Connemara

So another week has passed and I'm feeling pretty settled here in Galway. I can get to class and back, find my way around Shop Street and even understand that 4:30 is known as half four. There was the typical "sign up for clubs and societies" fair this week and I decided I am going to play Badminton while I'm here, as well as join the botany club, the food and drink society, the green society and technically I joined the movie society but that was just for free popcorn.
All in all the week was week-like, but this weekend we took a group API sponsored trip to Connemara- home of the legendary ponies. They weren't all that spectacular but I hope to ride one while I'm here so maybe more later. We took a guided bus tour with our advisor Finn, and she is the best at giving tours. She told us all about the flora and fauna and sheep stealing stories that she knew. We heard how she met her husband Kevin and how they fell in love- it was a fitting story for them and a funny one for us to hear.




Our big tourist event of the day was visiting Kylemore Abbey, a large estate that has been transformed into a boarding school run by Benedictine nuns. I'm not one for tours of old houses, but this was in an absolutely gorgeous location that made me feel like I was exploring at home in the beautiful Vermont woods. We were let loose to explore for an hour and while I definitely enjoyed the chance to look around I wish we had been given more time.

We walked around inside the manor, and while it was quite plush it didn't do much for me. What I found that amazed me was the church that the original owner built in honor of his wife. It was beautiful.

 The inside was pristine and peaceful- the way I feel churches should be. There was a lovely mausoleum a short walk away and although those three were lovely to see, that's all we saw before we had to rush to lunch. Which was delish. I had a Thanksgiving themed sandwich, tomato soup with brown bread, tea AND a big piece of delicious blueberry cake. It filled me up so full and I was a happy camper for the rest of the day.
Which was filled with more bus travel, some hiking, and even more bus travel.



All in all an enjoyable day exploring the beauty of Ireland....but I gotta tell you- it's just like vermont. I didn't really expand many horizons in coming here. It's green, and lush and sometimes hilly and filled with cows and sheep.


My mom always says that at home we live in a picture, because Vermont is always so beautiful. Well I feel like I just switched frames because on days like Saturday, Ireland is it's own gorgeous painting.

But really, that looks just like home doesn't it!?!?

And now for some not so pretty/artsy pictures from our walk around Kylemore...


You know I'm thinking about how to get onto that chair even though its in the water.

 Brendan helped me complete my picture....and then left me there to figure out how to get off

But I did it!

No clue why there was a bear at Kylemore...
but Colleen and I HAD to take advantage 

We ended our day at the lovely village of Clifden, where we were supposed to enjoy their local arts festival. Unfortunately, the two exhibits we were planned to go see were crowded and closed so we just walked around for the hour, exploring the quaint town. And even though it could have been anywhere in the states, we knew it wasn't the minute we saw this.

And that's all I got this week,
K