Falafel Fun

    Saturday morning before making my way to the university a stop at the market to cool down and relax was necessary. Kaylee and Kelly mentioned meeting at the Falafel stand around half 12. Unfortunately, time ran away from me as I was caught up in the frustration of being disconnected. Not making it to the market until 1:15 I'd missed the girls. Having never eaten a falafel I figured I'd give it a go, even if I was by myself. Falafel is Arabic; inside a pita pocket you'll find vegetables, hummus, and falafels; ground chickpeas.

Not knowing what exactly was entering my mouth, I doubted whether this experience would go well. Happily I can say it was delicious as I plan on going back to the market this Saturday for round two.

My first falafel

John, my Bible teacher, also mentioned the market has the best bagels. As a bagel addict I was both excited and nervous about this statement. Having loved bagels from an early age, I will eat any bagel, at any time. However, the amount of calories in bagels is frightening. Therefore, if I truly did run into the best bagels, how was I ever going to contain myself? Thankfully my frugal side took over limiting my purchase to just one. It was pretty good, but not anything to write home about. haha sorry that was a bad joke. Anyway, it was only a plain bagel. Several individuals have warned the best bagels sell out early morning. This Saturday I'll schedule an early trip to have a cinnamon raisin bagel, my favorite!

Maybe this isn't so funny to the Irish, but the sign atop the potatoes made me laugh.

Good thing they're blight resistant...anyone heard of the potato famine?

Fresh vegetables lined the streets, providing a colorful scenery.

The rhubarb had me craving Grandma Rose's rhubarb pie.

Living toward the east side of Galway City I often forget the ocean is so close. However, the fresh fish markets serve as a clear reminder of the oceans presence. For those who don't know me so well, I don't enjoy seafood. However, I have had fish and chips twice! No matter how much I'm pushing myself to try new things and expand my liking for fish, this just grosses me out.

Yucckkk!

Handcrafted mirrors and pottery displayed on either side of the street provided beauty and warmth catching my eye.

Enjoying the sites and sounds of the market finishing my falafel, there it was, my favorite section of the market...flowers. Beautiful blooming flowers in pots, vases, wrapped in paper, they were everywhere. Big sunflower heads opened wide stood proudly in the back, as smaller petite tulips leaned against them. White Hydrangeas, puffy like clouds filled big pots, creating a beautiful backdrop for brightly colored flowers in front of them. 

Monday had finally come, the deadline for my paper. 3 days without internet access, 1 very frustrated phone call and 13 pages later my paper was finished. Putting in a great deal of hard work I decided dressing up for the occasion was necessary. Turning in essays is not simply handing them to a professor. Instead a cover sheet is required, as they are to be turned into the head of the department. Upon submission you're required to sign a plagiarism waiver in his presence. Skinny jeans, flats, sweater and a scarf completed my outfit for the day. Windy and raining the weather wasn't exactly ideal, however there was no option. My essay needing to be submitted had to find some way to the university. Considering a cab I chose to once again be frugal and take my bike.....poor life choice. Biking through a hurricane isn't quite as much fun as one would think.

Within the first 30 seconds I regretted the choice to leave behind my rain pants. Blowing like mad the wind was not helping the commute. In fact it blew so hard I looked over to see the metal posts standing still. As my legs pushed and pedaled, my bike was actually not going anywhere...this is not cool. By the time I reached the half-way point I was sopping wet and in need of motivation. So I turned it into a race. As crazy as it sounds I needed something to get me through this, it was either laugh or cry, so I made myself laugh. Pretending it was a horse race, I was the horse, jockey and announcer. Cheering myself on at each familiar landmark as I progressed closer to campus. My jockey wanted to go faster, but the horse just couldn't hack it through the wind and rain. Finally reaching campus the race was over, I had made it! I parked my bike to one that had gone through one too many rain storms...we'll call him rusty.

Rusty bike in rough shape

Looking down noticing the condition of my jeans a distinct line ran all the way down to my ankle. The photo does not have a shadow, the dark region is sopping wet as the back of my jeans escaped the rain.

Seeing my reflection in a window, it wasn't a pretty sight as mascara ran down my face. The end result of my once cute outfit, wasn't so cute anymore.

Result of biking through a hurricane.

My jeans were wet, my hair was tangled, my mascara was running...but none of it mattered, because my paper was done! One course finished, 3 more to go :  )

With Love from Galway