Gul-way not Gal-way!

We arrived by bus in the afternoon. The temperature has dropped significantly and as we waited in line to grab our main pack the clouds broke and it began to hail. With our rain covers on, we began to explore the town center. Luckily there was a hostel right next to the bus station called Galway City Hostel. With free internet, breakfast, kitchen area and clean rooms we quickly signed up.

Galway is on the South Western coast of Ireland. Our original plan for coming here was to visit the Aran Islands. We arrived in the late afternoon and took power naps. Nate went and bought pizza so we could take advantage of having a kitchen. After eating, we headed out to the pub district of Galway.

The nightlife area of Galway reminds me of Temple Bar in Dublin. Small shops and pubs line the sides of narrow cobblestone streets. It was Monday evening so I wasn't expecting too much; I just wanted to grab a drink. We arrived at a pub called King's Head. It was a good crowded for a weekday, especially Monday.

Since Dublin, we had been drinking Guinness and red bull/vodka here and there. So we decided to order something different. I got a beer called Smithwicks (pronouced Smith-icks, the w is slient), a traditional Irish ale. It tasted like a lighter Fat Tire.


Inside a two guitar cover band was playing, they played traditional Irish songs, but mostly covered the typical cover band songs. I requested The Eagles hoping they would play Hotel California, I like to hear the various renditions of that classic track. The guy said he didn't know any Eagles. "Are you kidding me!" I thought. So I asked "Clapton?" he responded with a confused look. "Zeppelin?" <same experession> "Foo Fighters" he responded with "Foo?". I threw in "Stevie Ray Vaughan" just for kicks and he said he would see what he could do. I thought to myself "there's no way this guy can play any Stevie Ray." He introduced the next song as a classic by Johnny Cash and proceeded to play "Hurt". Hopefully this paints a clear picture.

Although obviously lacking as an actual cover band they did play some Irish songs that got the entire crowd singing. We met a group of Scots at the bar. He asked where we were from and misheard Kansas as Canada. "Oh Canada! Lets get a shot" As the bartender was pouring he asked which part of Canada, and when he realized it was Kansas he joked "Oh, the US no shots for you". We ended up dancing and singing Irish songs till the pub closed with that group Scots.

As we were booted out of King's Head, two German girls from our hostel recognized us. We started to chat and they ended up convincing us to go to club Cuba which was caddy corner from our Hostel across from the main square in Galway. None of us were really dressed for clubbing, but oh well.

Along the bar district of Galway, pairs of club promoters stand at each intersection each promoting a different club, again I emphasize that this is on a Monday. You can tell they are club promoters because they are they only ones wearing stocking hats, full winter jacket and gloves. It was about 6°C that night, 42°F, yet most of the girls I saw running round were in skirts, dresses and not a single jacket. The promoters stand on corners with stamps that get you free entry into their club. After getting stamps we started to funnel into the club. The bouncer stopped Nate and said "No track pants", yet I got in with a plain colored tshirt and cargo pants, hmmmm. I didn't stay long as Nate and Gene both went back to the Hostel, but the club was pretty good. They played a variety of techno and hiphop. Since arrival to Europe I have heard the Apple Bottom Jeans song and guess what song was playing as I walked in.

The entire point of coming to Galway was to see the Aran Islands. We got up this morning and realized that the only bus that goes to the Aran Islands had already left 30 minutes ago. As luck would have it, we were not the only people that had missed the early departure time. We had planned to couchsurf the next evening so we were in the dinning area, when a French girl noticed that we were on our couchsurfering account. We ended up meeting two people that day from the couchsurfing connection, Jimmy from Australia and Ariane French Canadian that lived in Bath, Britain. Instead of hitting up the Islands we spent the day exploring Galway with our new friends.

Later that night we met Julia who is a German girl that has been working in Ireland for a while. She recommended that we go see some traditional Irish Dancing a local pub. By the time we left, our group had increased by two other French guys, Clement and Blaise. They were on a roadtrip to northern Ireland, Gaint's Causeway. Clement and Blaise told us that we were welcome to Lyon their hometown in France and that Lyon had the best French food. I guess we will find out soon enough.


And now we continue on the road. We will bus back to Dublin spend a day there to rest and the next morning journey to Northern Ireland and explore Belfast.