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Galician phrasebook

Galician (galego) is the Romance language most closely related to Portuguese. It is spoken in Galicia, which is in north-western Spain. Portuguese speakers (both European and Brazilian) will usually tell you that Galician is a dialect of their own language, while Galicians will tell you the opposite in a manner similar to that which exists between Bulgarians and Macedonians. Still, Portuguese and Galician speakers can understand each other almost perfectly without a translator.

Galician has a different spelling and accent from Portuguese, and contains unique colloquialisms and traces of former cultures, using a number of pre-Indo-European, Celtic and Germanic words not found in Portuguese. On the other hand, there are Arabic words found in Portuguese that are not found in Galician.

Learning Galician is generally not necessary for communication, as nearly all Galician speakers are also able to speak Spanish. That being said, Galicians are proud of their language, so any attempt by visitors to speak it will be warmly received.

Sounds
Galician sounds are similar to Portuguese, but nasalization is not nearly as pervasive. The letter x, pronounced sh in both languages, is used mainly in Galician words; whereas in Portuguese words the letters j or g are used, where it is pronounced like "zh".

Vowels

 * a : like father
 * e (stressed) : like set, ten
 * e (unstressed) : like herd
 * i : like machine
 * o (stressed) : like hot, top (British pronunication)
 * o (unstressed) : like sort
 * u : like soup or book

Consonants

 * b : like 'b' in "bed": bico ('kiss').
 * c + e, i : like 's' in "supper" (western Galicia) or 'th' in "think" (eastern Galicia): cedo ('early').
 * c + a, o, u : like 'k' in "key": can ('dog').
 * d : like 'd' in "day": data ('date').
 * f : like 'ph' in "phone": ferro ('iron').
 * g : like 'g' in "gone". In western Galicia, g is sometimes aspirated, like 'h' in "house": xogo ('game'). If followed by e or i, g must be written with a silent u: xoguete ('toy'), preguiza ('laziness'). If followed by a pronounced u and then by e or i, that u bears a diaeresis: bilingüe ('bilingual'), Güiana ('Guyana').
 * h : silent: harmonía ('harmony').
 * j : like 'su' in "pleasure"
 * k: used only in foreign words like "kilo"
 * l : like 'l' in "love": lúa ('moon').
 * m : like 'm' in "month": amarelo ('yellow').
 * n : like 'n' in "nice": nai ('mother'). Like 'ng' in "song" if it's at the end of a word: non ('no').
 * ñ : like 'ny' in "canyon" : xuño ('June'). Transliterated as nh in Portuguese and ny in Catalan.
 * p : like 'p' in "party": pai ('father').
 * q : like 'q' in "unique". Q is almost always followed by a silent u and then by e or i: queixo ('cheese'/'chin'), arquivo ('archive').
 * r : trill with the tip of the tongue, like other Romance languages: terra ('earth', 'land', 'ground').
 * s : like 's' in "supper": persoa ('person').
 * t : like 't' in "top": ter ('to have').
 * v : like 'b' in "bed": novo ('new').
 * x : like 'sh' in "shoe": imaxe ('image'), axuda ('help'), xaneiro ('January'), viaxar ('to travel'), lóxico ('logical'), xanela ('window'), cervexa ('beer'), xeral ('general'). Like 'x' in "example" (only in some words): taxi ('taxi'), explorar ('to explore'), texto ('text'), excursión ('trip')
 * z : like 's' in "supper" (western Galicia) or 'th' in "think" (eastern Galicia): prezo ('price'). Unlike Spanish, Z is never followed by e or i.

Common diphthongs

 * ai : like say (British pronunciation)
 * au : like pout

 * ei : like say (American pronunciation)
 * eu : the e vowel plus a w semivowel (no equivalent in English)

 * oi : like boy
 * ou : as in own

Common digraphs

 * ch : like 'tch' in "match": chave ('key').
 * ll : like 'lli' in "million": ollo ('eye'). Same as in Catalan and as lh in "standard" Portuguese.
 * nh : like the nasal 'n' in "bang" : unha ('one' fem.)

Basics

 * Hello (informal). : Ola. (OH-lah). For the formal equivalent of "Ola" see good morning, good afternoon, good evening, below.
 * How are you? : Como estás? (KOH-moh ehs-TAHS?) (informal); Como está? (KOH-moh ehs-TAH?) (formal)
 * Fine, thank you. : Moi ben, grazas. (moy behn, GRAH-sahs)
 * What is your name? : Como te chamas? (koh-MOH teh tchah-MAHS?) (informal); Como se chama? (koh-MOH seh tchah-MAH?)  (formal)
 * My name is ______ . : Chámome ______ . (CHAH-moh-meh____)
 * Nice to meet you. : É un pracer. (EH oon PRAH-sehr)
 * Please. : Por favor. (pohr FAH-bohr)
 * Thank you. : Grazas. (GRAH-sahs)
 * You're welcome. : De nada. / Non hai de que. (deh NAH-dah/nohn ai deh keh)
 * Yes. : Si. (SEE)
 * No. : Non. (nohn)
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) : Perdoe. / Desculpe. (pehr-DOEH/dehs-KOOL-peh)
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) : Perdoe. (pehr-DOEH) / Desculpe. (dehs-KOOL-peh)
 * I'm sorry. : Síntoo moito. (SEEN-toh-oh MOY-toh)
 * Goodbye : Adeus. (ah-DEH-oos)
 * I can't speak Galician [well]. : Non falo [moi ben] o galego. (nohn FAH-loh (moy behn) oh gah-LEH-goh)
 * Do you speak English? : Falas inglés? (informal) (fah-LAHS een-GLEHS?)
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : Hai alguén aquí que fale inglés? (ai ahl-KEHN ah-KEE keh FAH-leh een-GLEHS?)
 * Help! : Axuda! Socorro! Auxilio! (ah-shoo-DAH!, soh-koh-RROH!, ow-shee-LYOH!)
 * Good morning. : Bo día. (boh DYAH)
 * Good afternoon. : Boa tarde. (BOH-ah TAHR-deh)
 * Good evening (when it's dark) : Boa noite. (BOH-ah NOY-teh)
 * Good night. : Boa noite. (BOH-ah NOY-teh)
 * I don't understand. : Non entendo. (nohn ehn-TEHN-doh)
 * Where is the toilet? : Onde está o baño? / Onde está o aseo? (ohn-DEH ehs-TAH oh bah-NYOH? / ohn-DEH ehs-TAH oh ah-seh-OH?)

Problems

 * Leave me alone. : Déixame en paz! (DAY-shah-men ehn pahs!)
 * Don't touch me! : Non me toques! (nohn meh TOH-kehs!)
 * I'll call the police. : Vou chamar á policía. (bwoh chah-MAHR ah poh-lee-SEE-ah)
 * Police! : Policía! (poh-lee-SEE-ah)
 * Stop! Thief! : Para! Ladrón! (pah-RAH! lah-DROHN!)
 * I need help. : Necesito axuda. (neh-seh-SEE-toh ah-SHOO-duh)
 * It's an emergency. : É unha emerxencia. (EH OON-gah eh-mehr-SHEHN-syuh)
 * I'm lost. : Estou perdido. (EHS-tow pehr-DEE-doh)
 * I lost my bag. : Perdín a miña bolsa. (pehr-DEEN a MEE-nyah BOHL-sah)
 * I lost my wallet. : Perdín o meu moedeiro. (pehr-DEEN oh MEH-oo moh-eh-DAY-roh)
 * I'm sick. : Estou enfermo(a). (EHS-tow ehn-FEHR-muh(ah))
 * I've been injured. : Estou ferido(a) (EHS-tow feh-REE-duh(ah))
 * I need a doctor. : Necesito un médico. (neh-seh-SEE-toh oon MEH-dee-kuh)
 * Can I use your phone? : Podo usar o seu teléfono? (POH-doh OO-sahr oh SEH-oh teh-LEH-foh-nuh?)

