Galway

Since we were planning to go to Germany in the middle of the week, we wanted a day or so for Jenn to give us a tour around Galway.


One everyday item you usually do not think about being different when you go on vacation is the outlet style. This is an example of a set of outlets and Jenn's apartment. They are 220V, have a weird pattern for three solid prongs, and you have to switch on the outlet before you can use it. Plus the plug units themselves are a lot larger - about 1" wide or so. Needless to say, I used Jenn's hair appliances during this trip! Apparently countries with past or present ties to England have these types of outlets.


Jenn took us on a tour of the campus of the National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, where she was spending her school year. Pretty typical looking campus.


The signs gave it away that we weren't in the US, though. Don't ask me how to pronounce civil engineering in Irish!

The Quadrangle is the most prominent structure on campus.

The Quadrangle was constructed in the mid-1800's, and is a replica of Christ Church at the University of Oxford.

Jenn the student!

This is one of the classrooms Jenn frequented, which looks pretty similar to the US.

Cops!

After our tour of NUI, we headed back towards downtown. On the way, I had a chance to snap a photo of the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St. Nicholas (yes, long name). Although it looks older, construction of the church was actually completed in 1965.

A view of downtown Galway as it sits along the River Corrib, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean just downstream of here. The Spanish Arch near the center of the photo is one of Galway's main landmarks. It was constructed in 1584 to protect the shipping docks, and is an extension to what used to be a wall around the city. The name is apparently a misnomer since the Spanish didn't construct the arch.

On the opposite side of the river from the Spanish Arch, we walked along a little inlet where boats are kept. It was pretty funny to see boats sitting on the rocks. It is hard to remember that the ocean tide is so big when the tide in Lake Superior is almost non-existent.

We had a nice view of the colorful buildings along the Galway waterfront from the inlet. This also seemed to be a popular spot for the seagulls.

There were several swans gracefully floating along, as well. It was somewhat of a stark contrast to the seagulls flying wildly.

We continued on towards the Salt Hill area. Before reaching the breakwall, we saw some rugby fields.

The breakwall at the edge of Salt Hill.

While waiting for the sunset, we took a walk up and down the breakwall, then setup for some sunset photos. Jenn was hanging out enjoying the view when I caught this 'supermodel' photo of her.

The three of us with the sunset.

Andy and Jenn being goofs.

One last view of the sunset with the Aran Islands in the background before heading back towards Galway.

The serene view of sailboats in Galway at the end of the day.