Greetings from Galway

Arrived in Galway yesterday morning via the train. It is the oyster "festival" but I didn't put together that in Ireland "festival" doesn't mean, "put up tents and close streets" it means, "hey! there's oysters at the pubs for a little less money than usual." I didn't try any oysters, which made me very sad, but there's still another day here in the West, so maybe for lunch. There was the oyster opening competition, but I couldn't find it. Did see the parade though!
Marching band made up of school kids playing fife (or some kind of flute/recorder like instrument) and drums. And Glockenspiels! Smaller kids with Oysters on their heads.
Old cars.
Northern Ireland adult marching band.

The shucking competitors.

Walked around Galway, a cute little town with quite alot of shops and pubs and galleries. It's right on the atlantic coast; they've built a park area near Galway Bay with some foot paths to take in the views of the ocean. It was raining a bit, so the water was quite grey, but I was still very awe struck. "I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean..." Thank you, Lee Ann Wolmak. (funny bit of trivia an Irish pop singer, Ronan Keating, recorded that song too...) While I was feeling small, I met a sweet Italian guy called Luca. He is in the process of starting his violin making career (how cool is that?) here in Galway. We had some coffee, both agreeing it was too weak, and just chatted about life and Irish culture and the cost of cigarettes (he's the smoker...). Luca and I checked out the city museum, mostly because it was free. Met back up with my friends from DIT at the hostel, and met some more really cool people. Irish kids here from Dublin for a girl's weekend. A Texan travelling around Europe after a year teaching English in Spain. Brothers from Wyoming backpacking their way through Europe. We swapped traveling stories and college stories. Luca and the backpackers gave us some very good tips on traveling and where to go. All in all, "great craic"

Galway report and pictures to be continued.... I know y'all're sitting on the edge of your seats in anticipation!!