After arriving back at the Harbour Hotel in Galway, we had dinner and I enjoyed the best ice cream I’ve ever had. ever.


As the MIL and I were settling in for the night, I ran down to the front desk to ask how to turn on the lights. Evidently, you had to stick the hotel key in a slot on the wall – so when you leave the room, you can’t leave the lights on. I’d never seen such a thing. Thankfully, the gentleman at the front desk was very nice about my ignorance.

And he was just as pleasant when I showed up 5 minutes later to ask, “Where is the thermostat, please?”
Front desk guy: “Miss, there’s no AC.”
Me: “No AC?”
Front desk guy: “I can send up a fan.”
Me: “Oh. Yes, please. That would be great.”
After the fan arrived, we were getting tucked in to try to sleep when we realized there were no top sheets. Luckily, my PJ’s look like something Doris Day would borrow, so I traipsed my happy arse back down to the front desk. again.
Me: There’s no top sheet on my bed, may we get a couple of sheets?
Alan: sheets?
Me: Yes, we need top sheets.
Alan: Top sheets?
Me: Yes, I need flat sheets.
Alan: There are no sheets on the bed?
Me: There’s a flat sheet on the bottom, but I’d like another flat sheet to go on top because we’re used to AC and it’s too warm.
Alan: You want more sheets because you’re hot?
Me: Yes, we want to sleep with just a sheet and no comforter.
Alan: I’ll see what I can do. (in a “we don’t just have mountains of sheets laying around” tone*)
Someone knocked at our door 10 minutes later with flat sheets.

*I’m exaggerating. He was very nice to a crazy girl from Texas.

After arriving in Galway, my MIL and I went to explore. We stumbled across some interesting architecture

…and St. Nicholas Collegiate Church (finished by 1320). The history there was tangible.

We also visited O’Maille House of Style. She had amazing stuff. Soft lace cashmere and wool scarves, gorgeous woven blankets, and wool yarn. After looking around and finding the yarn I liked most to be worsted gray wool yarn, I asked the shopkeeper if she had any sock yarn. She picked up the scratchy gray wool I was looking at and declared it “perfect for socks.” The thing is that perfect for socks in Ireland isn’t necessarily the same as perfect for socks in Texas. Winters in Austin are pretty stinking mild which means that even though I was completely charmed by the pretty gray wool that surely came directly off happy Irish sheep, I had decided ahead of time not to buy yarn that I did not like the feel of. But, I took her card. You know, just in case.

The Travelers: My Mother in Law (A), her best friend (C), the best friend’s daughter (B), and me.

We arrived at the airport and had tea and delicious lemon muffins whilst waiting for the rest of our group. We met a couple of women on our tour. One expressed surprise that I’d be traveling with my mother in law without my husband. I commented, “Yes, it is surprising how well we get along. Meeting us is like finding a unicorn.” (Ok, let’s be honest, it’s nothing like finding a unicorn, but it’s kind of weird to need a response for “You REALLY get along with your mother in law?” when she’s sitting right there. Yes, I do. and I like her son too. He’s got excellent taste in women.)
Eventually, the whole group arrived and we headed to Bunratty Village…

The flowers in Ireland are unbelievable.

The moss in Ireland is enchanting.

If I were a troll, I’d live under this bridge.

See, I wasn’t kidding about the flowers. Unbelievable.

What the TARDIS looks like in Ireland

I am Groot.

Durty Nelly’s pub (This pub dates back to 1620, when legend has it, castle guards would grab a pint there.)



We had lunch. (The food was scrumptious, but I still don’t know what all of it was.)


And there was a shop filled with all things Irish. I was overwhelmed by all the cool Irish stuff and wondered how on Earth I was going to decide what to buy. I figured out I should only buy stuff I really love. like the Waterford bowl with shamrocks and celtic knots etched into it. It came with free shipping…for over 400 euros. ok. maybe not.