Our arrival into Galway, Ireland

Greetings from the Emerald Isle! We look forward to sharing all of our experiences of living and traveling abroad with you while Damon is on a one-year assignment with his company, Medtronic, here in Galway, Ireland.

After barely making our connecting flight at Chicago O'Hare - they had to re-open the computer terminal to check us in 45 minutes before departure - we settled into a comfortable seven-hour flight aboard Aer Lingus, the main airline of Ireland, replete with a bright, green clover on the tail wing. Once we arrived (the morning of Monday, September 10) into Shannon International Airport, about 1 hour, 45 minutes south of our new home town of Galway, the friendly customs agent took our passports and Damon's work VISA for about 30 minutes, so she could get us set up in the system. Before suggesting that we go collect our bags while waiting for her to finish this computer work, she asked, "What part of California are you from?" I told her that we lived near Napa Valley, and she said with a thick Irish accent, "Well, heavens, my dear. Why would you want to spend one year here on this rainy island?" Then she proceeded to say that it wasn't that bad, and that Galway was a beautiful city.



Damon and I stood at the baggage carousel and made bets on whether or not our luggage made the mere 45-minute connection. We both thought it was unlikely we'd have a toothbrush or our contact lenses cases that night. Shockingly, ever single bag made it - and all in good order. Because Damon is always thinking ahead, he gave fair warning to the car service on our baggage quantity - eight plus carry-ons. We learned that they would be sending a mini-van in lieu of a "saloon car" then. (One of the many new terms we are learning; it's what they call a sedan.) We were greeted by a driver that Medtronic had arranged, a nice fellow who recently returned from his first vacation to the United States - they went to Disneyland in Southern California, as well as San Diego and Las Vegas. We chatted about San Diego and Las Vegas most of the drive up to Galway (two of our favorite cities). His mini-van was almost too big. :)



My first observations while driving through the countryside of Shannon and Ennis leading up to Galway:



- There were more bushes amidst the green pastures than I expected

- The cows are more stout/stocky than ours (big hooves, thick legs)

- There are sheep everywhere (the stories we read are true)

- Most country land is divided by squatty, old, stacked-stone walls (very charming)

- Cars are bigger here than in Italy (still a little smaller than most cars we drive in the U.S. - you rarely see SUVs - but we still haven't seen a SmartCar here; just Toyota Yarises)

- There will always be heavy traffic if you go anywhere between 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. (when school and work days begin)

- School kids have it great here (they start at 9 a.m., out at 2:15 p.m.)

- The architecture reminds me a lot of the countryside just outside of London (although the Irish probably won't like to hear me say that) - stucco houses, tudor-style rooflines, bright-colored doors, very few garages

- Driving on the left-hand side of the road seems weird, and the fact that the driver of the car is in the passenger side is even stranger (I guess we'll get used to it)



We'll be staying at the Radisson Hotel in Galway until we find an aparment. Apartment-hunting begins tomorrow. http://www.radissonhotelgalway.com/