Numbers

 * 1 : un/unha (oon/OO-ngah) (Male/Female)
 * 2 : dous/dúas (dows/DOO-ahs) (Male/Female)
 * 3 : tres (trehs)
 * 4 : catro (KAH-troh)
 * 5 : cinco (THEEN-koh)
 * 6 : seis (says)
 * 7 : sete (seht)
 * 8 : oito (OY-toh)
 * 9 : nove (NOH-beh)
 * 10 : dez (dehs)
 * 11 : once (OHN-theh)
 * 12 : doce (DOH-theh)
 * 13 : trece (TREH-theh)
 * 14 : catorce (kah-TOHR-theh)
 * 15 : quince (KEEHN-theh)
 * 16 : dezaseis (deh-THAH-says)
 * 17 : dezasete (deh-THAH-seh-teh)
 * 18 : dezaoito (deh-thah-OY-toh)
 * 19 : dezanove (deh-thah-NOH-beh)
 * 20 : vinte (BEEN-teh)
 * 21 : vinte e un/unha (BEEN-teh eh oon/OON-gah)
 * 22 : vinte e dous/dúas (BEEN-teh eh dwohs/DOO-ahs)
 * 23 : vintetrés (been-teh-TREHS)
 * 30 : trinta (TREEN-tah)
 * 31 : trinta e un/unha (TREEN-tah eh oon/OON-gah)
 * 32 : trinta e dous/dúas (TREEN-tah eh dwohs/DOO-ahs)
 * 33 : trinta e tres (TREEN-tah eh trehs)
 * 40 : corenta (koh-REHN-tah)
 * 50 : cincuenta (seen-KWEHN-tah)
 * 60 : sesenta (seh-SEHN-tah)
 * 70 : setenta (seh-TEHN-tah)
 * 80 : oitenta (oy-TEHN-tah)
 * 90 : noventa (noh-BEHN-tah)
 * 100 : cen (sehn)
 * 200 : douscentos/duascentas (dows-THEHN-tohs/dwah-THEHN-tahs)
 * 300 : trescentos/trescentas (treh-THEHN-tohs/treh-THEHN-tahs)
 * 400 : catrocentos/catrocentas (kah-troh-THEHN-tohs/kah-troh-THEHN-tahs)
 * 500 : quiñentos/quiñentas//cincocentos/cincocentas (kee-NYEHN-tohs/kee-NYEHN-tahs // thee-koh-THEHN-tohs/thee-koh-THEHN-tahs)
 * 600 : seiscentos (says-THEHN-tohs)
 * 700 : setecentos (seh-teh-THEHN-tohs)
 * 800 : oitocentos (oy-toh-THEHN-tohs)
 * 900 : novecentos (noh-beh-THEHN-tohs)
 * 1000 : mil (meel)
 * 2000 : dous mil/dúas mil (DOH-oos meel/DOO-ahs meel)
 * 1,000,000 : un millón (oon mee-LYOHN)
 * 1,000,000,000 : mil millóns (meel mee-LYOHNS)
 * 1,000,000,000,000 : un billón (oon bee-LYOHN)
 * number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : número _____ (NOO-meh-roh)
 * half : medio (MEH-dyoh)
 * less : menos (MEH-nohs)
 * more : máis (MAH-ees)

Time

 * now : agora (ah-GOH-rah)
 * later : despois (DEHS-poys)
 * before : antes (AHN-tehs)
 * morning : mañá (mah-NYAH)
 * afternoon : tarde (TAHR-deh)
 * evening : noite (NOY-teh)/serán (seh-RAHNG)
 * night : noite (NOY-teh)

Clock time

 * the X hour : As X
 * the X hour in the early dawn/morning/midday/afternoon/evening/night: As X da madrugada/mañá/mediodía/tarde/tarde/noite (ahs X dah mah-droo-GAH-dah/mah-NYAHH/meh-dyoh-DYAH/TAHR-deh/TAHR-deh/NOY-teh)
 * one o'clock AM : a unha da madrugada (ah OON-gah dah mah-droo-GAH-dah), literally the one in the early morning
 * two o'clock AM : as dúas da madrugada (ahs DOO-ahs dah mah-droo-GAH-dah)
 * noon : mediodía (meh-DYOH-dyah) literally half day
 * one o'clock PM : a unha da tarde (ah OON-gah dah TAHR-deh)
 * two o'clock PM : as dúas da tarde(ahs DOO-ahs dah TAHR-deh)
 * midnight : medianoite (meh-dyah-NOY-teh)

Duration

 * _____ minute(s) : _____ minuto (minutos) (mee-NOO-toh (mee-NOO-tohs))
 * _____ hour(s) : _____ hora (horas) (OH-rah (OH-rahs)
 * _____ day(s) : _____ día (días) (DEE-ah (DEE-ahs)
 * _____ week(s) : _____ semana (semanas) (seh-MAH-nah (seh-MAH-nahs))
 * _____ month(s) : _____ mes (meses) (mehs (MEH-sehs))
 * _____ year(s) : _____ ano (anos) (AH-noh (AH-nohs))

Days

 * day : día (DYAH)
 * this day : neste día (NEHS-teh DYAH)
 * today : hoxe (OH-sheh)
 * yesterday : onte (OHN-teh)
 * tomorrow : mañá (mah-NYAH)
 * tomorrow night : mañá á noite (mah-NYAH NOY-teh)
 * tonight : onte á noite (OHN-teh AH NOY-teh)
 * this night : esta noite (EHS-tah NOY-teh)
 * week : semana (seh-MAH-nah)
 * this week : esta semana (ehs-TAH seh-MAH-nah)
 * last week : a semana pasada (ah seh-MAH-nah pah-SAH-dah)
 * next week : a vindeira/próxima semana (ah been-DAY-rah/PROHK-see-mah seh-MAH-nah )

 * Sunday : Domingo (doh-MEEN-goh)
 * Monday : Luns (loons)
 * Tuesday : Martes (MAHR-tehs)
 * Wednesday : Mércores (MEHR-koh-rehs)
 * Thursday : Xoves (SHOH-behs)
 * Friday : Venres (BEHN-rehs)
 * Saturday : Sábado (SAH-bah-doh)

Months

 * January : Xaneiro (shah-NAY-roh)
 * February : Febreiro (feh-BRAY-roh)
 * March : Marzo (MAHR-soh)
 * April : Abril (AH-breel)
 * May : Maio (mah-EE-oh)
 * June : Xuño (SHOO-nyoh)
 * July : Xullo (SHOO-lyoh)
 * August : Agosto (ah-GOHS-toh)
 * September : Setembro (seh-TEHM-broh)
 * October : Outubro (ow-TOO-broh)
 * November : Novembro (noh-BEHM-broh)
 * December : Decembro (deh-ThEHM-broh)

Writing time and date
June 13th of 2004: trece (13) de xuño de 2004

Colors

 * black : negro (NEH-groh)
 * white : branco (BRAHN-koh)
 * gray : gris (grees)
 * red : vermello (behr-MEH-lyoh)
 * blue : azul (AH-sool)
 * yellow : amarelo (ah-mah-REH-loh)
 * green : verde (BEHR-deh)
 * orange : laranxa (lah-RAHN-shah)
 * purple : morado (moh-RAH-doh)
 * brown : marrón/castaño (mahr-ROHN/kahs-TAH-nyoh)
 * pink : rosa (ROH-sah)

