Who Could Ask For Moher?

Some of you may be wondering about my level of commitment to updating this blog throughout the trip. Well, let me tell you, Gentle Blog Reader, that I left the rest of the group to sample the local fare at the Quays Pub about an hour ago so that I could come back and make today's posting. That's how much I care!

We started our day with a trek across town to the campus of the National University of Ireland in Galway for a lecture on the Irish economy. (See, there's an economic graph in that picture there. We are learning something!) Dr. Aiden Kane provided a great historical background about the Irish economy and talk inevitably worked its way to the Greek bailout situation by the end of the talk. The students made Pavel proud by asking some great economic questions at the end of the presentation.

In the afternoon we took a bus to the Cliffs of Moher, one of the biggest attractions in all of Ireland. I'm sure that you'll agree that it's quite impressive based on the pictures posted here. They really don't do the sight justice, though. The most difficult part of the trip was the bus ride itself, a 60km trip that took just under two hours because the roads were windy, bumpy, and narrow...not a good combination for the bus. I'm sure that everyone would agree that the ride was worth it, though, once we got to the cliffs. (And no, none of us obeyed the warning about going beyond that point. We're rebels...what can I say?)

This evening most of the group went on a pub crawl throughout Shop Street in Galway. We were fortunate enough to meet up with Connor, a Duquesne student who spent the whole spring semester studying at NUI Galway. (He's the one in the Pens shirt below.) As you might imagine, he said that he's had a great time here.

Tomorrow we're taking a day tour of Connemara, the region directly to the north of Galway. Hopefully the bus ride will be a little smoother! Stay tuned for more pics.