Travelogue: Galway

25 - 28 November, 2024

Galway rests on the west-ish coast of Ireland, near the North Atlantic Ocean. There’s something really special about this little part of Ireland. I’ve been able to visit a few times over the years and something calls me back. Perhaps it’s the proximity to water. Perhaps it’s the small town vibes, yet bustling with activity.Perhaps it’s the walkability. Perhaps it’s the people. Perhaps it’s all of the above and more.

I took the train from Dublin to Galway in the morning of the 25th of November 2024, I always enjoy train travel, it’s a wonderful way to explore a place, by seeing the landscape and having conversations with fellow travellers.

The hostel I was booked in was just across the road from the train station. Smart planning on my part. I arrived in the early afternoon, and was able to check in and stow my gear. Once settled I headed out to wander, and find some food.

That first day was pretty chill. The folowing day I headed out with a goal of getting to the bay. I walked through Eyre Square towards the waterfront, incluing passion the Spanish Arch, which was under construction.

From there a short walk across a more modern foot bridge, towards the Claddagh, and waterfront park.

Here I experimented with some slow shutter speeds, hand held, using a 10-stop ND filter. I captured scenes on both sides of the bridge and wandered closer to the park.

After making some photos I wandered through the maze of shops, borwsing jewerlly mostly, instruments, and more. I found a fabulous little coffee shop Coffeewerk + Press had a latte and spent easily an hour, sitting by the window upstairs, and watching the city move below.

That second night including some painting, and actually cooking dinner at the hostel. I didn’t cook a lot at my hostels on this trip because I was perhaps a little lazy, or perhaps enjoying the inexpensive salads & sandwiches I was able to get from shops like Tesco or Sainsbury’s. Or perhaps it was the fact that sometimes I was only in a place for 1-2 nights, so buying lots of food to cook, wasn’t always practical.

The next, and final full day in Galway, I woke up to fog. So much fog, and I have to say, I LOVE fog. There’s something immediately interesting and mysterious when fog rolls in.

Most of the time I’d say, when you have a few days in a city, try to explore a variety of areas i that city. But on that day. I went right back to the waterfront area, to photograph some of the same scenes I’d photographed the day before, but now with fog.

On my last day in Galway, i took the train back to Dublin, then a bus to the airport to fly to Bristol. 

Steps: About 40K

Next Up in the travel series: Bristol, England