Here it goes...

After spending more time in the airport than I would have liked, my real excursion began. Driving through the Irish countryside was every bit as beautiful and amazing as one might have guessed. After arriving at the Park Lodge Inn where I will be staying for the next four months I quickly picked out my room and unpacked. We are staying in cottages that used to be for the cleaning staff but now are fully functioning college apartments. It is wonderful; I have a kitchen (although small,) a living room, a dining room, and three bed rooms (two doubles one single,) an entry way, and a deck. It's a really nice set up, especially since I offered to be the cook in exchange for the single (which is nearly as large as the doubles.) After unpacking, my cottage-mates and I walked to the sea shore which is only about 5 minutes from us. It was a phenomenal sight to behold and we hoped around on the rocky shore for a good half hour. I also discovered an old oar that had washed ashore long ago and had been pinned between a few rocks and is well-weathered. Dinner was a fancy meal served by the hotel staff so that they, and our professors, could address a few items of business. When dinner was over the pub crawl began. We headed into Spiddal witch is about a twenty-thirty minute walk where we proceeded to stop, and drink, at all of the pubs. Spiddal is a small town and only has three but it was still tons of fun. There was live music at our third pub and plenty of very amazing Irish people to make the night well worth it.
This morning we took a bus into Galway, about a half hour East and took a bus tour of the entire city. After that we were let loose on the town. We took care of all our shopping needs and became acquainted with the town. I ate lunch at McDonoughs and had the local favorite, fish and chips. I made friends with an older couple eating there and they gave us pointers on Ireland, they were shining examples of the friendliness that the Irish are famous for. After doing a bit of grocery shopping it was back to the Park Lodge we went. JP (John Pierre) the brother of the owner of the hotel has his own pub in the basement and has decided to open it for us this evening. Best wishes to all! I uploaded  a few pictures to facebook too.