Bits and Bobs From County Galway

The sun made a brief appearance one evening so Joe and I took advantage of the dry weather and  drove to Lough Corrib.  We met a friendly woman walking her dogs.  She offered to take our photo and we had a lovely conversation about Ireland, Canada and home exchanges.  When she learned we were from Vancouver she said, "I was in Vancouver once!  I stayed with my aunt in a suburb called Coquitlam."  I told her I was born and raised in Coquitlam.  It's a small world after all.

Lough Corrib in the evening sun. 

 A monster gnawing a baby's head on the wall of the Lynch Castle.

 Joe is never happier than when he is buying and talking food.

 An angler in the River Corrib.

 The cathedral in Galway must buy its holy water in bulk!

 A day at the beach.  The temperature was a balmy 15 C.  I can't imagine what the temperature of the water was!

 The beach at Barna.

 Irish kids are the toughest.

 One day we stumbled upon a fish and chip shop in Salthill and decided to stop for lunch.  Throughout our meal (which was delicious) a man wearing huge gumboots repeatedly entered the restaurant carrying trays of fish.  In and out he'd go.  Over and over again.  With a big smile on his face.  Happily talking to the patrons as he passed by their tables.  We were told he owned the fish market next door.  His daughter ran the restaurant.  The fish for each meal was brought over as it was needed.  Talk about fresh!  Joe was so impressed and just had to meet this fisherman!
Ali is an Iranian immigrant who came to Ireland in the early '80s.  He said his first choice was to come to Canada but that was at the time of the Iranian Hostage Crisis and no one was able to emigrate to North America.  So he chose to come to Ireland and has been very happy here.

Whoever lives in this house has a great sense of humour.  It looks like they chopped down quite a few trees along the road but left two trunks as sharpened pencils.

We wandered down to the pub in the village one night to take in the music.  There are so many talented people in this world.

Now we're off for our third and final road trip.  We're making our way south to Limerick, Dingle, Skellig Michael, Kinsale and Cork.  I can't wait to see more of this magical country.