Part 3: Trip to Connemara and Galway

Drivin' the Ford Galaxy 7-Seater across Ireland!

Still not doing great...

Arriving at the Waterfront House B&B in Oughterard (20 minutes northwest of Galway). Mary and her husband have run this B&B for 23 years! (and they have a 24 year old son who is a professional Irish golfer in Cork) Her husband built the home himself.

 Our trusty stead - the Ford Galaxy

 Mimi, Marko & Simon's Room (ours was across the hall)

This is all just outside the B&B. They had such a gorgeous property

 We liked this Toyota Corrolla, rigged up with a trailer carrying hay.

 The night before the race, having dinner with Clare and her friend Cliona in Oughterard.

 Mimi's first Irish breakfast at the B&B. Of course being vegan, she didn't eat the real traditional one (what I had, here below) but she loved the porridge and even the beans on toast.

 Beans on Toast - a very Irish (and English) breakfast. Mimi loved this.

Mary had a TV in the main living room so they liked that. :)

 This is the limestone etched out by the rain water in Connemara.

 They had spectator buses drive all of us from Oughterard to the finish line (25 minutes) and this is our walk to the finish line. It looks stormy but it was near perfect conditions (quite windy but no rain in sight which is very rare).

 Som ultra-marathon (39 miles!) and marathon (26.2 miles) runners coming in.

 My good running friend Clare (far right, lime green shirt) passing us, going into the finish! She did an AMAZING job and blew her intended time, out of the water.

The pony outside the neighbors house, next to the B&B

 Oughterard

We were all sick prior to the roadtrip though I had been on all my medications for 3 or 4 days at this point. Sadly, on the 2nd morning at the B&B, Wayne had a very high fever. Mary, the owner of the B&B was kind enough to book Wayne an appointment with a doctor in this small town and so this is where we went. This white house is the doctor's office. It was so sweet and quaint (and quick and efficient!)

 

And on the way home we stopped in Galway for lunch and Mimi bought some souvenirs. In this jewelry store, we met the most amazing couple. They hand make all the jewelry (Cladagh rings which originated in Galway, Tara brooches, earrings, rings with Connemara marble, etc.). Not to mention, the woman's husband is a marathon runner who has run in Ethiopia and Kenya. (one of my current obsessions). I got to meet him and he's one of the people who organizes races in Galway for Kenyan runners. (Book: Running with the Kenyans...read it). So meeting him felt a little like meeting a celebrity for me.  Anyway, Mimi also bought me a beautiful ring here (and one to match for herself) with celtic knots and a Connemara Marble stone. We learned this gem stone is 700 MILLION years old and is mined just 20 minutes outside of Galway. It's a dark green marble and its just beautiful. So, now Mimi and I have matching marble rings that may or may not imbue us with ancient Celtic powers.

 

This was, by far, the most magical toystore I've ever seen. It went up 3 stories in this narrow Irish building and had the most enchanting little toys you ever saw. I was in heaven.

Auntie Mimi bought this bear for Norah in the same jewelry shop we first went into. The bears benefit an Ethiopian orphanage the couple sponsors so Mimi was happy to get it for Norah. His name is "Dancing Bear" and now he lives with us.