This morning dawned sunny and very chilly but we set out as planned and walked the mile or so into the centre of Galway for the Hop on Hop off bus tour. Funny name for it - you only hop on at the beginning and off at the end. There are no pickups en route - probably because there is only one bus and it runs 4 times a day. Ah well, it was a nice tour.
Subsequently we spent time walking around the pedestrian area of mostly shops and restaurants and pubs. It was alternately sunny and cloudy. We walked through the Spanish Arch to see the museum. Alas, Monday was a poor choice as it was closed. Oddly enough, the cafe attached to it was open.
Having seen what we could, it was time to point the car east - so we did. Traffic was light and the road was good and we decided to pay a short visit to Clonmacnoise. It is a very old sacred sight that incorporates relatively recent graves, 20th century, into a very old cemetery. The various monastic buildings are in ruins but interesting features remain. The three high crosses, the originals, are now inside the museum and copies have taken their place out in the elements. Taking photos was complicated by the ride-on lawnmower that seemed to sense what I wanted to photograph and was often in view. Having to cut grass, even while sitting down, around hundreds of ancient headstones would not be my idea of a good time.
With Clonmacnoise in the rear view mirror it was a straight run to Dublin. By that I mean there were no nasty incidents. There were some interesting roads. None of them straight. Many of the sights of Ireland's Ancient East are not on main roads, so the dedicated tourist must spend some time on those lovely twisting narrow hilly byways. The hedges are in bloom with the bright yellow of the gorse and the soft white of what I think is Blackthorn. I can't explain the white vs black thing.
We arrived at our airport hotel and after having to line up to check in, we were upgraded to a larger room. Nice. With arms full of stuff and a large suitcase each, we then had to pause to open the door to the elevator lobby with the room key. OK - all set again. The elevator was quick and we disembarked onto a nice marble floor. For a half second. Then we hit the lovely plush carpet. It would be wonderful to walk on this in bare feet. Try hauling a 50 lb suitcase on wheels over sand. The rate of travel would be about the same as ours down the hall, and down another hall. Why is it that an upgrade means your room is so far from the elevator there is little need for a treadmill in your life?
The evening was spent getting into Dublin on the AirLink bus as part of our 72 hour bus pass to everything we'd want, eating at Gogarty's and enjoying the Irish music. The return bus trip was uneventful and we've now called it a day.
here's a link to today's images - some are already on FB
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/0an1w7xrnyk83e3/AADIWyVh6zNV_7WDb2Hh7AWha
Slan
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