Road Trip #1 - Connemara

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Took a taxi Monday morning to Galway airport to pick up my car for the week. Now it has been over 25 years since driving on the left side of the road and shifting gears with the left hand! Shifting is not a problem, but the folks here drive pretty fast and the roads are quite narrow, so many times I am hugging the left edge of the road hoping not to fall off!

Drove the long (coastal) route to Clifden. The drvie was beautiful. Coastal outlets everywhere jutting in many bays. Lots of beautiful coastal scenery. Then you enter the Connemara area, and the terrain becomes mountainous and rocky. The ocean to the west and the Twelve Bens peaks on the right. Gorgeous. Clilfden is a small yet touristy town. Stopped and had a coffee and then headed onto the Sky Road, a 5 mile loop overlooking the western coastline and islands. Spectacular.

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Connemmara has pines as well, in clusters scattered among the many beautiful lakes. I arrived at the National Park late but walked a bit and picniced. Will go back today. Went to a pub for music (guitarist doing rock) and had a blast with two American girls and one Swiss guy. Today checking out Kylemore Abbey and more coastal edges, then to Leannan and beyond to Newport.