It's now been almost a week since I arrived in Galway. Mom and I are having a good time doing a whirlind tour of Galway and Western Ireland. We spent the first couple of days learning our way around the city and University and buying the things I need. It is funny to arrive in a new city and look at it in the light of living there....you don't usually look for the hardware store on your first day in a new country. We put on many miles walking all around town and are now easily able to find our way around on foot and using the bus system. My place here is fine but I was obviously not the student selected to live in the show suite that they use for promotional photos online! I have a very nice roommate from Iowa who is here for the year to do her masters in English Literature. Her name is Kim and we should get along great if she can just learn to drink tea with me. She's been practicing but has a long way to go as she had never heard of or seen a kettle before moving here. Once I was set up in my place here we started exploring the surrounding area. We spent Sunday at the cliffs of Moher and walking the Burren trail to a small village called Doolin and listening to local music in the pub. Monday Mom and I took the ferry to Inishmor, the largest of the Aran Islands. We rode bikes around the island, ate in a quaint little 'cafe' and got soaked in the rain. Today we spent the day shopping in Galway. For those of us that know us well, you will be amazed to hear that despite our best efforts the two of us did not manage to buy a single pair of shoes in this city (no lack of options, just no sizes). Tomorrow we are heading off to Connemara National Park where we will do some hiking and then catch the local mail boat to a small island called Inishbofin. Ireland is such a beautiful place and we have already had many great experiences. I will write about our fun in more detail when we return on Thursday. For now, here's a few pictures from our Adventures. Thanks to everyone for keeping in touch...I love to get messages from all of you. Love Kelly

Quay Street, Galway

Galway Bay- Where the River Corrib meets the Atlantic

Old Building on Inismor