Clifden

July 9, 2010

Though the plans were set the night before to meet at the gate at 7:45 a.m. so that we could catch the 8:30 a.m. bus to Clifden, early that morning Elizabeth, Luke and I changed our minds. It was too early to consider traveling and we should wait until the 11:15 bus. That made more sense to us all.

There’s a commotion outside my room. Lindsey and Ryann are wondering who keeps ringing our doorbell. My clock says 8 a.m.

No! Didn’t Luke remember our conversation…. Uh oh, that conversation was in my dream. I was late! My alarm didn’t go off! I yell out the window, but he’s already gone. Will they continue to Clifden without me? I don’t know his room number so I can’t even call him.

Facebook to the rescue. Elizabeth is online. She says they waited at the gate for me at the pre-arranged time, but then since I didn’t show up, decided to take the 11:15 bus. Just like we had decided in my dream.

Once we finally arrived in Clifden later that afternoon, I wished that we had still had those few extra hours to explore. Our trip just hit the surface of what seemed like a charming town. Since it was Friday, a market was set up in the main square. Vendors had produce beneath tents, leather boots and belts, wooden bowls and salad servers, and simple blue and green pottery. Buildings around the town were painted in the usual Irish tradition of bright colors, which to me makes the town seem alive, awake, animated. The art galleries featured paintings that I knew would look perfect in my family’s orange and art-covered kitchen — but not for the 500+ euros. My mom would have adored the sheep standing on an orange canvas, though. The jewelry store’s shelves were filled with traditional Claddagh rings, Celtic cross necklaces, Celtic knots, along with many other unique designs made by the family jewelers right in that shop.