Let me tell you about Ballinasloe, the little grey-skied town that has been my home for the last 10 months, and will be for just another two.
It is a town where old man who owns the small shop, knows everyones names and will come out of his store to personally let you know that you have missed your bus. It is also a town where the bus is always and consistently 25 minutes, except for that one time of course. It is a town where the streets are practically empty after 7pm. Life for me orbits around the hospital and the small group of final-year-almost-doctors that like me, chose to do their 1 year placement here.
For 51 of the 52 weeks in a year, it is hushed, muted toned, peaceful town.
But then there is one week where this little town is transformed into a place I can’t even recognize! The Annual Ballinasloe Horse Fair. Yes, this quaint Irish town is home to Europe’s oldest Horse festival.
I have never been a horse festival before, so this was a special experience I wanted to share with you!
I have never seen so many horses in one place before in my life. I had never seen this many horses period. My husband, who has been to Ballinasloe a couple of times could not imagine the place being anything other than what it usually is. I tried to help him get a visual, I said “Okay, okay…picture a very populated city in India. Now imagine that all those people were horses. That is the situation.”
My friend Ciara and I decided to go for a little stroll yesterday evening. We left later in the day, when the fair was coming to a close and there were just a few horses left. Now I wish I had taken photographs on the first couple of days, because I could not believe my eyes.
The first little friend we made. A friendly Donkey that Ciara named Gus.
Ciara writes a beauty blog: Little miss makeup blogger. Have a look!
We decided to go on a ride. I thought it would be fun. It’s been a long time since I have been to a carnival and been on a ride. So Ciara and I strapped ourselves in. About 30 seconds in we very quickly regretted our decision. Our first excited screams soon turned into just a stomach churning silence as we counted the seconds until it would STOP. Make the moving STOP.
Well, it was nice to learn I can no longer do that anymore.
Behind the scenes!
Ciara’s only requirement for our activities was that she gets an ice cream. So we did, and she wanted to treat me to something too. I didn’t feel like ice cream because my throat was a little bit sore, so I asked for turkish delight. She looked at me and said “You’re a weird one, aren’t you.”
We did not go on that one.
Ballinasloe, you surprise me.
Ciara, thank you for a really fun evening.
And you, thank you for following along :*
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Malavika
xo