Ireland- Day 6: Galway

I can't remember the last time I went on vacation and actually felt relaxed. But that's exactly how I feel right now and it is wonderful. Although my body has had a hard time adjusting to the time and I haven't hit my stride or gotten into a routine. I'm still feeling alright.

The good part about staying put in one place is that it's fully allowed me to just chill out. Today wasn't a terribly busy day but it was a good one. After putzing around in the morning, I finally made it out around 1030am and went to visit Robin at work. From there I took a trip to the Galway Cathedral.

It's All Saints Day so I walked right into the middle of mass. It struck me that I hadn't been in church for a very very long time. It's always amazing to me just how much comes flooding back to me- being able to recite the prayers and the psalms (or whatever they're called) after taking such a long break from being at a Catholic mass. I patiently waited for the service to end before snapping some pictures and then high tailing it outta there.

It was a very windy and rainy day on and off. So I took shelter in a pub where I wrote out more postcards and had lunch. Afterward, I walked around some more, battled with my umbrella, not so silently willing it to not blow away or break, and then went to another pub, this time to read.

I felt really relaxed lounging on a couch at a pub right around the corner from where Robin lives, called the Townhouse. I've been here more than a handful of times since landing in Galway. It's easy to get to, has good pub food and is a really relaxing low-key atmosphere. When I almost fell asleep on the couch, I realized it was time to go home and shower before meeting up with Robin.

Feeling a little more awake, I went back to the Townhouse to meet up with Robin. We ate, talked and then decided to get one more drink (for me at least) from another local pub, Murphy's. I had actually tried to go in there earlier in the day, but they must have just washed the floors, because the overpowering smell of ammonia made me turn right around.

With a several hour break, Robin & I were able to hang out. I walked in and felt right at home among the patrons. Average age? Approximately 72 I'd say. I made my one Guinness stretch for a couple of hours as I read and slowly sipped my drink until it was gone.

A short rain-free walk later, I'm back at Robin's and about to go to bed.

I still feel super relaxed and it's a foreign feeling for me. Typically on vacations I'm running around here and there and everywhere and feel rushed to try and fit everything in that I can. I have at least one more day of total relaxation and then need to figure out what I'm doing on Wednesday about The Thatch...

Favorite pictures from the day:

Writing postcards and drinking Guinness


Smokers taking shelter from the rain


Rain damage and color splashes


Kickin' it in Murphy's with the 70-year old men


A quiet end to a quiet day