks and then squeal from the cold).

The Corrib

The Spanish Arch, this is what's left of the city walls. It dates back to 1584.

Some trad music. 

Oscar Wilde statue. He is having a leisurely conversation with Eduard Wild. 

At the museum, I saw this bowl. It is from 2100BC. That is heaps old. 

Irish countryside

I feel sleepy and calm, happy and thoughtful as this bus meanders (jerks) through the countryside. I am glad I took this little trip by myself, because now I feel more open to exploring and wandering, I feel like something had happened in Dublin that stumped me, caught me like a feather on a branch and suddenly I was scared to be on this adventure, suddenly maybe it wasn't the right thing. Maybe it was the cold and the rain, or maybe it was seeing Ellie and the spot she is in, but something took the wind from my sails and I was afraid. This probably explains why I haven't written anything much about Dublin so far. But now I am heading back there, with a new outlook, a new excitement. I have five days still until I go back to London, so I look forward to giving Dublin another chance.

I have been overhearing some quite strange and hilarious things on my journeys, and I am not sure whether this is because I am alone and so have not been talking so much (thus drowning out the sound of others), or because Irish people say silly things (hmmm… racist…) but I have started to write them down, because... well it's entertaining for me. So I will share them with you now.

1. An Irishman walks into a bar…

Drunk Irishman 1:              I love living in Galway, Tis a beautiful town.

Drunk Irishman 2:              Aye, I love Galway too. Raises glass

Drunk Irishman 1:              I think God is here, in Galway.

Drunk Irishman 2:              In Galway? Yes, I think so too.

Drunk Irishman 1:              Well he's definitely not up there. Points to the sky.

Drunk Irishman 2:              In heaven?

Drunk Irishman 1:              Nah, in the North.  Laughs heartily.

2. Recession

Irishman on the street runs into a friend        

Irishman 1:           Hey! Haven't seen you around what you been doin'?

Irishman 2:           Lookin' for a job.

Irishman 1:           You and the rest of the fuckin' country!  We should get a pint!

Irishman 2:           If you'll pay.

Bless us.

Two women are sitting in a café gossiping.

Irishwoman 1:     She says she doesn't believe in baptism!

Irishwoman 2:     Gasps

Irishwoman 1:     Yes I know! She says the baby should have a choice if he wants to be blessed!

Irishwoman 2:     What did you say to her?

Irishwoman 1:     Well I explained, it's not us who blesses the baby; it's the baby who blesses us!

Both women nod knowingly and are quiet for some time before resuming their conversation about an unrelated topic.

So back to Dublin now, with my pack on my back, the same clothes I partied in 'til 3am, and my very unwashed hair (now I understand the term dirty backpackers. I am actually quite dirty), to Ellie's house via the pub, and onward.

xxx