GALWAY -- Day 2

Me and Brittnie, being badass.

SUN ON THE FREEWAY!!!!!!!

Clonmacnoise -- oldest abbey in Ireland. The graveyard view.

The real Cross of the Scriptures, which was moved inside to deal with acid rain erosion.

One of the seven or eight chapels constructed here -- in the foreground is an O'Rourke tower that monks used to hide in. The door is 6 feet off the ground, so that everyone could scramble up a wooden ladder with the expensive things from the monastery and then haul the ladder up after them. Hence, the hit-and-run Viking raiders who hit this place at least 20 times were sometimes unable to make off with the really good relics. 

Irony -- I paused next to this gravestone while taking another picture, and happened to read it. This lady died on my birthday but in 1914, which I thought was a super cool coincidence. Plus, all the gravestones here are gorgeous.

One of the only conical watch/bell towers left intact in Ireland, to my understanding...

St. Kieran's chapel -- the first one here on the grounds at Clonmacnoise

The Whispering Arch -- as Bailey and Katie are demonstrating, one person whispers something into a groove, and the person on the other side can hear it clear as day!! Architectural sorcery.

Katie K, Bailey, and a distracted Kyle

Legend has it that there used to be an infirmary right near this particular rock, and that the nurses used this rock to grind medicinal herbs in. Now, people who have warts stick the afflicted limb in and the wart falls off in 10-12 days. One in the group had a wart on her heel that hadn't been affected by even acid treatment, so she and I stuck our feet in. I'll keep you posted if it works :)

Step 1: put special glue on lips. Step 2: apply foil in lieu of lipstick. Step 3: dazzle the opposite sex (or, my alternative, die of some sort of chemical poisoning from accidental ingestion. Take your pick). Oh the things we saw shopping in Galway...

Occupy Galway!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eyre Square.

I've been kind of obsessed with everything O'Brien on this trip, as you can tell, because my mum has been doing hardcore research on my O'Brien ancestors while I've been here, and keeping me informed via e-mail :)

This extremely elusive shop is what Heaven looks like to me. It's a massive warehouse of new and used books. I may have spent a lot of money here once Brittnie and I found it way on the outskirts of Galway's industrial area.

The book in Kenny's that I actually shed tears over: the prettiest copy I have ever found of mythology. Gorgeous illustrations, embossed cover, prime condition, 183 euros. I WISH I WERE RICH.

On our way back to our B&B from a day in the city center <3

The evening ended in everyone getting dolled up and going on the town, but after a few drinks I felt really sick and went home to sleep it off. I don't have time for a Day 3 post right now, since it's past dinner time here, but I'll see if I can post later!!!

-S