As Time Goes By (or, Mary and Tine Visit! Part 1)

First, ruminations: Isn't it strange how many different ways there are to greet someone passing you on the street? I mean, when they're someone you know. So many varieties: if you spot someone you vaguely know you know, or someone you know but don't feel chatting with, you look fiercely down at the ground until you are about a pace apart, then you both glance up for a quick smile and "hey" before looking somewhere else, quickly. Next level... you glance up a few paces apart, allowing for the old "how're you?" "oh good, thanks, you?" "good, see ya!" The latter half is often spoken over one's shoulder, or walking backwards. Then, of course, for good friends, there is much more exuberance. But once you introduce the element of the ipod, the dynamics get even more complicated: do you leave the headphones on? Do you reach for them like you might take them off, but then, ooh, sorry, too late, we've passed each other? There's the old taking-one-side-out tactic, for medium friends, or the person who likes a soundtrack for their life; finally, the full-remove, total commitment. It's an intense world out there people.

Yeah. So, I returned from Bath very tired, but in an Austen mood, so I watched "Becoming Jane" (thanks Mommy!) which was pretty good, especially as James McAvoy's just so darn good-looking. The next few days were pretty calm - it was Holy Week, so I went to mass and got ready for Easter. Mary and Tine (my aunt and cousin) left on Good Friday to come to Ireland (woot!) and were due to arrive in Galway on Saturday morning, I believe around 9:30. I would, of course, meet them at the bus station and personally escort them to the destination of their choice. Theoretically. In truth, I overslept, and woke up about ten minutes before their bus was due to arrive, and it takes about 23 minutes to get there walking at a brisk pace. Clothes were thrown on, hair was not brushed, and I set off, taking it in turns to speedwalk and sprint (very bad for my poor body, which didn't understand why I seemed to be punishing it with physical exertion). Anyway, the poor dears were waiting patiently as I arrived, damp from my labors and from the rain that had started during my run. It was so good to see them!! I'm used to seeing them much more frequently, especially Tine, so this was a lovely visit =) We started trekking to my apartment, but the rain, their fatigue, and their luggage led us to take a cab instead with a wonderfully friendly cabby who talked to us about rock music.

They took in the sights, sounds, and smells of Corrib Village, and we had some tea and toast while filling each other in on our respective lives (well, them as a unit and me... they know about each other's lives pretty well, being mother and daughter). The sun came out and it turned into quite a nice day, so we decided to walk to their B&B, which is on the other side of town near the bay. Although it seemed to them to take forever, the walk is nice and easy and follows a little canal. They settled in at the Prague House (very nice, and the owner is lovely), and then we set off into town to see the sights and eat at Mister Waffle, which Tine had been eagerly anticipating. It did not disappoint. We did some more wandering and sightseeing, heading down to the bay and strolling down the Salthill Prom, as you do. We saw some adorable children ("Sand in me eye! Sand in me eye!"), and Mary and Tine got their first eyeful of Irish men's athletic shorts (they're very, very, very short. You see a lot of hairy, beefy thighs in this country). I had originally planned to cook them dinner, but they were too tired to go all the way back to my apartment and then have to walk back to their B&B, so they just went back, and I went home.

Easter Sunday was a beautiful day, if a little windy, and we met for mass, Mary and Tine having successfully navigated their way from their B&B to the Cathedral. Afterwards we came back to Corrib for some Easter Tacos. The rest of the day we hung out, walked through town a different way to show them more stuff, and went to Monroe's and got some pizza... and Mary and Tine had their first Ireland beers! Well, Tine's first - Mary's first in 11 years. Our pizza was tasty, but Monroe's was very loud and crowded, which was a bit much for my still-tired travelers, so we didn't linger overlong before heading back to the B&B, and we had a sleepover! We started reading their Ireland diary from 11 years ago and watched City Slickers. Score.