Corofin, Ennis, and the end of tour
May 13, 2007
Hey guys,
So the last time I left you was in Galway and I am back again! I'll give you a re-cap and tell you why in a little bit. After Galway we headed to a small Irish village in the Burren which is an area of Ireland with natural rock formations, special plants etc. it's a nationally proctected area. Our hostel was cute but in the middle of nowhere. The town had only one main street. We did sightseeing along the way but I can't recall it all now. That same evening we drove to Ennis which is a bigger town (I was wondering why we couldn't stay there) and did a radio performance and our final cathedral concert. The radio performance was a bit sketchy. We got led down a back alleyway by the DJ named Mr. Fergil Darcy and through a door. The place was tiny and he recorded us by holding up a mic that was linked to his computer. We sang Kaipaava and he bid of farewell with the sentiment: "It's been emotional". We began using that phrase whenever we could afterward. Our final concert that evening went really well. It was a stone cathedral and the rector was running around lighting every possible candle so by the end of the evening the whole church was just glowing. It was a great way to end the tour. That evening we celebrated at a local pub but it wasn't too busy so we didn't stay out that late.
The next day we got to go out over the Burren and do sightseeing. The first place we stopped off at was at the side of the road and it was stunning. The rock covering the landscape was dried coral reef where the ocean used to me. We walked to the edge and you could feel the salty spray of the ocean as the waves crashed up on the sides of the cliff. I got kinda soaked but it was worth it. After we visited the Cliffs of Mohor which as the last natural border formation before you hit Boston. The cliffs are 200 m tall and just stunning. There are a ton of special bird species that form only there and lots of great viewpoints. After we went to a nearby town which I can't recall the name of (comprehensive blog update when I get home) and got to go to the beach looking out onto Atlantic ocean. I was pretty much scrambling over granite boulders to find a way to get down to the bit of sand that was still showing since the tide was coming in. It was so much fun. Roxy, Nicole and I were running along the beach and it just felt great to run along the cool beach, hear the ocean and watch the surfers. I got some great jumping photos as well. After I was kinda soaked but we headed over to the glitzy Falls Hotel for our farewell dinner. It was in beautiful old house (now hotel) but the meal was a bit of a let-down. It was Shannon's birthday so there was a cake for her as well which was nice. Outside the hotel was also a donkey in a fenced area and we pet it and fed it grass. We pretty much went back to Corofin to pack since they were leaving at 6 am but I still went out to the pub with some of ladies. It was way busier this night and there were lots of old Irish men checking Nicole out.
Today there was a bustle of activity really early around 5 am but it was gone right at 6. I said goodbye to Kayla and Nicole who have been my roommates for the tours and it was strangely quiet once the choir got out. All of a sudden I could hear the dude snoring in the room next to mine. I slept until 8:30 and went about my normal routine minus the fact that there were no choristers in the hostel but strangers from the campsite at the back. I went to check on M-E at 10 and she was still in bed. We got breakfast. packed and were ecstatic to see Tara and Francine arrive to pick us up. Stephan, Heather, Shannon and her boyfriend Paul were also at the hostel getting ready to set off on their travels. Stephan & Heather are driving up the western coast of Ireland to get to Belfast with Mrs. Johnson and her friend. Once there S&H are flying to Scotland then London before coming home. Shannon and Paul are just touring around Ireland together as far as I know. Anyway, T&F with M-E and I headed to the beach again and the cliffs again since they didn't see it yet and it was nice to revisit. Then we drove to Galway and passed similar sites along the way. We're in Galway again b/c it's supposed to be quite the party town with a thriving uni atmosphere as I mentioned before. I wasn't really able to tap in on this with the choir but I probably can branch out and see more this time. It took us a while to find the hostel since the city centre is all pedestrain area but we are here and it is really close to the city centre. I am also right next to Mark and Spencers. If you don't know this store is my new replacement to H&M. Cheap food and nice clothes. Anyway, we'll be here for 2 nights and then we are driving back to Dublin. I am so excited! I found out that Nora and Joyce met on Nassau street. I so know where that is! Until then I have free internet access at the hostel so send me messages if you get time from your busy lives!
