Day 90: Galway (Cliffs of Moher)

Today we started the day without rushing… but with a blocked drain. At half past eight, a friendly lady appeared, the type who talks fast and moves her hands even faster. She came armed with a plunger and an expression of "this isn't the worst thing I've seen". In ten minutes, the toilet was defeated. Victory for humanity. She thanked us as if we'd done something. I gave her a lick just in case.

Around eleven, we finally left. Today we were exploring the south of Galway, heading towards legendary lands. First stop: Poulnabrone Dolmen. The name sounds like a magic stone capable of summoning storms, but in reality, it's a very old prehistoric dolmen… and very small. I mean, yes, it's over six thousand years old, but as a collective tomb, it's not that impressive. What was cool was the landscape: the Burren, a rocky area full of cracks in the ground, as if the earth had cracked with laughter. Very cool for photos, not so much for running. I got a paw stuck between two stones and almost became a fossil.

Then, back to the car and another half-hour drive to the mythical Cliffs of Moher. Here we entered the realm of the epic: cliffs of over two hundred metres plunging straight into the sea. And wind. Wind level “it messes up even your thoughts”. They tied my lead well because otherwise, I’d be flying away like Mary Poppins but with more fur.

In the car park, they already charge you for entry: fifteen euros per adult, twelve for seniors. Papi Edu paid the full rate, but the other three humans passed as "over sixty-five" with astonishing ease. I got in for free. In total, we spent almost two hours exploring. We walked along the trails next to the cliff, took a million photos and visited the visitor centre, which is nestled into the hillside like a modern burrow. Inside there are exhibitions, interactive screens and even a small cinema that simulates a bird's flight over the cliffs. They didn't let me go in there, but Papi Edu told me all about it.

After almost two hours of wind, views and selfies with a "I can't believe it" expression, we went to the nearby village: Doolin. It was already three o'clock, too late for lunch, too early for dinner… but we found a restaurant where they were already serving dinner at that hour. Miracle. They seated us in an outdoor cubicle but protected from the wind, like in a fort made of blankets. They ordered burgers and fish and chips. When the chips arrived, I thought they had ordered a double portion to feed an entire school. I managed to snag a few chips on the fly. No one saw me. Or at least, no one said anything.

Afterwards, back in the car again, back to Galway. But not without strategic stops. First, at a petrol station, so that Papi Edu could have coffee and not drive with his eyes closed. Then, a brief visit to Dunguaire Castle, a 16th-century castle that's right on the edge of the water, with a very photogenic tower. You can't go inside, but from the outside, it already looks quite majestic. It looked like one of those places where knights argued over who had stolen the last chicken drumstick.

Near Galway, a technical stop at Lidl. They bought things needed to survive one more night without paying 32 euros for four drinks. Then, back to the apartment, homemade dinner, and a well-deserved night of rest. Good atmosphere, laughter, bad jokes and lots of anecdotes from the day.

Travelling with Papi Edu, Uncle Joan, and Aunties Nita and Mariola is like being in a road movie with unpredictable weather and a soundtrack of laughter. Me, delighted to be the furry protagonist.