Day 37

July 29:

So as you guys know instead of going to Dingle for the next two days I changed my plans and headed back to Galway. I left Kinsale at about 9am and didn't get up to Galway until 1pm that afternoon. It was quite a long drive, and I was really happy to FINALLY get into the town. When I saw the sign for the city I was like, "thank GOD!!! I'm finally here!!!" Being in the car for 4 hours is a longggg time.

My hotel isn't as close to the city centre as I would like it to be, but it isn't bad. I got here and got settled and then I laid down and fell asleep for three hours. It was a much needed nap. Then I got up and it was only 4...so it was too early to go to town because I wanted to stay for the music at Taaffes, plus it was raining. So I watched some TV, ordered some room service, took a shower, and did a whole lot of nothing until 830 then I took a taxi into town. I can't even begin to explain how it felt to be walking back down shop street with all the hustle and bustle of people milling about, in and out of the pubs. To feel so right in a place it is indescribable unless you have felt it yourself. You wander around in life trying to find a place that feels like home, and when you finally find it you never want to leave. Even if things are bad, even if nothing else is right, you know that you are home and thats the most important feeling in the world.

I walked into Taaffes and it was crowded, as usual. I walked up to the front and made my way to the bar and ordered my Bulmers. As soon as I did this man started talking to me, he was nice. He and his friends ended up buying me drinks all night. The same band was there that was there last Tuesday night, the one that I posted up on here singing Galway Girl. There were wonderful, and I stayed till they were done, then took a taxi home.

I talked with liz for a while when I got home, which was nice, because I haven't talked to her much since I got here. It is starting to set in that i am leaving in two days, and I thought i was going to be fine...but now that it's getting so close I'm feeling the way I thought I would. Liz was saying it is not like it is goodbye forever, but it feels that way. I know I will come back, but when? It's not exactly cheap to come over here. Ideally I would like to come back for my birthday...St Patrick's Day, and then again next summer. I feel like this whole adventure has turned my world upside down, and everything that I wanted before I left isn't there anymore. Like, I am a completely new person and I have to start this new life when i go home. It will be interesting to see how things work out once I am actually home.

The Galway Hooker beer...this isn't at Taaffes, but I haven't taken any new pictures to post.