1100 GMT - We have a little trouble actually getting into Galway City...we should have just followed the signs to City Center, but I was trying to find a specific street, which is a futile effort when your maps leave a huge gap right where you need to make your connection. We find our road finally, and it leads us to an adorable little shopping area. We pull into a parking area right next to the Jury's Inn. We are shocked by the VERY limited space in the garage. Amy makes a twenty-five point turn to get up the first ramp to level 1 (remember, we waived the insurance....!). After several more ramps, now more easily negotiated as the sudden appearance and need for wide turns at entry are no longer a surprise. Amy executes another twenty-five point turn to back into the ONLY space we are able to find, but only after Eamon and I clear out of the car since we will never get the passenger doors open from this space. We pack Connor into the backpack and head out into the walking streets which are littered with shops, pubs and restaurants. We see a pub named Riordan's which is Eamon's friend Lily's last name.
We are unable to decide whether we should eat or shop...decide finally to eat and then end up in stores shopping while we try to find a place to eat. We go into a pub, and just as suddenly exit it, something about too much of a place for grownups. We walk around some more and still don't find anyplace that Eamon wants to eat at, so I find Amy some restrooms and we decide to return to the original pub. It turns out to be perfect. Amy stands in line to order food and pints, while Eamon, Connor and I find a little table in back. Eamon spots some tapestries on the wall and says "Hey, Dad, is that the Unicorn in the Forest?" This is one of a series of 7 tapestries we saw at Stirling Palace in Stirling, Scotland. It is indeed, upon closer examination, said same tapestry. He points at another and asks if it is The Unicorn is Killed and Brought to the Palace, which, it is not. I am still in shock that he remembered either the tapestry or the entire names. I didn't even think he was paying attention at the other castle when I explained them to him. He has a bacon sandwich, he is in love with Irish bacon already, and butter, and white bread (sigh).
1630 GMT - We do quite a bit of shopping. I find my gift for Eamon. I find a gift for Amy...it is not the best example, but with only one day left, I am getting desperate. I still haven't bought THE present that I want to get. We do find some cool presents for others though. we pick up a cooked ham and some carrot cake from the butcher and baker to use for Christmas Eve dinner. We never make it far enough down the cobblestone road through all the stores to make my original destination, Eyre Square, since the mob of people we have been in the whole way suddenly begins to grow exponentially. We surrender and run to find a place to hide. Finally, we stop at an internet cafe to post some blog updates. Unfortunately, the connection to their ONE DELL laptop, is down. This is clearly another example of why people should NOT buy Dell computers. Eamon begins his daily 4pm spinout and we are unable to enjoy anything we get from the cafe. We leave as darkness begins to fall and hit the road back to the cabin. Connor wakes up part of the way back and serenades us with cries of agony and despair for the last 20 minutes of the drive. We will miss our neighbor's dog if he ever decides to NOT guide us back up the hill.
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