We got up pretty early this morning and packed up. We had another busy day of vacationing ahead of us! Then we met down in the lobby for breakfast just after breakfast opened up. I believe this was 7:45.
Side note, when booking Irish hotels, unless you have found that one random place serving breakfast in the town you’re staying in…just book breakfast with your room. You’re going to be bored of the Irish breakfasts by the end of the trip, but there really aren’t many places open at what I consider breakfast times. Now, here at the Abbey Hotel, we HAD pre-booked breakfast, because it was like $8 to add it to the reservation and that just made sense.
When we got to breakfast, the hostess directed us to pick a table in a section of the dining area away from the tour group. Thank you! She explained the buffet, and we were off and running. Breakfast involved eggs, meat and potatoes. There was also some cereal, yogurt and juice available. It wasn’t a huge spread, but it was adequate to get the day started. And since it was a buffet, breakfast was nice and quick!
After breakfast, we headed back to our rooms to round up the luggage and then we headed for check out. The goal was to be out of the car park before they started charging for parking, and we accomplished that! We had hoped to be able to have me drive the car up to the front of the hotel to load all the luggage up, but the tour buses beat us, so we had to haul our luggage down to the car park. This is where I really was NOT regretting my backpack and carry on sized suitcase. Totally understand why people suggest packing minimally for Europe.
We loaded up the car and set off for our next destination. It was about a 2 ½ hour drive to the town of Athlone. Once here, we found our destination, and then a few minutes later found a small car park where I was able to dock the boat…I mean…park the car. It had stopped raining along the drive and it was clear it had warmed up, so we ditched the jackets in the car, figured out how to pay for parking (good thing I had had to pay cash at one of the bars last night and ended up with some Euro coins!) Then we walked down the most colorful street I’ve ever seen to the oldest bar in Ireland (and possibly the world…they’re still working on their certification of this): Sean’s Bar.
When we first got there, things were kinda chaotic, because some members of a tour bus tour group had a few minutes left before they needed to be at the bus. But pretty soon things slowed down to downright pleasant. Laura and I tried Orchard Thieves cider for the first time (so good!) and dad and Nick had whiskey and whiskey drinks. Then we all got talking with Timmy, who I’m guessing is the manager or owner these days. He’s actually working with Netflix and the History Channel to create documentaries about Irish whiskey, and will basically be following the trail so to speak of whiskeys. He very enthusiastically told us to follow the bar facebook page because it’ll be updated with his travels related to this, which, of course, will include travels to the States, where he’s hoping to meet up with Americans who a) like whiskey and b) have been to Sean’s Bar. So, obviously, Nick and dad got right on that, and dad got way more excited about this particular destination, when he realized a) it’s legit and b) what’s to come for it. Pretty sure he and Nick want to meet up with Timmy when he follows the Irish connection to Boston.
Having enjoyed Sean’s Bar (and used the cleanest bar bathrooms we have ever experienced), we worked our way back to the car and programmed the GPS to our next hotel.
The drive to Galway was pretty uneventful and even got us on some larger roads, which was nice…at least until we were IN Galway, and then it was kinda like driving in Boston in terms of narrow streets, some of which were one way, but on the opposite side of the street and the car, so THAT part was an adventure. Within 2 hours of leaving Sean’s Bar, we were pulling up to the Imperial Hotel, which, much like the Abbey Hotel, had no room to park in front of it for unloading, because tour buses. So, we reprogrammed the GPS to the parking garage that the hotel has an agreement for discounted parking with, and headed there. Thanks to one way streets, this involved a couple mile detour, but, within probably 10 minutes, we had safely parked the car in its home for the next two days. Honestly, I was relieved. We grabbed the luggage and made the 7 minute walk to the hotel, dad grumbling about the hike the whole way. You’d never know he does actual physical labor for his job, routinely.
We found the Imperial Hotel easily enough, and although the (small) lobby was a bit crowded, we were welcomed at the desk very quickly. It was before check in time, but they found that 2 of the 3 pre-assigned rooms were ready and then quickly reassigned Nick and my room to one that was also ready. Once check in was complete, we headed on our way.
