We're enjoying Galway Bay. Restaurants, leisurely walks, the Spanish Arch and the dock all lead to it. The very tasty fish we've been buying comes from it. While out on errands or for fun, the views are gorgeous - morning, evening, rain, shine.
A walk around and through the NUIG campus meanders along the river, over the river, and by parallel canals that run through it. Stunning plant life and rather annoying seagulls abound. The River Corrib defines the campus - it is, if you will indulge the marketer in me, a key part of the NUIG brand.
Our 105 hectare campus stretches along the River Corrib, with easy access to the riverside from anywhere in the University.
Beyond Galway, water is prominent throughout Ireland. The country is an island, plus every city and village has a river that's not to be ignored. Irish rivers and lakes inspired WB Yeats among other poets, writers and artists. The waterways bring outdoor recreation, food, entertainment and sport. Where else can you discover turloughs - a type of disappearing lake that makes its way to the surface through the floods of autumn.
There's no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing. -Oscar Wilde
For the first time in my life, I own a rain jacket that is serviceable, not fashionable. Come on, even the hat in this photo is water-resistant. We came to Ireland prepared for weather and you certainly can't argue with the results of so much rain - glorious green landscapes.
Beyond the beauty and weather, I've noticed a few other aspects of having water, water everywhere.
Mold comes in many textures and colors.
The towels in the bathroom never dry. I systematically open windows but, nope, still damp.
Itty, bitty, "no see 'em" bugs while crossing Galway's many bridges. My first bugs were involuntarily eaten in Ireland.
I'm not sure this is true - but the rain that precedes makes the sky afterward even more beautiful. #IrishMyth