Oughterards Canrawer House Galway

... the planet that hosts us ... but I don't walk this path myself ... so its all fine and dandy to talk about it ...

My hope for the development of Africa after the last visit was that it find its own path to making people's lives better and giving them access to education and the basics without making all the same mistakes we made ...

How will this be affected by this new trip ... well ... lets see ...

... strange game resembling water polo but performed in Kayaks, and checking out the stunning Cathedral.

And just like that, I'm back at Dublin, which, after only two weeks of living here, already feels like a homecoming. I couldn't have asked for anything more from this weekend. Between the biking, hiking, tours, and views, there was something for every part of me--mind, body, and soul--sorry--person, all at peace and content.

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Friday was interesting as I was still recovering from a long sleepless night with food poisoning. Took another dose of cider vinegar which surprisingly clears up symptoms within 10 minutes. I ran to town to have lunch with the coworkers as it was David's last day. We went to Mao again. Not my favorite and especially not great for my stomach so I pushed a salad around a plate and took some pictures with everyone. Sergio had also joined us. He doesn't ...

... miles and miles of hand-built stone fences.
Our first stop was a ring fort on the top of a cliff that we had to hike up a gradual slope to get to. We first stopped in the visitor's center, where I bought a nice Celtic ring. The path to the top was gravel and enclosed by a stone fence on each side. There was farmland surrounding the entire area. Along the path, there was a man weaving homemade baskets ...

... Stone Forts in all of Ireland. We stated off by watching the movie on the creation of Stone Forts and their history in Ireland. We discovered that wealthier land owners were actually the owners of the Stone Forts. The Fort could also have multiple rings, which the main family living in the innermost ring. There were also separate compartments inside the ring consisting of the kitchen and bedrooms. The clans that lived in these rings could get ...

... ago to enjoy the slower paced lifestyle. The second shop was just a grocery store. We then walked up towards the shore where we noticed a gold course that seemed relatively busy.
The town of Doolin was really famous for a pub called O'Connell's which played Irish music every night of the week. We planned to go there, but decided to check into our hotel first. This was not a hotel at all, but a Bed and Breakfast owned by Susan Daly ...

... have them here and was nice for me to show where I live and my friends and everything! So I basically only have 2 more weeks of work and then I will see my mom and dad I can`t freaking WAIT AGHHHHH way too excited! I can`t wait to introduce them to Dave and Zoe and show them where I have been living and working and how great Galway is! Today it is freaking HOT OUT! Plus 20 something! Of course it`s nice out now that i am back at work ...

... this cruise the price is good and it will be so nice to be able to visit all these cool islands and everything. Then after that i am going to head down the coast and into Bosnia to Montenegro then into Serbia and finally to Bulgaria- I think I am going to try and book a flight from Sophia to Dublin. Then Off to CANADA!!!! AGHHHHH I have much more to say but I am TIRED and going to bed!!!!

... bathroom that everyone uses just to be alone. And you just can't breath but you just take a breath go into the kitchen and sit with someone and talk until your freak out somehow gets under control or you are really just sweeping everything under a rug and then you realize I miss home. SO as you can see I am going a LITTLE bit nuts and I feel a little lost and a little scared an unsure but I just keep on going- just keep on smiling and ...

... TV. It was an evening of mindless American entertainment (Friends, The O.C., Addams Family Values). The only thing that was strange was watching ads where the prices where announced in euros. Joe and Katherine are a lot more comfortable together than Joe and I, so I felt a bit left out, but enjoyed myself nonetheless. When we left, it was raining, and we weren't wearing raincoats, so we ran the block and a half to the hostel. Apparently all this walking around town and ...