Transportation

 * car : coche (KOH-cheh)
 * taxi : taxi (TAHK-see)
 * bus : autobús (ow-toh-BOOS)
 * van : furgón (FOOR-gohn)
 * truck : camión (kah-MYOHN)
 * trolley : cesta (SEHS-tah)
 * tram : eléctrico (eh-LEHK-tree-koh)
 * train : tren (trehn)
 * subway : metro (MEH-troh)
 * ship : buque (BOO-keh)
 * boat : barco (BAHR-koh)
 * helicopter : helicóptero (eh-lee-KOHP-teh-roh)
 * airplane : avión (ah-BYOHN)
 * airline : compañía aérea (kohm-pah-NYAH ah-EH-reh-ah)
 * bicycle : bicicleta (bee-thee-KLEH-tah)
 * motorcycle : motocicleta (moh-toh-thee-KLEH-tah)
 * carriage : transporte (trahs-POHR-teh)

Bus and train

 * How much is a ticket to_____? : Canto custa o billete para_____? (KAHN-toh KOOS-tah oh bee-LYEH-teh PAH-rah____?)
 * A single ticket to _____, please. : Un billete só de ida para_____, por favor. (oon bee-LYEH-teh SOH deh EE-dah PAH-rah_____, pohr FAH-bohr)
 * A return ticket to_____, please. : Un billete de ida e volta para____, por favor. (oon bee-LYEH-teh deh EE-dah eh BOHL-tah PAH-rah_____, pohr FAH-bohr)
 * Where does this train/bus go? : Para onde vai este tren/autobús? (Pah-rah OHN-deh bai EHS-teh trehn/ow-toh-BOOS?)
 * Where is the train/bus to_____? : Onde está o tren/autobús que vai para_____? (OHN-deh ehs-TAH oo trehn/ow-toh-BOOS keh bai PAH-rah_____?)
 * Does this train/bus stop in_____? : Este tren/autobús para en_____? (EHS-teh trehn/ow-toh-BOOS PAH-rah ehn_____?)
 * When does the train/bus for_____ leave? : Cando marcha o tren/autobús que vai para_____? (KAHN-doh MAHR-chah oh trehn/ow-toh-BOOS keh vai PAH-rah____?)
 * When will this train/bus arrive in_____? : Cando chega este tren/autobús a_____? (KAHN-doh CHEH-gah EHS-teh trehn/ow-toh-BOOS ah____?)

Directions

 * How do I get to _____ ? : Como vou a _____ ? (KOH-moh BOH-oo ah____?)
 * ...the train station? : ...á estación de tren? (AH ehs-tah-THYOHN deh trehn?)
 * ...the bus station? : ...á estación de autobuses? (AH ehs-tah-THYOHN deh ow-toh-BOO-sehs?)
 * ...the airport? : ...ó / ao aeroporto? (OH / AH-oh ah-eh-ROH-pohr-toh)
 * ...downtown? : ...ó / ao centro? (OH / AH-oh THEHN-troh)
 * ...the youth hostel? : ...ó / ao albergue da xuventude? (OH / AH-oh ahl-BEHR-geh dah zhoo-VEHN-tood)
 * ...the _____ hotel? : ...ó / ao hotel _____? (OH / AH-oh OH-tehl_____?)
 * ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : ...ó / ao consulado dos Estados Unidos/de Canadá/de Australia/do Reino Unido? (OH / AH-oh konh-soo-LAH-doh dohs ehs-TAH-dohs oo-NEE-dohs/deh kah-nah-DAH/deh ows-TRAH-lyah/doh RAY-noh oo-NEE-doh?)
 * Where are there a lot of... : Onde hai moitos... (OHN-deh ai MOY-tohs...)
 * ...hotels? : ...hoteis? (oh-TAYS?)
 * ...restaurants? : ...restaurantes? (rehs-tow-RAHN-tehs)
 * ...bars? : ...bares? (BAH-rehs)
 * ...sites to see? : ...sitios para visitar? (SEE-tyohs PAH-rah bee-SEE-tahr)
 * Can you show me on the map? : Pódesme sinalar no mapa? (POH-dehs-meh see-NAH-lahr noh MAH-pah?)
 * street : rúa (ROO-ah)
 * Turn left. : Vire á esquerda / Xire á esquerda. (BEE-reh AH ehs-KEHR-dah / SHEE-reh AH ehs-KEHR-dah)
 * Turn right. : Vire á dereita / Xire á dereita. (BEE-reh AH deh-RAY-tah / SHEE-reh AH deh-RAY-tah)
 * left : esquerda (ehs-KEHR-dah)
 * right : dereita (deh-RAY-tah)
 * straight ahead : recto (REHK-toh)
 * towards the _____ : cara a _____ (KAH-rah ah)
 * past the _____ : despois de _____ (dehs-POYS deh)
 * before the _____ : antes de _____ (ahn-TEHS deh)
 * Watch for the _____. : Vixía o/a/os/as _____. (vee-ZHYAH oh/ah/ohs/ahs____)
 * intersection : intersección (een-tehr-sehk-THYOHN)
 * north : norte (NOHR-teh)
 * south : sur (soor)
 * east : leste (LEHS-teh)
 * west : oeste (oh-EHS-teh)
 * uphill : costa arriba (KOHS-tah ah-RREE-bah)
 * downhill : costa abaixo (KOHS-tah ah-BAI-shoh)

Taxi

 * Taxi! : Taxi! (TAHK-see!)
 * Take me to _____, please. : Léveme a _____, por favor. (LEH-beh-meh ah_____, pohr FAH-bohr)
 * How much does it cost to get to _____? : Canto custa chegar a _____? (KAHN-toh KOOS-tah CHEH-gahr ah____?)
 * Take me there, please. : Léveme alá, por favor. (LEH-beh-meh ah-LAH, pohr FAH-bohr)

Lodging

 * Do you have any rooms available? : Ten algún cuarto dispoñible? (tehn ahl-GOON KWAHR-toh dees-POH-nyee-bleh?)
 * How much is a room for one person/two people? : Canto custa un cuarto para unha/dúas persoa/persoas? (KAHN-toh KOOS-tah oon KWAHR-toh PAH-rah OON-gah/DOO-ahs pehr-SOH-ah/pehr-SOH-ahs?)
 * Does the room come with...? : O cuarto ten...? (oh KWAHR-toh tehn___?)
 * ...a bathroom? : ...baño? (BAH-nyoh)
 * ...a telephone? : ...teléfono? (teh-LEH-foh-noh?)
 * ...a TV? : ...televisión? (teh-leh-bee-THYOHN?)
 * May I see the room first? : Podo ver o cuarto primeiro? (POH-doh behr oh KWAHR-toh pree-MAY-roh?)
 * Do you have anything quieter? : Ten algo máis silencioso? (tehn AHL-goh MAH-ees see-lehn-THYOH-soh?)
 * ...bigger? : ...máis grande? (MAH-ees GRAHN-deh?)
 * ...cleaner? : ...máis limpo? (MAH-ees LEEM-poh?)
 * ...cheaper? : ...máis barato? (MAH-ees bah-RAH-toh?)
 * OK, I'll take it. : De acordo, quedo con ela. (deh ah-KOHR-doh, KEH-doh kohn EH-lah)
 * I will stay for _____ night(s). : Vou quedar _____ noite(s). (VOH-oo KEH-dahr_____NOY-teh(s))
 * Can you suggest another hotel? : Pódeme suxerir outro hotel? (POH-deh-meh soo-SHEH-reer oh-OO-troh OH-tehl?)
 * Do you have a safe lockers? : Ten caixa de seguridade? (tehn KAI-shah deh seh-goo-REE-dah-deh?)
 * Is breakfast/supper included? : O almorzo está incluído? (oh ahl-MOHR-thoh ehs-TAH een-kloo-EE-doh?) / A cea está incluída? (ah theah ehs-TAH een-kloo-EE-dah?)
 * What time is breakfast/supper? : Cando se almorza/cea? (KAHN-doh seh ahl-MOHR-thah/THEH-ah)
 * Please clean my room. : Por favor, limpe o meu cuarto. (pohr FAH-bohr, LEEM-peh oh MEH-oo KWAHR-toh)
 * Can you wake me at _____? : Pódeme espertar ás _____? (POH-deh-meh ehs-PEHR-tahr AHS___?)
 * I want to check out. : Vou marchar. (BOH-oo MAHR-chahr)

