Nightlife

I think the most appropriate time to write a post about the nightlife in Galway is when I am still feeling the repercussions of it the morning after.

My first experience out happened while we were staying at Barnacles hostel and we signed up for the hostel bar crawl. We were warned about the the incredible amounts of alcohol the Irish are able to consume, especially here in Galway because apparently there is little else that you can do here but drink. Beth and I learned first hand just how much the Irish (and our fellow Americans) can drink that night. I also learned that Bulmers cider is delicious and that I never want to take a shot of whiskey again in my life. That was also my first encounter with a Galway Hooker...

...don't worry- it's the name of the local beer.
I won't detail the series of events of my subsequent visits to Galway's pubs. However, I will share with you the top eight things you should know when venturing out in Galway:

1) The Irish like to start drinking early, hitting the pubs right after dinner. And they like to stay out until the pubs close. I don't know about you, but I can't drink from 7pm-12am and still be alive the next day. Not to mention the dent it would make on your wallet to keep up with the locals since...

2) Alcohol is VERY expensive here. A pint is between 4-5 Euros (this equates to about $6-7). To circumvent this issue, there are several options: buy cans at the grocery store and hide them in your purse when you go out or get a guy to buy you a drink. This second option is actually rather difficult because...

3) Irish boys NEVER approach girls. Apparently, even if you make eyes across the room and give them all the right signals, they will not come to you. You have to make the move. Luckily, they're delighted when you do and tend to be very excited about you being American.

4) If you want everyone to know you're American before you even open your mouth, be sure to wear your North Face jacket out. My friends and I went out this week, all of us wearing our North Faces, and this was the only time an Irish boy has come up to us without us needing to even look at him. There are certain stigmas about what you can expect from American girls, I'm afraid, and sometimes this brings some unwanted attention.

5) So, if one of your friends isn't being hit on by a creep and wants to leave the pub before you're done with your pint, there's no need to worry. You can get a plastic to go cup and take your drink with you! Our friend Kristi regrets telling us of this option because now she can't finish off our drinks for us.

6) If beer or cider isn't your thing, don't expect to ask for your usual Jack and Coke. Mixed drinks don't exist here. At least, the bartender isn't about to mix the two parts together for you. Instead, you have to purchase your shots and your mixers separately and combine them yourself. I have yet to try this option. It just seems like too much work.

7) Unless you've already called it quits for the night, never reject the hand stamps, stickers, vouchers, or fliers given out along the streets. You never know where you might end up and you might get lucky enough to gain free entry or free drinks with a flash of your heavily branded hands without even realizing it.

8) Since Mexican food is rare and expensive in this country (i.e. 15 Euros for enchiladas), the perfect late night, post-drinking gut bomb is an order of Taco Fries from Supermacs. I can't even describe how incredible they are. Or, if you crave something sweet, a hot chocolate muffin with ice cream is a must. However, if you manage to make it home without succumbing to the lure of Supermac's bright interior, tearing through a package of chocolate digestive biscuits will do the trick as well.