Killarney to Galway—Sunday

 April 21st

Today was a relaxing and long travel day. We spent a leisurely morning at the hotel before taking a walk through the part of Killarney National Park near St. Mary's Cathedral. We also found a cafe that served better coffee than our hotel and sat outside people watching. We caught the 2:32PM train to Portarlington and then changed trains to Galway. Travel time was 4 hours 38 minutes. 

At the Killarney station we were a bit concerned that we'd have to stand the two hours of the first leg, because the train station was packed. We only had a few minutes of worry after boarding, because the conductor found seats for everyone who hadn't reserved one. Ya, that was us. By the second stop out of Killarney the cars were half to a third full for the rest of the journey.

Train travel is so civilized and so easy; all we had to do was sit back and watch the green fields roll by. 

Killarney National Park path.

It was sunny and warm and lots of families were
walking the park.

Having a national park adjacent to Killarney city center is a
wonder. Hiking/walking trails that go for miles with views
of the mountains that border Lough Leane and expansive 
meadows provides relief from the tourists crowding the city
streets. In minutes you can be in a serene natural setting.

Ah, finally a really good cup of coffee.

 

Just watching folks.

We purchased a ham and cheese
hoagy here for our 4.5 hour train to
Galway just in case.

Bye bye Killarney. These red deer stags, symbols
of the national park, greet visitors as they enter.

Nearly every seat on the train was taken.

For the rest of our journey we enjoyed the scenery.

Waiting for the train to Galway. Can
you tell what everybody is doing? 

Griffin Lodge Guesthouse is .8 miles from the city
center but is a lively neighborhood near Galway
Museum, Corrib River, Spanish Arch, and tons
of restaurants along Quay Street. As usual, we
spent about an hour walking the area getting
oriented before calling it a day.

Front door to Griffin Lodge Gueshouse.

Corrib River is the shortest river (3.7 miles) in Europe, 
flowing from Lough Corrib to Galway Bay and the Atlantic.
It's popular among white water kayakers.

Blake's Castle.

Sunday evening & Quay Street was packed

with university students. Our host said they

are finishing finals & winding down the term.

One of many pubs in our neighborhood. The corner of
the pub is painted with books on shelves. It's a scholarly 
kind of watering hole.

Just a mural painted on the back of

an Aran Sweater Shop.