When my friends at home heard that I'd be going to Galway for a weekend with CEA, they had two demands: find Ed Sheeran, sing Galway Girl with him. I failed, sadly, but our trip to Galway was without a doubt a highlight of my semester here.
 |
| My roommates, Judith (Germany) and Tyler (America) and I atop the Cliffs of Moher! |
This trip was actually my second trip to Galway - my family had taken me when they came to visit over spring break - but as is the case with most places, if you go with different people, you'll experience it completely differently.
 |
| There was a ledge underneath us, don't worry! |
We kicked off our trip with the famed Cliffs of Moher, and unlike when I went with my family, the sun was shining and the views were crystal clear. I loved getting to see the Cliffs in fog and sunshine alike, and they were completely different this time.
 |
| A view of the tallest cliff |
Next, we took a very windy road up to Galway to check into our hostel, grab some dinner, and settle in for the night. Irish backroads never fail to be interesting, and we got to see a Star Wars filming location on our way into town. We saw another Star Wars location again when we went to the Aran Islands the next morning. This was without a doubt one of the best days I've had in Ireland overall, and if you ever get to come to Ireland, I cannot recommend going to the Aran Islands enough.
 |
| Monica, Rachel, and Emma (all from America) enjoying the beach on the Aran Islands! It looked like the Caribbean. |
We took an hour-long ferry boat out of Galway, basking in the sunshine, having our hair get super tangled in the wind, but happily arriving to go rent bikes and spend the entire day riding around the island. We stopped for the beach, lunch in a local cafe, and to see the ruins of an ancient fort (that is actually featured in Red Bull's cliff jumping competition), and to get ice cream. We were ridiculously lucky with the weather, so much so that I didn't even mind that I came back to the hostel with a fried forehead.
After the second ferry ride back, we were on our own for dinner, so I got to use my small knowledge of Galway from my first visit to guide my friends to a great Italian restaurant on Quay's Street. After dinner, we were all worn out from being in the sun all day, so we decided we'd go sit by the Spanish Arch next to the river, and just enjoy listening to the fast-paced water and each other's company.
 |
| Monica's flower-laden hair overlooking the Atlantic ocean |
We went home with lobster-red faces and without Ed Sheeran, but he arrived in Galway the next day, so it's basically like we were with him, right?
Victoria N. is the Spring 2017 MOJO Blogger in Dublin, Ireland. She is currently a junior studying Commerce & Business at Rhodes College.
