Happy St. Stephen's Day (Boxing Day UK)

Yes, a very happy St. Stephen's Day or as they call it in England, Boxing Day. Apparently many years ago Boxing Day was established by the Queen of England as a day when she and the other Royal Family members would serve their staff thanking them for their dedication and hard work throughout the year. Mom wanted to know if Queen Elizabeth in fact served her staff today but no one in Ireland knew or really cared all that much about the Queen's habits. She's not a local favorite as you can imagine.

As for the St. Stephen's Day weather it was warm but completely overcast. It was odd to go to bed last night with pretty much all the city and country side covered in snow and wake up to it all gone and greenery everywhere. I'm happy to know the cold weather has departed but sad to know that with warmer winter weather comes a rainy, dreary sky day after day.

We spent a bit of time shopping in the city center where I got a nice picture of how the city looks without the snow. Now you can see the brightly painted homes that are very characteristic of this country. Then mom and I enjoyed one last turn in the jacuzzi at the gym. I had thought it was my last visit the night before but surprise, surprise there was time for just one more. Mom had me take a picture of the dolphin fountain in the jacuzzi but it may be hard to see the details since it was so dark in their today. I think they were trying out some new mood lighting.

Jean Marie picked us up and we went to Ellen and Frank's restaurant, the COOP in Moycullen, Galway. It's an old meatpacking building that Frank converted into a trendy restaurant/pub. There was live music and we enjoyed a nice conversation with Frank's brother, Joe.

It was a lovely day and time for me to make my final goodbye to the city center before going home to Jean Marie's. I will miss my Salt Hill neighborhood very much especially the walk into town via the ocean.

We had a nice quiet night at her house and we packed for our trip to Dublin in the morning. We didn't see the beautiful little butterfly that had taken up residence with us just a few days ago. Mom and I named him St. Nick and I think he took refuge from the cold but as soon as the weather broke he decided it was time to make his way in the world once more.

I leave Galway happy to be going on a trip to the UK but sad that my wonderful language adventure has met it's end at least as it relates to Ireland.