Laura was on one floor and dad and Nick and I were the floor below her, I think. Dad’s room was sort of next to ours. I kinda held my breath as we headed for the room, because Galway had been one of the more difficult towns to book. The original hotel I’d chosen had booked up before dad and Laura could book, so we had gone with this one. The reviews weren’t bad, but it was a hotel that was generally NEVER mentioned. However, I was already impressed with the service provided at the front desk. When we walked into our room, I found it to be basic but clean and well appointed, with a pretty nice bathroom (and a terrible view!).
Then the group text lit up. Laura couldn’t figure out how to turn on her lights. Dad couldn’t figure out how to use the soap. They both were able to find employees in the hall. Laura’s room apparently was like on the Disney Dream and Fantasy and required the key card to be in a slot for the lights to work. Dad was legitimately out of soap in the weird squeeze bottle, and it was replaced almost instantly. This place has good service.
Then began the late lunch/early dinner debate. After looking over a few online menus, dad decided on “the bra place”, aka the Brasserie on the Corner, so we met up in the lobby and then headed out to dinner.
The Brasserie was just around the corner from our hotel, so it took approximately 3 minutes to get there. We grabbed a table directly across from the bar (no eating at the bar here), and thoroughly enjoyed dinner. I had a rum and coke and a turkey cheese and bacon wrap that had that amazing Irish bacon in it. I think Nick had the Irish version of a pot roast, and it was fantastic. Dad had a caesar salad, where we discovered that in Ireland, bacon in caesar salads is a thing. Laura also had some sort of wrap. It was all excellent and service was great.
Then it was time to add another city to our Irish pub tour. We headed for Taaffe’s, knowing music would be starting soon. I know I got an Orchard Thieves cider here and the boys got whiskey. We were able to grab a table towards the back of the place. And we got to listen to one song. And then dad was bored, so we headed out to find another bar.
This took us to Garavan’s, which was quieter, and had quite the selection of Irish whiskeys. It also had some personality (as we found all the pubs in Galway did), so it was a decent compromise for all of us. Here, I just had a soda, dad probably had whiskey, Nick had an Irish beer and Laura probably had a vodka and soda water.
When we finished up at Garavan’s, dad was ready to head towards the hotel bar. I believe he had already investigated and discovered they could make his favorite end of the evening drinks, and he was ready for one. So off we went.
We had great service from the bartender here. We also had a light second dinner. I had the cajun chicken skewers which were excellent. I think Nick had fries and dad and Laura might have had caesar salads (which also had bacon…apparently that’s how the Irish make a caesar salad). Here Nick tried a different version of Orchard Thieves cider..the Orchard Thieves Wild, and this was his top pick for best Irish cider. I tried the European version of Fanta orange, which was definitely better than American orange soda. Laura had her Titos and soda water and dad was able to get a couple of his prohibition era cocktails (Negroni and Americano). So, while I really wanted to be in a cute little pub listening to Irish drinking songs, everyone was happy enough.
Once we were all done, Nick and I headed back out on the town to explore a little bit more. We worked our way back to what I think is the Latin Quarter, where there are a whole bunch of pubs, to start with ice cream at Murphy’s. Murphy’s is an Ireland ice cream company. And they know how to deal with crowds. They actually had one girl whose job was to bring samples to everyone in line so that we knew what flavors we wanted by the time we got to the counter. Brilliant! Also brilliant is that you tell them what size you want and what flavors you want, and they’ll adjust the size they’re scooping based on order size, so you can get multiple flavors. Nick got caramel honeycomb and chocolate whiskey (made with Irish whiskey of course) and I got Dingle sea salt (which is basically just rich vanilla) and brown bread ice cream. It was all delicious!
Then we wandered some more, checking out the stores and taking in the atmosphere. The weather was gorgeous (we had left the rain behind in County Donegal)...like upper 70s fahrenheit...so everyone was out this evening. But even with the crowds, it was a pretty laid back, reasonably comfortable atmosphere.
We continued on until we reached the Aran Sweater Market. This was a store we had a lot of fun in, buying products made with Aran wool. Nick and I both bought sweaters, and I also bought a hat and ski band. For now at least!
Shopping completed for tonight, we walked back to the hotel, where showers were taken and we crashed hard. It had been a good day!
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