Eating

 * A table for one person/two people, please. : Unha mesa para unha persoa/dúas persoas, por favor. (OON-gah MEH-sah PAH-rah OON-gah pehr-SOH-ah/DOO-ahs pehr-SOH-ahs, pohr FAH-bohr)
 * Can I look at the menu, please? : Podo ver a carta / o menú, por favor? (POH-doh behr ah KAHR-tah/oh meh-NOO, pohr FAH-bohr?)
 * Can I look in the kitchen? : Podo ver a cociña? (POH-doh behr ah koh-THEE-nyah?)
 * Is there a house specialty? : Teñen algunha especialidade da casa? (TEH-nyehn ahl-GOO-nyah ehs-peh-thyah-LEE-dah-deh dah KAH-sah?)
 * Is there a local specialty? : Teñen algún prato típico do país? (TEH-nyehn ahl-GOON PRAH-toh TEE-pee-koh doh pah-EES?)
 * I'm a vegetarian. : Son vexetariano. (sohn veh-sheh-TAH-ryah-noh)
 * I don't eat pork. : Non como porco. (nohn KOH-moh POHR-koh)
 * I don't eat beef. : Non como carne de vaca. (nohn KOH-moh KAHR-neh deh BAH-kah)
 * I only eat kosher food. : Só como comida kosher. (SOH KOH-moh koh-MEE-dah KOH-shehr)
 * Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) : Pódemo facer máis lixeiro? (POH-deh-moh FAH-thehr MAIS lee-SHEI-roh?) (con menos aceite/manteiga/graxa)
 * fixed-price meal : menú do día (meh-NOO doh DYAH)
 * à la carte : á carta (AH KAHR-tah)
 * breakfast : almorzo (ahl-MOHR-soh)
 * lunch : xantar (SHAHN-tahr)
 * tea (meal) : merenda (meh-REHN-dah)
 * supper : cea (THEA)
 * I want _____. : Quero _____. (KEH-roh)
 * I want a dish containing _____. : Quero un prato que teña _____. (KEH-roh oon PRAH-toh keh TEH-nyah______)
 * chicken : polo (POH-loh)
 * beef : carne de vaca (KAHR-neh de BAH-kah)
 * fish : peixe (PAY-sheh)
 * ham : xamón (shah-MOHN)
 * sausages : embutidos (ehm-boo-TEE-dohs)
 * cheese : queixo (KAY-shoh)
 * eggs : ovos (OH-bohs)
 * salad : ensalada (ehn-sah-LAH-dah)
 * (fresh) vegetables : vexetais (frescos) (beh-SHEH-tais (FREHS-kohs))
 * (fresh) fruit : froita (fresca) (FROY-tah (FREHS-kah))
 * bread : pan (pahn)
 * toast : torrada/tosta (tohr-RAH-dah/TOHS-tah)
 * noodles : fideos (FEE-deh-ohs)
 * rice : arroz (AH-rrohz)
 * beans : fabas/feixóns (FAH-bahs/fay-SHOHNS)
 * May I have a glass of _____? : Pódeme traer un vaso de _____? (POH-deh-meh TRAH-ehr oon BAH-soh deh_____?)
 * May I have a cup of _____? : Pódeme traer unha cunca de _____? (POH-deh-meh TRAH-ehr OO-nyah KOON-kah deh_____?)
 * May I have a bottle of _____? : Pódeme traer unha botella de _____? (POH-deh-meh TRAH-ehr OO-nyah boh-TEH-lyah deh_______?)
 * coffee : café (kah-FEH)
 * tea (drink) : té (TEH)
 * juice : zume (SOO-moh)
 * (bubbly) water : auga con gas (OW-gah kohn gahs)
 * water : auga (OW-gah)
 * beer : cervexa (sehr-BEH-shah)
 * red/white wine : viño tinto/branco (BEE-nyoh TEEN-toh/BRAHN-koh)
 * May I have some _____? : Pódeme traer un pouco de _____? (POH-deh-meh TRAH-ehr oon poh-OO-koh deh____?)
 * salt : sal (SAHL)
 * black pepper : pementa negra (peh-MEHN-tah NEH-grah)
 * butter : manteiga (mahn-TAY-gah)
 * Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): Desculpe, camareiro? (dehs-KOOL-peh, cah-mah-RAY-roh?)
 * I'm finished. : Xa rematei. (shah reh-MAH-tay)
 * It was delicious. : Estivo moi bo. (ehs-TEE-boh moy boh)
 * Please clear the plates. : Pode levar os pratos. (POH-deh LEH-vahr ohs PRAH-tohs)
 * The check, please. : A conta, por favor. (ah KOHN-tah, pohr FAH-bohr)

Money

 * Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : Aceptan dólares americanos/australianos/canadenses? (ahk-THEHP-tahn DOH-lah-rehs ah-meh-REE-kah-nohs/ows-trah-LYAH-nohs/kah-nah-DEHN-sehs?)
 * Do you accept British pounds? : Aceptan libras esterlinas? (ahk-THEHP-tahn LEE-brahs ehs-tehr-LEE-nahs?)
 * Do you accept credit cards? : Aceptan tarxetas de crédito? (ahk-THEHP-tahn tahr-SHEH-tahs deh KREH-dee-toh?)
 * Can you change money for me? : Pode cambiarme/trocarme cartos/diñeiro? (POH-deh kahm-BYAHR-meh/troh-KAHR-meh KAHR-tohs/dee-NAY-roh?)
 * Where can I get money changed? : Onde podo cambiar/trocar cartos/diñeiro? (OHN-deh POH-doh KAHM-byahr/TROH-kahr KAHR-tohs/dee-NAY-roh?)
 * Can you change a traveler's check for me? : Pode cambiarme/trocarme cheques de viaxe? (POH-deh kahm-BYAHR-meh/troh-KAHR-meh CHEH-kehs deh BYAH-sheh?)
 * Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : Onde podo cambiar/trocar cheques de viaxe? (OHN-deh POH-doh KAHM-byahr/TROH-kahr CHEH-kehs deh BYAH-sheh?)
 * What is the exchange rate? : Canto é a taxa de cambio? (KAHN-toh EH ah TAH-shah deh KAHM-byoh?)
 * Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : Onde hai un caixeiro automático? (OHN-deh eye oon kai-SHEI-roh ow-toh-MAH-tee-koh?)

