Going to Galway

Dan in Dun Laoghaire, 2010

I've been to Dublin twice, once in May of 2009, and then again in January 2010. Both were wonderful trips, filled with interesting people, scenery, food, and, in the case of the January trip, music. But the west coast has been calling me ever since, and I didn't even give it my phone number!

I chose to spend a month in Galway for several reasons. First, I decided that I wanted to see what a longer length of time would feel and be like in one spot. Galway is known for an abundance of traditional ("trad") Irish music, and that is one of my passions. I also wanted someplace that had a decent city centre, as well as a place that was near enough to public transportation that I wouldn't have to rent a car for the most part. I want to be able to visit major and minor sites without too much hassle. I also want to visit some of the places I've been singing about all of these years. My only itinerary is to take in as much as I can.

And that ties in nicely to an overall goal in life. Because this trip is also about getting out of my routine. Maybe it's my mid-life-crisis trip. Maybe it's my quest for love. Maybe I'll find God...or a really good bakery. Whatever it is, I'm looking forward to seeing what's there, and what's just beneath the surface, and what's even deeper than that.

I would be remiss if I didn't also mention the recent and sudden deaths of two friends, John Butler in January and Kevin Medwedeff in February. John and I shared a love of Ireland, and he gave me some tips on where to go on my first trip to Dublin. And Kevin was someone who squeezed a lot out of life, knew how to have a good time, and loved doing just that. When I heard about John's death on January 1st, it solidified in my mind that life is short, and it's important to do the things you want to do. I bought my plane ticket soon after I got the news. I will surely be raising a few pints to both of their memories while I'm there.

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After much searching online, I found a furnished apartment on Galway Bay, in the Salt Hill area of Galway, about 1km from the city centre, and right next to a promenade that sounds perfect for morning walks. And there's high-speed internet in the apartment, a requirement for me, since I will have to work on weekdays. Evenings and weekends, however, are all mine, and I hope to use them to do as much exploring as possible. I hope you'll enjoy the journey with me!