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GALWAY, Ireland, May 30, 2003 / FW/ --- Back to the cobblestone walk-street I found more brilliantly colored stores. One was a deep-dark blue with yellow trim.

Standing in front of it was a couple dressed in bright red parkas, looking at their map they were a colorful contrast.

Heading down a back street I passed by a pork butcher shop painted in a hunter-green and blood-red.

Across the way there was a skull and crossbones carved into a stone wall.

Above it a plaque credibly described a gruesome event from the 13th century involving Mayor Lynch of Galway and his son.

On a happier note, one block over I found a display of child-size raincoats, using pink, yellow, purple and blue balloons as heads.

Next door there were two pregnant dress forms donning summer white dresses.

I had seen similar pregnant forms in Dublin and Bordeaux.

Did it indicate a possible baby boom?

The Mannequin Museum collection contains what may be the first full-figured pregnant mannequin produced during the 1980's by Wolf and Vine Greneker of Los Angeles.

I went back to the Spanish Arch soaking in a view of swans in the harbor and the slow drizzle. I thought of how Galway had once been a major port of trade.

I reflected on the tourist trade in Dublin and Galway.

The storefronts were for the most part small and the creative ingenuity for display is an art, blending old and contemporary culture.

Galway has festivals year round; horses, jazz, film and oysters to name a few.

In August there is the Guinness Galway Oyster Festival which holds an international competition to see who can open 30 Galway Bay Oysters in the shortest time; the winner actually receives a world title.

On that note, as the rain started slashing through me, and after a long day of walking on cobblestone walk-streets it was time for oysters on the half shell at the Quay St. wine bar.

As they say in Gaelic, "Slainte."

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