Shopping

 * Do you have this in my size? : Ten isto na miña talla? (tehn EES-toh nah MEE-nyah TAH-lyah?)
 * How much is this? : Canto custa isto? (KAHN-toh KOOS-tah EES-toh?)
 * That's too expensive. : É demasiado caro. (EH deh-mah-SYAH-doh KAH-roh)
 * Would you take _____? : Doulle _____ (DWOH-lyeh) (lit. "I give you ____")
 * expensive : caro (KAH-roh)
 * cheap : barato (bah-RAH-toh)
 * I can't afford it. : Non o podo pagar. (nohn oh POH-doh PAH-gahr)
 * I don't want it. : Non o quero. (nohn oh KEH-roh)
 * You're cheating me. : Estame enganando. (ehs-TAH-meh ehn-gah-NAHN-doh)
 * I'm not interested. : Non estou interesado. (nohn EHS-tow een-teh-reh-SAH-doh)
 * OK, I'll take it. : De acordo, lévoo. (...)
 * Can I have a bag? : Pódeme dar unha bolsa? (...)
 * Do you ship (overseas)? : Fan envíos (ó/ao estranxeiro)? (...)
 * I need... : Necesito... (...)
 * ...brush. : ...un cepillo. (...)
 * ...comb. : ...un peite. (...)
 * ...toothpaste. : ...pasta de dentes. (...)
 * ...a toothbrush. : ...un cepillo de dentes. (...)
 * ...feminine napkins. : ...compresas. (...)
 * ...tampons. : ...tampóns. (...)
 * ...soap. : ...xabón. (...)
 * ...shampoo. : ...xampú. (...)
 * ...deodorant. : ...desodorante. (...)
 * ...perfume. : ...perfume. (...)
 * ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : ...unha aspirina. (...)
 * ...cold medicine. : ...un medicamento para o constipado/arrefriado/catarro. (...)
 * ...shaving cream. : ...crema de afeitar. (...)
 * ...stomach medicine. : ....un medicamento para o estómago (...)
 * ...a razor. : ...unha folla de afeitar/navalla. (...)
 * ...an umbrella. : ...un paraugas. (...)
 * ...sunblock lotion. : ...protector solar. (...)
 * ...a postcard. : ...unha postal. (OOHN-gah POHS-tahl)
 * ...postage stamps. : ...selos. (SEH-lohs)
 * ...batteries. : ...pilas. (PEE-lahs)
 * ...writing paper. : ...papel para escribir. (PAH-pehl PAH-rah ehs-KREE-beer)
 * ...a pencil. : ...un lapis. (oon LAH-pees)
 * ...a pen. : ...un bolígrafo. (oon boh-LEE-grah-foh)
 * ...English-language books. : .. libros en inglés. (LEE-brohs ehn een-GLEHS)
 * ...English-language magazines. : ...revistas en inglés. (reh-BEES-tahs ehn een-GLEHS)
 * ...an English-language newspaper. : ...un xornal en inglés. (oon SHOHR-nahl een-GLEHS)
 * ...an English-Galician dictionary. : ...un dicionario inglés-galego. (oon deek-THYOH-nah-ryoh een-GLEHS-gah-LEH-goh)

Driving

 * I want to rent a car. : Quero alugar un coche. (...)
 * Can I get insurance? : Podo facer un seguro? (...)
 * stop (on a street sign) : stop (...)
 * one way : sentido único (...)
 * yield/Give Way : ceda o paso (...)
 * no parking : prohibido aparcar/prohibido estacionar (...)
 * speed limit : límite de velocidade/velocidade máxima (...)
 * gas (petrol) station : gasolineira/estación de servizo (...)
 * petrol : gasolina (...)
 * diesel : gasóleo/diésel (...)

Authority

 * It's his/her fault! : A culpa é del/dela! (...)
 * Its not what its seems. : Non é o que parece. (...)
 * I can explain it all. : Pódollo explicar todo. (...)
 * I haven't done anything wrong. : Eu non fixen nada. (...)
 * I swear I didn't do it Mr. Officer. : Xúrolle que non fun eu, axente. (...)
 * It was a misunderstanding. : Foi un malentendido. (...)
 * Where are you taking me? : Onde me leva? (...)
 * Am I under arrest? : Estou detido? (...)
 * I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : Son cidadán estadounidense/australiano/británico/canadense. (...)
 * I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy. : Quero falar coa embaixada estadounidense/australiana/británica/canadense. (...)
 * I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian consulate. : Quero falar co consulado estadounidense/australiano/británico/canadense. (...)
 * I want to talk to a lawyer. : Quero falar cun avogado. (...)
 * Can I just pay a fine now? : Podo pagar unha multa agora mesmo? (...)

title: Galician phrasebook


text:
Galion (Ohio)

Galion is a city in Crawford County, Ohio

North of the town is the village of Crestline.

By car
U.S. Route 30, Galion can be accessed by U.S. Route 30 which provides access to Ontario, Mansfield, Interstate 71, Wooster and Canton to the east and Bucyrus, Upper Sandusky, Interstate 75, Lima and Fort Wayne to the west.

Ohio State Route 19 goes through the city of Galion. It provides access to Bucyrus, Tiffin, Fremont and Oak Harbor to the northwest/north and Williamsport to the south.

Ohio State Route 61 goes through the city of Galion. It provides access to Mount Gilead, Interstate 71 and Sunbury to the south and U.S. Route 30, Crestline, Shelby, Plymouth and Norwalk to the north.

Ohio State Route 61 and Ohio State Route 309 run concurrently through the city of Galion.

Ohio State Route 97 starts out at the signalized intersection of Ohio State Route 309, Ohio State Route 61 and Ohio State Route 19 in the city of Galion. Ohio State Route 97 and Ohio State Route 19 head concurrently to the east for about 0.7 miles (1.126 km). The concurrency ends at a T signalized intersection, when Ohio State Route 19 turns towards the south and Ohio State Route 97 continues towards the east/southeast to Lexington, Interstate 71, Bellville, Butler and Loudonville.

Ohio State Route 309 goes through the city of Galion. It provides access to Ontario and Mansfield to the east and Marion, Kenton and Lima to the west.

Note that Ohio State Route 309 and Ohio State Route 61 run concurrently through the city of Galion.

Ohio State Route 598 starts out at the signalized intersection of Ohio State Route 309, Ohio State Route 61, and Ohio State Route 19 in the city of Galion. It provides access to U.S. Route 30, Shelby and Willard to the north.

See

Buy
Auto and truck parts: Crawford County has been nationally known for its automobile, truck wrecking and salvage yards. Visitors come from far and wide in search of parts for their vehicles. Thousands of vehicles of many makes and models are picked clean to the bone before being recycled into new metals.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Galion (Ohio)


text:
Galkacyo

Galkacyo is a sizeable city in Central Somalia, and remains one of the most developed cities in the region. Puntland fully controls Garsoor and Israac, and parts of Horumar (other parts of the Horumar are neutral areas and sited by the main Galkayo market and the loose boundary between Puntland and Galmudug), while Galmudug fully controls wadajir to the south.

Understand
The city has a north/south divide and a small airport, which has been the centre of controversy for many years. During the time of the Italian occupation, the city was referred to as Gallacaio, and later as Rocca Littorio.

Galkacyo is also home to several media outlets. These include Radio Gaalkacyo (formerly Radio Free Somalia), which is affiliated with the Puntland government and with the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF), as well as Radio Codka Nabadda, Radio Daljir, Radio Hikma and Radio Codka Mudug, the latter of which is affiliated with the Galmudug sub-region and the former United Somali Congress (USC).

Districts: Galkacyo consists of the following districts:
 * Wadajir
 * Garsoor
 * Horumar
 * Israac
 * New Garsoor

Get in

Galkacyo is served by domestic flights from Mogadishu by Jubba Airways.

Go next

 * Garowe
 * Bosaso

title: Galkacyo


text:
Galle

Galle is in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Galle's old town with its fortifications have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Get in
From Colombo you can take the train in the direction Mirissa or bus. Both travel along the coastline and have beautiful views.