Sable
So the last time I left you was in Galway and I am back again! I'll give you a re-cap and tell you why in a little bit. After Galway we headed to a small Irish village in the Burren which is an area of Ireland with natural rock formations, special plants etc. it's a nationally proctected area. Our hostel was cute but in the middle of nowhere. The town had only one main street. We did sightseeing along the way but I can't recall it all now. That same evening we drove to Ennis which is a bigger town (I was wondering why we couldn't stay there) and did a radio performance and our final cathedral concert. The radio performance was a bit sketchy. We got led down a back alleyway by the DJ named Mr. Fergil Darcy and through a door. The place was tiny and he recorded us by holding up a mic that was linked to his computer. We sang Kaipaava and he bid of farewell with the sentiment: "It's been emotional". We began using that phrase whenever we could afterward. Our final concert that evening went really well. It was a stone cathedral and the rector was running around lighting every possible candle so by the end of the evening the whole church was just glowing. It was a great way to end the tour. That evening we celebrated at a local pub but it wasn't too busy so we didn't stay out that late.
The next day we got to go out over the Burren and do sightseeing. The first place we stopped off at was at the side of the road and it was stunning. The rock covering the landscape was dried coral reef where the ocean used to me. We walked to the edge and you could feel the salty spray of the ocean as the waves crashed up on the sides of the cliff. I got kinda soaked but it was worth it. After we visited the Cliffs of Mohor which as the last natural border formation before you hit Boston. The cliffs are 200 m tall and just stunning. There are a ton of special bird species that form only there and lots of great viewpoints. After we went to a nearby town which I can't recall the name of (comprehensive blog update when I get home) and got to go to the beach looking out onto Atlantic ocean. I was pretty much scrambling over granite boulders to find a way to get down to the bit of sand that was still showing since the tide was coming in. It was so much fun. Roxy, Nicole and I were running along the beach and it just felt great to run along the cool beach, hear the ocean and watch the surfers. I got some great jumping photos as well. After I was kinda soaked but we headed over to the glitzy Falls Hotel for our farewell dinner. It was in beautiful old house (now hotel) but the meal was a bit of a let-down. It was Shannon's birthday so there was a cake for her as well which was nice. Outside the hotel was also a donkey in a fenced area and we pet it and fed it grass. We pretty much went back to Corofin to pack since they were leaving at 6 am but I still went out to the pub with some of ladies. It was way busier this night and there were lots of old Irish men checking Nicole out.
Today there was a bustle of activity really early around 5 am but it was gone right at 6. I said goodbye to Kayla and Nicole who have been my roommates for the tours and it was strangely quiet once the choir got out. All of a sudden I could hear the dude snoring in the room next to mine. I slept until 8:30 and went about my normal routine minus the fact that there were no choristers in the hostel but strangers from the campsite at the back. I went to check on M-E at 10 and she was still in bed. We got breakfast. packed and were ecstatic to see Tara and Francine arrive to pick us up. Stephan, Heather, Shannon and her boyfriend Paul were also at the hostel getting ready to set off on their travels. Stephan & Heather are driving up the western coast of Ireland to get to Belfast with Mrs. Johnson and her friend. Once there S&H are flying to Scotland then London before coming home. Shannon and Paul are just touring around Ireland together as far as I know. Anyway, T&F with M-E and I headed to the beach again and the cliffs again since they didn't see it yet and it was nice to revisit. Then we drove to Galway and passed similar sites along the way. We're in Galway again b/c it's supposed to be quite the party town with a thriving uni atmosphere as I mentioned before. I wasn't really able to tap in on this with the choir but I probably can branch out and see more this time. It took us a while to find the hostel since the city centre is all pedestrain area but we are here and it is really close to the city centre. I am also right next to Mark and Spencers. If you don't know this store is my new replacement to H&M. Cheap food and nice clothes. Anyway, we'll be here for 2 nights and then we are driving back to Dublin. I am so excited! I found out that Nora and Joyce met on Nassau street. I so know where that is! Until then I have free internet access at the hostel so send me messages if you get time from your busy lives!
Sable
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