"I can't stand the rain"

You know, I usually love the rain. I'm sure my parents could regale you with tales of my childhood that included running outside, wearing nothing, and just enjoying an au naturale shower in the back yard (as long as there's an age where that's appropriate, which I'm sure now there's not)

Yesterday it was a driving, windy, bitter rain that ate through your clothes, jacket, pants and shoes, no matter how appropriately chosen. Naturally, I'd chosen this as my day to take a long walk along the shore to go to see Salthill, the diving boards, and as far as my feet could take me. I did anticipate this by cooking a massive breakfast for myself

True story: Wix just asked me if a couple of things in my eggs were faces...so...maybe I ate a miracle breakfast?

That's the last of the good sausage from the butcher, plus the eggs here in Ireland are *really* superior to the eggs I ate at home. Orange yolks, rich tasting-- I oughta do that more.

Anyhow, I'm distracting from the misery of my walk. I don't really have a lot of pictures to demonstrate, my phone kept thinking I pushed random buttons... that's how wet it was. I turned in to a "boutique hostel" after reading it's clever and welcoming sign during the midst of a particularly bad downpour

...and normally, I think I like bears more than coffee.

I'd say this place is more of a boutique hotel... looked up a lot about it and nice, decent (if expensive) rooms. So, if you fancy a different Galway experience, check out the Nest Hostel.

Anyhow, after drying off a little bit and enjoying a cup of tea, I did decide to trudge on, and made it as far as the diving boards in Salthill. Normally, these are abuzz with activity, even in mildly sunny weather. But today, just a couple of brave swimmers dotted the shoreline. Eventually, and I wish I had some cool stories here, I just trudged back in soaked through clothes to my house, past the tempting and abandoned "Leisure Land" amusement park and at least a dozen pubs.

I had to do something to warm up before the Macy Gray concert tonight! That's right, my "big ticket" purchase during the arts festival was going to go to the big top tonight to see her and some band called the "Hypnotic Brass Ensemble". Now, normally when your ticket says 8 pm for a General Admission show, you figure you gotta get there at least 30 minutes beforehand to get some good seats. In this weather, I was gonna take my chances though.

Stopped for some seafood chowder at Blake's Bar for more fuel:

Oh yeah, that's "writer's tears" in the background.

Then trudged through the rain and got to the big top about 5 minutes before 8. My reward? Literally standing in the 2nd row for the whole concert. People here do *not* get places on time.

The scene 5 minutes before probably a top 3 biggest concert here in Galway this summer...

(Side note: If you don't like concert/music reviews, feel free to just skip to the next post. I won't know! I don't really have any more good material today. Statement of fact!).

Ok, so first things first, for those who know me, I don't like seeing this sign...

Yikes....

Hey, but in for a penny, in for a pound, right? So, the "Hypnotic Brass Ensemble". I'll play Pro/Con for them:

Pro: Very talented brass musicians. Great bass player.

Con: MCs just had generic conscious rhymes.

Pro: Took their shirts off, and not all of them were in shape. *That*'s American.

Con: Every one of their songs went on like 8 minutes, with basically 2 very similar sections in each.

Pro: Nice uniforms?

This picture came out weird. Like, "laser cats" weird.

Here's a brief sample of what I'm talking about here.

They finish up at about 9, Macy Gray doesn't come on until like 9:45. You'd think this would give me time to meet my fellow "front row" mates and chat with them. Well, one of them was a crazy Italian lady who left part way through and insisted on coming back in front of me and dancing wildly, octopus in a blender style. So, I wasn't too keen there. Then there were 3 *very* drunk ladies behind me screaming to their friend across the tent, who could not possibly have heard them. Real keepers.

The crowd really did want Macy! Let me say this, having not heard her since the 2 songs like 15 years ago...

1) I initially thought her backup singer was her, and thought "wow, I've really not remembered what Macy looks like correctly"... was soon corrected.

2) For the record, her backup singer, and at least a couple of other members of the band, were by far the best part! Not that she was bad or anything... she has that signature rasp, was on point mostly. But her backup singer was amazing-- I even looked her up, her name's Tamika Peoples. I'd pay the same money just to see her sing. Exhibit A:

Her keyboard guy, Billy West, also a great singer. And her saxophonist/other keyboard guy pretty much ran the band. So pretty much, I'd say this was the first concert I've been to where I can say I liked the band better than the lead singer... can they do their own stuff?

I could share the cool jazz cover of "Nothing Else Matters" or the pretty average "Creep" rendition, but look, you're all looking for the "I Try" experience, so, here's what it was like to be in the crowd for it.

Yes, it was the last song in what felt like a 6 or 7 song encore).

Anyhow, it was a pretty good concert! And a great way to stay dry out of the rain for a couple of hours at least.

It's not every day you walk out of a tent to the town cathedral to make you repent any wrongdoing.

Historical note: this cathedral is less than 100 years old, and not actually that historic.

Anyhow, after drying off a bit the next morning, I was in the mood for some *rare* hearty comfort food. Sorry, not sorry! I did a lot of walking, was going to do some more walking today, and if a town has a renowned restaurant called "The Pie Maker", I'm eventually going to try it.

Enjoy the not revealing pictures of a chicken and mushroom and an apple pie. This was amazing, filling... Irish.

I'm still not used to eating carbs. Ooof. So full, this was the only meal I'd eat today-- went for a *long walk* (on the long walk!) and ended up at the docks for a piano concert from a lady playing a piano in a boat.

Two concerts a day... but definitely not rain or shine

Ok, I'll ignore the adequate music talent and bring up some obvious questions here:

1) What happens if the piano gets wet? It's Ireland! Even today it was raining *a little* and you don't have even a moderate covering. Don't be fooled by the sail's positioning... it's not a tarp.

2) Not really pictured here, but what the crowd could also hear was the dumping of garbage a few hundred yards away and the jackhammering of new construction a few hundred more away. Hence the crowding close.

3) It was *windy*. Any attempt at her looking at a set list, sheet music or something similar was completely hopeless.

All in all, not my fave, but I do love the concept of a piano on a ship. You know, not like a cruise ship piano, but one where there's imminent danger. Or maybe this one:

Davy Jones's face is like my face when I realized the pianist would be playing french songs instead of irish ones. Back to Davy Jones's locker say I missy!

All in all, pretty solid couple of days. Gotta jam pack some more fun in the next week!

Random Things:

Unless you love the history of fishing in Galway, do *not* visit the brief museum found inside here.

-People here really don't like taking tips with meals. As in, they never expect it, and with the service they give, honestly seldom deserve it. At least, my experience so far.

-Also, umbrellas are completely useless on the west coast of Ireland. Don't bring them or they'll end up in a crumpled heap in some bush somewhere, as I saw 3 or 4 examples of such on my walk home.

Moment of Zen