There are 2 options for bus transport between Colombo and the main bus station in Galle: private a/c minibus and luxury Southern Expressway bus.

Trains travel several times every day and can be crowded:

From Ella/Badulla:

There is one public bus in the morning from Badulla at 6:30AM and Ella around 7AM to Galle. From Badulla the ticket costs Rs 346 (as of May 2018).

Get around
Tuk Tuk or on foot is your best bet if you are traveling in Galle or close by. The Old Town of Galle and its fortifications are within walking distance from the central bus station, so it's better to walk rather than to take a tuk-tuk.

The bus is an easy and cheap way to get to Matara, Unawatuna or Hikkaduwa from Galle.

Do

 * Walk around the ramparts of Galle Fort, wander the streets inside the fort shopping for gems and antiques
 * Visit one of the turtle hatcheries along the coast
 * If you're staying in the Fort get a bit of brisk exercise by walking around the ramparts first thing in the morning, as a lot of the locals do. The evenings are lovely too.
 * If you're staying in the Fort get a bit of brisk exercise by walking around the ramparts first thing in the morning, as a lot of the locals do. The evenings are lovely too.
 * If you're staying in the Fort get a bit of brisk exercise by walking around the ramparts first thing in the morning, as a lot of the locals do. The evenings are lovely too.
 * If you're staying in the Fort get a bit of brisk exercise by walking around the ramparts first thing in the morning, as a lot of the locals do. The evenings are lovely too.
 * If you're staying in the Fort get a bit of brisk exercise by walking around the ramparts first thing in the morning, as a lot of the locals do. The evenings are lovely too.

Others
You will find the best tourist shopping inside the Fort. But you will need to go into town if you want fresh fruits and veggies or clothing
 * There is a good gift shop on Pedlar Street called Shoba - it is opposite the Peddlar's Inn and stocks a large range of handmade goods which are direct from the craftsman/women who have made them. It is a good alternative to the large retail chain "Barefoot" which you will find is often crowded with tourists. The owner is very nice and will stop and chat to you about the very interesting history of Galle if you are willing to listen. Their website says that they offer traditional craft courses (Dec 2012).
 * There is a good gift shop on Pedlar Street called Shoba - it is opposite the Peddlar's Inn and stocks a large range of handmade goods which are direct from the craftsman/women who have made them. It is a good alternative to the large retail chain "Barefoot" which you will find is often crowded with tourists. The owner is very nice and will stop and chat to you about the very interesting history of Galle if you are willing to listen. Their website says that they offer traditional craft courses (Dec 2012).

Sleep
Galle has quite a few small boutique hotels, budget hotels and hostels and more seem to be cropping up after the tsunami. Within the Galle Fort there is Amangalla (within the renovated Oriental Hotel) and the Galle Fort Hotel. On the outskirts of Galle there is the Sun House.

On the road into Galle from Colombo there is the Lighthouse Resort designed by Bawa, famous architect.

Splurge

Go next

 * Unawatuna 5 km to the southeast on Route A2. A beautiful beach - take a swim; enjoy the best eating places. Buses run every 10–15 minutes in both directions, cost Rs 20, take 10–15 minutes. Can be very crowded and play loud music. Tuk-tuks ask for Rs 400–500, can usually be bargained down to Rs 250–300.
 * Matara, end of railway line from Colombo, approximately 50 km south following the coastline.
 * Mirissa the tourist-friendly beachside town is easily reached by train, bus or tuk-tuk
 * Hikkaduwa 20 km north following the coast
 * Madu River, 40 km north following the coast across the Balapitiya area, Take a boat tour. This extraordinary estuary with a cluster of 64 small islands scattered along its impressive breadth, most of which are covered with mangroves and uninhabited, and is also a haven for crocodiles.
 * Kanneliya Forest Reserve — (Galle district). The waterfall “Naranga Ella” is one of the highlights. There is a safe place for bathing in Nannikitha also close to the entry to the Forest Reserve. There is a nature trial to Kabbale Kanda Mountain.
 * Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage — is home to the biggest captive herd of elephants in the world. - Bathing times (10AM and 2PM) are a particular treat, as the elephants are led down to the nearby river.
 * Sinharaja Forest Reserve — (districts of Ratnapura, Matara and Galle) is one of the least disturbed and biologically unique lowland rainforest in Sri Lanka. A World Heritage Site since 1989.
 * Yala National Park — (141 km away) is open to the public, and is mostly made up of parkland and scrub jungle but also contains beaches, lagoons, freshwater lakes, rivers, enormous rocky outcrops and dense jungle.
 * Ratnapura — Udawalawe National Park near Ratnapura is an area just over 308 km2 and consists of dry lowland forest, thorny scrub jungle and grassland; several areas of the park have been planted with teak. One of its main attractions is the majestic Udawalawa Reservoir. There are also several large herds of Asian elephants, and species of large animals such as deer and buffalo.

title: Galle


text:
Gallipolis

Gallipolis is a village of 3,600 people (2019) in Gallia County, in Southeast Ohio. It is just across the Ohio River from Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

The name Gallipolis is from the French for "city of the Gauls" because it was settled by a group of French pioneers known as the "French 500". Most of the French 500 died within a couple years due to their lack of preparedness for life on the frontier, but the city has endured.

By car
Gallipolis is connected by US-35.

Go next

 * Chillicothe
 * Charleston

title: Gallipolis


text:
Gallup

Gallup is an important gateway to the Navajo Nation and other nearby attractions in the state of New Mexico. Gallup has numerous trading posts and Indian-themed gift shops, and an abundance of natural scenery surrounding town. In 2020, it was home to 22,000 people.

Get in

 * Gallup is on Interstate 40, which at this point follows the route of historic Route 66. It is about two hours from Albuquerque.  This stretch of road, however, is seemingly under nearly constant construction, and you may have some unexpected driving delays.  Dust storms and wind-driven blizzards can also create delays, particularly between Gallup and Grants.
 * The nearest major airport is in Albuquerque.
 * Amtrak's Southwest Chief, the main Amtrak train line across the Southwest, has a station in Gallup. The westbound train arrives at 7:08PM and the eastbound train arrives at 8:51AM. This stop has no ticket office and no Quik-Trak ticket machine so tickets must be purchased at another station or on-line.

Get around

By bus
Gallup express. Bus fare is $1. Buses run every hour between 6AM and 6PM. The main transfer stop for the buses is at East Aztec and South 2nd street, a few blocks southwest of the Amtrak Station. The most useful route is route 1. Route 1 runs between downtown to some hotels next to Rio West Mall.

Buy

Gallup has a lot of jewelry stores and crafts stores.

Eat
Gallupian cuisine is a mix of traditional New Mexican food and Native American food. It is generally very spicy.

Stay safe
While Gallup is a small city (pop 21000), there are severe problems with violent crime (nearly five times the national average), widespread alcoholism, poverty (severe among the native population, which represents 44% of the city, although mine closures have hurt the city as a whole) and homelessness. What little money is available goes all too often to feed the blight of numerous liquor stores, usurious payday loans and pawn shops which infest the main street. Expect to be harassed by aggressive panhandlers and intoxicated persons, especially at night.

Go next

 * Although Gallup is in a desert, there are high mountain peaks and pristine alpine forests within an hour's drive of town. Notables include Mount Taylor (11,301 feet) and the Zuni Mountains.
 * Navajo Nation occupies most of the space north and west of town to the state line, with various points of interest.
 * Chaco Culture National Historical Park and El Malpais National Monument are United States national parks and monuments within easy driving distance of Gallup, about an hour north and east, respectively. A tip: If you're going to Chaco, do not approach from the southwest (NM 371 to NM 9 directly to NM 57) unless you have 4-wheel drive; this road has several hairy spots, and you're a long way from help if you get stuck.  Instead take 371 to 9 and around to the much more civilized approach from the east side.  It's 20 miles longer, but much less likely to be impassable.

title: Gallup


text:
Galmudug

Galmudug is in the central region of Somalia.

