Goodbye to Galway

If you ever get to Ireland, be sure to spend time in Galway.  It's true what everyone in Dublin told us: "Ahh, you will love Galway!" (said in an Irish accent, for full effect.)  It is the cultural capitol of Ireland, running all sorts of festivals (just missed the film festival, darn) and famous for the Galway Races, which I now wish we'd gone to.  Next time.  It is also a university city, home to 17,000 students from all over the world attending National University of Ireland (click link.)

Dublin is beautiful and is full of stuff to see and do, but also like any big city, faster-paced, more crowded and noisier than Galway, with its population of around 75,000.  And staying in a house in the "suburbs" (12 minute taxi ride to city center most days) gave us the experience of really living here, not just visiting.

It was a wonderful stay and has opened the door to the idea of more home exchanges in my future. How lucky was I that Sean and Mary Smyth found my little Chicago condo on our home exchange site.  I couldn't have asked for a warmer couple to introduce me to exchanging.

Cozy Spots in Our Galway Home

(Click to enlarge)