Second part of the week's trip, first to Rome and then on to Galway to see Tom / Des and also to see Galway. And was I surprised. I had not realised how beautiful a city Galway is. I guess I was lucky because I arrived in a week of great spring weather, and the place looked and felt its best. I took the Bike Friday with me, packed up in its case, and spent time exploring Galway on it. Very successful. I stayed with the Augustinians at their house and church in the middle of Galway. The city has a quaint feel to it, not spoiled, with a small town feel, but still very young and vibrant, mostly due to the university community in Galway. But, boy, was the place expensive. I guess that has to do with the low pound against the euro, but I think some of it reflects the inflated Irish economy which still lingers on, but probably not for much longer because things are not good there at the moment. Flew in to Galway airport from Luton with Aer Aran and it was a good way to go. If you've not been to Galway, put it on your list - perhaps in a year or two when it's had time to deflate the things there get back to a reasonable value. Also had a day out in Connemara which was lovely. Saw Padraic Pearse's house where he spent his summers. Isolated. He was one of the 1916 Uprising leaders and was executed by the British. A poet too, I think.

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