Cities

 * — Capital of Mudug and home of the ex President of Somalia.

By plane
Galkacyo International Airport. There are several flights from Dubai, Djibouti, Nairobi, Mogadishu, Bosaso, Burao and Hargeisa. The companies that operate weekly flights to Galkacyo are: Jubba Airways from Dubai, Daalo Airlines from Djibouti and African Airways from Nairobi.

By road
Somalia main Highway N° 1 passes through the city of Galkacyo, which links the northern with the southern parts of the country. There are also provincial roads that link Galkacyo with towns such as Hobyo, Bandiradley, EelGula, Wisil, and Afbarwaqo in the Golol region.

Drink
Goat milk Every morning you can have a cup of cinnamon/cardomon tea with fresh goat milk.

Camel milk : Caano Geelong . Every day the camel caravans from the surrounding nomadic villages bring fresh camel milk. Refrigerated camel milk can remain fresh (dhay) for a week; otherwise, it becomes sour (caano garoor).

Rain water and mineral water People in the region have learned how to harvest potable rain water, it is very pure and delicious. Different mineral waters from Mogadishu, Puntland and the UAE are also available.

Fruit juice At many local tea shops, stands and kiosks one can find freshly squeezed juice drinks: mango, papaya, watermelon, pineapple and grapefruit.

Soft drinks Bottled soft drinks from the Coca Cola company in Mogadishu are available.

title: Galmudug


text:
Galt

There is more than one place called Galt:

Canada

 * Galt is one of multiple municipalities which were combined to form Cambridge (Ontario).

United States of America

 * Galt (California) - a city in Sacramento County in California.

title: Galt


text:
Galveston

Galveston is a city on Galveston Island, off the Texas Gulf Coast, approximately 45 minutes southeast of Houston. Galveston is a port of entry and a destination for almost all the cruise ships with ports of call in Texas. Many Houstonians have beach houses in Galveston or elsewhere in Galveston County where they sometimes relocate during the summer, or simply drive to Galveston to enjoy the local beach. This article also covers Port Bolivar, which is just to the northeast, an 18-minute ferry ride away.

Understand
Galveston is a beach resort town in the Houston area. Every summer and spring break, Houstonians crowd the beaches of Galveston as well as tourists from all over the United States (notably the South). Other than beaches, Galveston also has many attractions such as a pleasure pier, the Schlitterbahn water park, and Moody Gardens (a resort complex). Galveston is home to East Beach which is known for being a "party beach". Many famous artists perform occasionally and special events take place. People looking for a good time crowd East Beach. Galveston also has many nightclubs. For people looking for family fun in the sun, Stewart Beach is the premier family beach in the Houston area. Volleyball tournaments and sandcastle competitions take place on Stewart Beach. Apart from sunbathing and clubbing, Galveston is also home to a wide range of shopping. Seawall Boulevard has many shops for beachgoers such as surf shops, sunglasses, sim wear, sunscreen, and souvenir shops as well as boutiques, clothing stores, and so on. Dining is also a big deal on the island, as Galveston is known for having some of the freshest seafood. There are also many burger shops and restaurants of all kind. Many restaurants are located on the beach.

Named after Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid, Count of Gálvez and taken over by privateer Jean Lafitte for a while as his personal-like fiefdom around 1820, Galveston was controlled by the Confederacy but then in a twist of fate became a sort of freedman's refuge after the Civil War, as it prospered in becoming Texas' great cotton port. Then the great hurricane of 1900 hit, obliterating the barrier island and taking much of the city and some 6000 lives with it. A seawall was built along the extent of the city and the city became a mecca for hedonistic activities like gambling, but it never regained its premier port status, in part because of the development of the Houston Ship Channel further inland. However it holds its place among Gulf tourist destinations today and is a major cruise embarkation point.

 * Climate - Semi-tropical; averaging in the winter months and  in the summer months.

By plane

 * George Bush Intercontinental Airport Also in Houston, and dominated by United Airlines. Take US Route 59 south into downtown Houston and exit into Interstate 45 south; you will pass by Hobby Airport en route. Allow at least 90 minutes to drive from IAH to Galveston, probably more during rush hour. IAH asks returning passengers to arrive 2 hours before check-in.
 * George Bush Intercontinental Airport Also in Houston, and dominated by United Airlines. Take US Route 59 south into downtown Houston and exit into Interstate 45 south; you will pass by Hobby Airport en route. Allow at least 90 minutes to drive from IAH to Galveston, probably more during rush hour. IAH asks returning passengers to arrive 2 hours before check-in.
 * George Bush Intercontinental Airport Also in Houston, and dominated by United Airlines. Take US Route 59 south into downtown Houston and exit into Interstate 45 south; you will pass by Hobby Airport en route. Allow at least 90 minutes to drive from IAH to Galveston, probably more during rush hour. IAH asks returning passengers to arrive 2 hours before check-in.

By car

 * I-45 South is the easiest route from Houston to Galveston Island. The freeway becomes Broadway St. on the island.
 * The San Luis Pass-Vacek Toll Bridge offers access to Galveston Island from Surfside Beach along State Highway 87. State Highway 288 connects the Greater Houston area to this route.

By boat

 * The Bolivar Peninsula - Galveston Island Ferry is a free vehicle ferry that regularly runs between Port Bolivar - located on mainland east of Galveston - and the island. For travel between New Orleans and Galveston, the ferry can save 30-40 minutes by avoiding Houston. The ferry is run on a first-come first-served basis, and there are often moderate waits during rush hour, and very long waits (on the order of 2-3 hours) on major holidays. Weekend evening waits also tend to be long. The trip is normally 18 minutes long, plus 9 minutes for loading. The addresses for the ferry are 123 State Highway 87 in Port Bolivar and 1000 North Ferry Road in Galveston.

By train
The national railroad operator Amtrak provides a Thruway bus service from Longview, connecting with its Texas Eagle. This train runs daily between Chicago and San Antonio, with through cars to and from Los Angeles three times per week. Additionally, the Sunset Limited, running three times per week between New Orleans and Los Angeles calls in nearby Houston. The bus stop is at 123 Rosenberg Street, next to the city's transit center.

Amtrak operates a daily shuttle between the Transit Station at 902 Washington Ave, but it only allows passengers who have arrived by their trains.

By shuttle
Several connections from IAH and HOU airports, through Galveston Express, Galveston Shuttle and Galveston Limousine.

Get around
The island is small enough that walking can take you most places, although it is not recommended in all neighborhoods, particularly outside the historic district, the Strand, and the Harborside district.

Seawall Blvd. is one of the busiest parts of Galveston, especially during the summer. Since Galveston streets are in a grid it is easy to find a less-busy parallel street to travel on, but watch out for unexpected one-way streets.

Metered street parking is available throughout the city, so bring change. The city operates a replica streetcar service, which operates in the historic district and parts of Seawall Blvd. Pedal cars are also available to rent from various vendors for use along the Seawall and the Strand. Island Transit offers limited bus service for the city.

Get taxi information or order a cab through Jeff's Cab & Shuttle Service at +1 409-621-5333.

