11 June 2012 GALWAY CITY Monday

Pedestrian Shopping Mall in Downtown Galway was a fascinating maze of lanes and shops and pubs all bustling with jovial tourists enjoying the entertainment of buskers(baskers in Keith's version), dancers and Irish music.  We even got a personal rendition of Sarie Marais in an obscure dusty pub before "heading" to lunch at the King's Head Pub.

(Note the disembodied heads peeping through the window)

An afternoon walk took us to Spanish Arch where the wall was built to prevent looting of the cargo on the ships in the harbour that were there for trade. A shelter was built next to the arch with a huge hearth to warm the cockles of the hearts of the mariners while on duty.

Oh look! A Spaniard!

Or is it a Pirate

Across Galway Bay can be seen Claddagh village, from where the people came to help rescue the Spaniards when their ship ran aground - however 12 perished and their bodies were buried in the walls of the Church.

For good measure, on our way across Claddagh Quay, we were advised to kick the stone at the end of the walkway, which we did with good humour, only to discover that it was the wrong stone, oh dear.  The Leprechauns have not let us forget the error of our ways.

As you can see, I'M not kicking the incorrect stone!

Kit and I, being the adventurous two, tried what the locals have, in the form of a Galway Hooker (Kit, not me) and and Irish coffee (me).  Finished the afternoon off with a bit of Irish music on pipes, drums, fiddle and accordian.

Today's blog was a combined effort of factual information whilst sitting around the table with sundowners!