Last few days in Galway

Hello All!

So I decided rather than spend my last few days travelling and on the road, that I would stay in Galway and relax and try to become and expert on the city ... well the last may not happen with only two days left, but a girl can try. I have had a really amazing time and I can't wait to get home and share pictures and details with all of you!

I have seen some pretty amazing things and had a lot of new experiences and I would recommend a trip like this to anyone. The people at West Ireland Cycling were amazing and really worth every penny. Biking really is the best way to see Ireland (the West of Ireland anyways - because that is all I can really comment on). I loved being on back country roads taking guesses at when my next turn would come - they really just give you destinations and a map and you are on your own from there (although they also have the option of having a guide). I still can't believe all of the ground that I covered in only 7 days! I saw cliffs, megalithic tombs, old stone forts, beautiful stone walls stretching as far as the eye could see, and sooooooo much more. I also met so many amazing people on my trip that were always up for a chat - in pubs, on park benches, in the hostels, at bus stops ....

Well I think I can only say so much on paper - you will all have to see for yourselves when I return!

Signing off for the last time from Galway,

Jean

Matchmaking in Lisdoonvarna?!?

Just kidding everyone ... the matchmaking festival doesn't take place in this quiet little town until September! ;-) But really, there is a matchmaking festival here - sort of like the 1997 movie The Matchmaker - I recommend it for a good laugh and a good view of the areas I have been and will be visiting. Sorry it has been a few days since an update, but there wasn't the best internet access in Cong. So I have come from Cong to the largest of the Aran Islands and now I will call Lisdoonvarna home for the next 2-3 nights (still deciding whether I will spend Friday night here or back in Galway). I will complete a few bike loops over the next few days in this area covering the Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, and a bike ride along the coast. Ireland is still treating me well and I am adding new names to my list of friends made in Ireland everyday. The big news for today would be that Jean likes Irish Salmon!!! Liam - the owner of the cycling company and Christina (I think his partner?) were transferring me and my bike from the Aran Islands to Lisdoonvarna and they thought we should stop for dinner. They stopped at a seafood restauraunt and I decided not to say anything about my unwillingness to give fish a fighting chance in the past. I ordered baked salmon and it was absolutely amazing!!!

Well I have a big day ahead of me tomorrow so I will call it a night. Take care and see you all soon!!

Oh yes - and I have been following my Penguins from a far and they seem to be doing great :-)

Signing off from Lisdoonvarna!

Jean

Jean made it to Ireland!!!

So after about 21 hours of travel time (including buses, subways, airplanes, and more buses) Jean has made it to Galway - her first stop on her Ireland adventure. I arrived in Shannon airport just after 2:00pm Ireland time and caught a bus from there to Galway. While sitting at the stop I met and chatted with a man from London, England on his way to visit his brother in Gort (a cute little town on the same bus route). We had a nice little chat and I am hoping that is just the beginning of many random chats :-) The bus drive from the airport to Galway took about 2 hours and was just beautiful. Almost every plot of land is surrounded by little stone walls, there are ruins of old churches and buildings in random backyards, and the grass is just so darn green!!! Well I will keep this short because I am going to go hunt for food and wander town and take pictures before dark.

Signing off from Galway,
Jean

Heading to Ireland

So ... I am heading to Ireland. This is one place on earth that I always said that I wanted to travel to, but my actions had not followed through with my thoughts ... until now. I need to thank my brother for planting the thought of this trip in my head - he does think I am being a bit of a copy-cat, but I believe they say something about that being the greatest form of flattery. My brother is being much more ambitious than I am - he is actually biking completely around the country (Republic and Northern Ireland) in three weeks. I am taking a much more relaxed approach and biking through a smaller area and then traveling on my own for the last few days.

Here is a google map link of the bike trip I will be taking:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Galway,+Ireland&daddr=Spiddal,+Galway,+Ireland+to:Oughterard,+Galway,+Ireland+to:Maam+Cross,+Galway,+Ireland+to:Cong,+Galway,+Ireland+to:Ballinrobe,+Mayo,+Ireland+to:Partry,+Mayo,+Ireland+to:Maumtrasna,+Mayo,+Ireland+to:Cong,+Galway,+Ireland+to:Cornamona+to:Maam+Cross,+Galway,+Ireland+to:Rossaveel,+Galway,+Ireland+to:Galway+to:Lisdoonvarna,+Clare,+Ireland+to:Doolin,+Clare,+County+Clare,+Ireland+to:Lahinch+to:Ennistimon+to:Kilfenora+to:Lisdoonvarna,+Clare,+Ireland+to:Gleninsheen,+Clare,+Ireland+to:Carran,+Clare,+County+Clare,+Ireland+to:Kinvara,+Kinvarra,+Galway,+County+Galway,+Ireland&mra=pe&mrcr=13,14&sll=45.406278,-54.907094&sspn=51.466243,119.53125&ie=UTF8&ll=53.235633,-9.258728&spn=0.688784,1.867676&z=9

I fly out on Thursday night at around 11:50pm - only three more sleeps!!