Horizontal Hail

We have not seen a weather report for a while, but there’s really no point. The weather is as predictable as a schizophrenic cat. If we predicted gale-driven stinging rain, we’d likely be correct on any given day. Just when the peeks of sun lull you into venturing out side, the North Atlantic turns on you like a rabid badger. It’s an experience to savor, and still beats -20F in the twin cities.

This weekend, we decided to take advantage of our first Saturday morning with sufficient rest to get out and explore the county side. We drove west of Galway to Kinvarra to see the Dunguaire Castle. It was locked up, but we were able to walk around the muddy foot path, slipping and trying not getting blown off the hill. Some ‘foreign tourists’ had scaled the walls and were on the inside, making Sue cringe with jealousy at the photo op deficit.

We continued on, trying to keep our spirits up and came across another ruin along the bike trail the Irish call a main road (these roads are quaint until another car is approaching). Theo and Paul braved the horizontal 00-buckshot hail and wind to check out the old Norman tower. Sue and Sam decided they could see just fine through the windshield. After lunch back at our house and a break in the weather, we decided to drive into downtown Galway on the gorgeous 14th century cobbled streets, which are far too narrow for our little Fiesta, let along the BMW 7s and Land Rovers people bought during the boom. We found some music stores and the 2 Euro shop, Ireland’s version of the Dollar Store. When it was time to figure out where the car was parked, Mother Nature gave us her worst. By the time we our carriage, everyone was soaking wet and could no longer feel their extremities. It’s hurricane season in the west of Eire.

Some have said that western Europe is well beyond the U.S. in being techno-savy and wired. Bollocks. At least in Ireland. Throughout the economic boom of the past 15 years, Ireland has led the continent in biopharma and biotech production. They’ve built tens of thousands of luxury homes where old cottages once stood. But open access internet is not a reality here yet, which explains our recent reticence. Not to worry – we ordered cable internet access, which should be up on Thursday.