Salthill (Irish: Bóthar na Trá) is a seaside area in the City of Galway in the west of Ireland. There is a two kilometer long promenade, locally known as “the Prom” overlooking Galway Bay.
I came to Salthill upon the recommendation of my Airbnb host Laura. I was also interested in locating the Salthill garda station as part of location research for my book. Wrapped in my coat, scarf, gloves and beanie, I cringed at the sight of locals taking a dip at Blackrock Tower, Galway’s iconic swimming location.
I became quite lost looking for the garda station, but in my wanderings I stumbled across a halting site, a facility constructed for the accommodation of Irish Travellers and other nomadic groups. This was also part of my book research.
Finally, just as I was about to lose daylight, I located the garda station. I had walked in the complete opposite direction of where I needed to be! But it had been a lovely afternoon nonetheless getting lost in Salthill.
By now the temperature had dropped to just one degree. I waited at the bus stop and asked the driver at the next bus if I was waiting on the right side of the road to get back to Rahoon, a nearby suburb where my Airbnb accommodation was located. He was extremely helpful and friendly, and allowed me to ride the bus for free (clearly taking pity on a young Aussie traveller who has no clue where she’s going!). As it turned out I had gotten on the bus that was headed into Galway City, the opposite direction than what I needed to be going in to get back to Rahoon. But I had a great chat with the bus driver, whom I found out had a son living in Ipswich, Brisbane. It sure is a small world!
Kate Kelsen 
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