"These train conversations are passing me by, and I don't have nothing to say"

Actually, the above is more of a description of several different days-- I didn't have a lot to say for the last couple, but had a great day today and saw of all things a private train! More on that later.

But my first goal for today was to go read next to that stone tea house from the previous post... it was an absolutely gorgeous day today so I wanted to make sure to take advantage. I'll ignore the crappy salad from "Freshly Chopped" I had for lunch (it's no "Chop't sadly), and skip right to the tea house.

Now, when looking for a quiet little place to read, you'd think the riverbank below was perfect, right?

ahhhhh

But also, unbeknownst to me, there were about 4 rugby matches going on on the field directly behind the tea house, so... yin yang.

I was just grateful for the ball not heading over my way.

What's weird here is that you can have it look completely beautiful in one direction, and ominous stormy clouds in the other direction. Tried to capture this here. Bottom line, no rain, so that's a plus, eh?

I'd say this horizon is half bad. Or isn't half bad. Whatever's funnier.

Anyhow, after a couple of hours and a couple hundred pages in my book, I realized 2 things: 1) I have no desire to ever learn Amharic, which is strewn throughout "Cutting for Stone"

2) I wanted to go see Glenlo Abbey, a ridiculously nice hotel that I would never be closer to than I was right now.

So, despite my "hiking/reading attire", I set forth along not the best paved walk in the world to go another couple of miles to see it. What's nice here, is that you do get to see a lot of nice houses with gorgeous views of Lough [Lake] Corrib.

I want this guy's house/view.

Finally, after maybe 40 or 50 minutes, I got to see Glenlo Abbey. It really is pretty nice, and if I ever have infinite money or am REALLY trying to impress an Irish girl (maybe any girl?), this is where I'd take her.

Actually scratch that, I'll take this view.

So after my crappy lunch, I decided it was time to treat myself to a nice dinner. However, I knew after a modicum of research I was not dressed for the Pullman Restaurant, or as it's more descriptively called, "the restaurant that's actually the old train from the Orient Express movie".

Also, $70 minimum with no drinks is a bit much?

So, unrepentantly, I went to the "Oak Cellar", their bar that also had food. And drinks. And I could sit at the bar instead of in a train booth by myself, which let's face it is a better option.

You know, I don't know why this said "temporary sign". It's a fine sign.

I really outdid myself here, this was one of the best meals of the trip-- Caprese salad, Steak and veg, and sorry not sorry, salted caramel tart. Look, if you're gonna do it up, do it up!

Also, the ginger-haired bartender fella was a big NBA fan, so we talked about that for a while. Sadly, he was a Knicks fan.

All this happened in the midst of what must have been a *HUGE* hurling match on TV, which I have to admit, was not at all exciting to me watching it. I don't get it, it wasn't Galway playing (Limerick-Kilkenny), you don't score that much, and when you do, it's not that big of a deal (to me). But I assure you the dapper denizens of the Oak Cellar bar were enthralled by quite a close match...one that I left before it was over.

In closing, here's some random shots from around the hotel... at 350 a night, I won't be staying here any time soon, but figured I'd want to get some proof I was once here.

Anyhow, having already walked about 5 miles to get here, I had no desire to walk off dinner, so I actually called a cab. First Galway taxi! Something about how Google said it would take me over an hour to get home vs 12 mins in a taxi made this a good call for me.

What made it a better call was the taxi driver helpfully explained the hurling (which he had on the radio... what a close match apparently!) and Galwegian rivalries and who hates who... everyone hates Kilkenny apparently. Also, probed him for some immigration advice, which basically amounted to "I like you, but the government will throw you out!".

Got back to the homestead, charged up the phone for a bit, and headed with Fanny the French roommate to Crane's for some live music. Careful, this place might become my local bar.

Rather than subject you to more "instruments playing variations on a similar melody that sounds like Drunken Sailor", I'll share a verse from one of the few vocal performances of the night... first Galway Bay appearance in Galway!

I loved so many things about this and other performances tonight, here's a few takeaways:

1) People really respect their elders here, as in, the two old white haired guys on the left got like 3 solos each for their, let's be honest, not perfect performances.

2) They also respect young kids trying to play-- they let 3 or 4 teenagers in for a couple of songs each.

3) Everybody works together, drinks together, and tries to help on as many songs as possible.

4) Again, people actually shut up in the audience for this somehow.

Sooner or later-- actually scratch that, it turned out to be later-- the last song was played and I went home for the night. A solid day!

Random Things:

-I was talking at Crane to a British guy next to me about using Bumble here in Galway, and commiserating about success rate and the number of vowels in Irish girls' names. Also got commended for my correct use of the word "slag", which was evidently hilarious to him and his stag party comrades.

WHY DON'T WE DO THIS IN THE US????

- I really love that fashion here is what 90s US fashion was (from my non-fashion-oriented brain)-- tons of young guys wearing Adidas track suits and similar, and ladies wearing animal print nonsense. Love it unironically! (you know what, Wix is telling me that "unironically" is not a word, but I think it is, so I'm keeping it).

-Apparently the Silent Disco I couldn't get into at Roisin Dubh will actually be in the street and really cool and not just young kids! Right after I leave apparently 😢

Moment of Zen