See

 * Statues are part of the Galveston landscape. Look out for ones such as the Texas Heroes Monument at 25th and Broadway and the 1900 hurricane Place of Remembrance and Pink Dolphin tribute to minority people statues along the Seawall.
 * Statues are part of the Galveston landscape. Look out for ones such as the Texas Heroes Monument at 25th and Broadway and the 1900 hurricane Place of Remembrance and Pink Dolphin tribute to minority people statues along the Seawall.
 * Statues are part of the Galveston landscape. Look out for ones such as the Texas Heroes Monument at 25th and Broadway and the 1900 hurricane Place of Remembrance and Pink Dolphin tribute to minority people statues along the Seawall.
 * Statues are part of the Galveston landscape. Look out for ones such as the Texas Heroes Monument at 25th and Broadway and the 1900 hurricane Place of Remembrance and Pink Dolphin tribute to minority people statues along the Seawall.
 * Statues are part of the Galveston landscape. Look out for ones such as the Texas Heroes Monument at 25th and Broadway and the 1900 hurricane Place of Remembrance and Pink Dolphin tribute to minority people statues along the Seawall.

Learn
The is the island's major university. There is a significant "college town" feel to the section of the Strand nearest the university. It provides mostly postgraduate medical education.

, located on Pelican Island, is a branch campus of Texas A&M University. Its main fields of study include Marine Sciences, Marine Engineering, and Maritime Transportation. It is home to the Texas Maritime Academy.

Work
The two largest employers on the island are UTMB (University of Texas Medical Branch) and

Buy
The Strand is an historic district near the docks with a variety of unique shops.

Stay safe
Like any other tourist city, it is safe, but petty crime does happen. Use common sense, locking your car is a must. Bums will often hang out in the middle of the intersections.

Water currents can be a danger along any part of the island. Swimming near lifeguard stations and obeying safety signs may offer some assurance.

Straits have treacherous waters, largely due to murky water and fast moving currents: many drownings occur in the vicinity of the San Luis Pass compared to other areas off of nearby beaches. Water current dangers are more prominent up to about one mile away from island straits not protected by a jetty. Entering the water is not allowed in many of these areas.

Go next

 * Jamaica Beach
 * Kemah
 * Surfside
 * Texas City

title: Galveston


text:
Galveston (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Galveston:

United States of America

 * Galveston - is a city in Texas.
 * Galveston (Indiana) - a town in Indiana.

title: Galveston (disambiguation)


text:
Galway

Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) is the county town of County Galway on the west coast of Ireland. It's Ireland's fourth largest city, with a population in 2024 of 85,000, but its historic centre on the east bank of the River Corrib is compact and colourful. Popularised on the world stage by Ed Sheeran's song, "Galway Girl", Galway is a party town with live music and revellers spilling onto its pedestrianised central street. It's also a base for exploring the scenic surrounding county.

Galway (jointly with Rijeka) was the "European Capital of Culture" for 2020.

Understand
Galway expanded from a small fishing village from the 13th century, when the Anglo-Normans captured the area and built a fortified city. A charter of 1396 granted power to 14 merchant families, and this elite would later be mocked by Cromwell as "tribes", hence the nickname "City of the Tribes". This illustrious 14, now immortalised in the names of the city roundabouts, were Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, D'arcy, Deane, Font, ffrench, Joyce, Kirwan, Lynch, Martin, Morris, and Skerritt. All but two were Anglo-Norman rather than Gaelic. They're often described as an oligarchy, cartel or cabal, but by medieval standards 14 influential families operating an urban centre looks positively diverse. Imagine the Medici welcoming the Borgias and Sforzas to Florence: "Sure the city is big enough for all of us, and let's bring in the Albizzi, the Alberti...." They prospered through trade with Spain and Portugal, and by loyalty to the Crown, but that was the reason for Cromwell besieging and smashing the city. They recovered somewhat during the Restoration, but fell forever with the ousting of the catholic Stuart monarchy. Under the Hanoverian kings, power and fortune throughout Ireland centred on a tight little "Protestant Ascendancy", just to show everyone what a cartel or cabal really looks like. Sea trade also moved away to Dublin and Waterford. Galway stagnated until the 20th century, recovering slowly with independence, and more rapidly later with growth in students and in tourists. It's now a lively, buzzing colourful city that again feels well-connected to the rest of the world.

By plane

 * Dublin  has the widest selection of flights across Europe and UK, then you have a 3-4 hour journey to Galway.
 * Shannon has UK and European flights though not as many as Dublin, but is well-connected to the USA with pre-border clearance.
 * Knock has few flights, you'd only consider it for a road trip through Connaught and other northwestern areas.

The airports all have car hire, best reserved in advance, and see below for onward public transport to Galway.

The existence of Galway Airport was almost as short as its runway: commercial flights ceased in 2011 and private aviation ceased in 2015.

By train

 * From Dublin Heuston there are ten trains M-Sa, six on Sunday, taking 2 hr 30 min via Athlone. Buy your ticket to or from Dublin city centre not Heuston, as this will include the city tram fare and save a couple of euros over separate tickets.
 * From Limerick Colbert five trains run M-Sa, four on Sunday, via Ennis taking two hours. Limerick has connections from Cork.

By bus

 * From Dublin there's competition, with Aircoach 706, GoBus 720 and Citylink 660 / 760 / 761 all taking 2 hr 30 min from Dublin airport and city, plus Citylink 763 also stopping in Athlone and Ballinasloe.
 * From Limerick and Clare Bus X51 runs hourly nonstop from Limerick city to Galway, 80 min, while Bus 51 runs hourly from Cork via Mallow, Limerick, Shannon Airport, Ennis and Gort to Galway.
 * Bus 350 winds along the coast six times a day from Ennis via Lahinch, Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, Lisdoonvarna, Ballyvaughan, Kinvara and Oranmore.

 * From the north Bus 64 runs every two hours from Derry via Letterkenny, Donegal Town, Sligo and Knock Airport to Galway.
 * Bus 456 runs five times daily from Castlebar via Westport to Galway.

 * Operators include Bus Éireann, CityLink and GoBus.

are side by side in Eyre Square. The railway ticket office is open M-F 7AM-6PM and there are ticket machines and toliets. CityLink and GoBus buses use the coach station 100 m further north. The railway station is officially called "Ceannt" for Éamonn Ceannt, executed in 1916 for his part in the Easter Rising.

By car

 * From Dublin take the toll motorway M4 west then M6 to the city's edge, maybe 2 hours depending on traffic.
 * Parking is expensive. If your accommodation doesn't offer any, there's long-stay parking by the cathedral for a flat fee of €5/day.
 * By thumb: outbound, ask around at your accommodation, there might well be a lift going towards Dublin. Otherwise head for Galway shopping centre: all the major routes branch out from the roundabouts here.

By boat

 * For the Aran Islands, a connecting bus runs to Rossaveal the ferry port 38 km west. Ferries also sail from Doolin in County Clare, linked by an occasional bus from Galway. This means you don't have to go there and back the same way.
 * India, or is it America? As a young merchant Christopher Columbus travelled in Europe before his transatlantic journey, and in 1476 he landed in Bristol then Galway. He may have continued to Iceland; in 1477 he settled in Lisbon. He was intrigued later to hear that two bodies washed up at Galway appeared to be Indian. This reinforced his belief (as he lacked a reliable internet travel guide such as Wikivoyage) that he could reach the Indies by sailing west.

Get around

 * Walk: Central Galway is easily accessible on foot, and Salthill is a pleasant 30 minute walk from the centre, down the Prom to Blackrock.

 * Taxis: there are ranks in Eyre Square and Bridge Street. Fares are nationally regulated and taxis must use the meter. As of 2021, fares M-Sa 8AM to 8PM are €3.80 flagfall then €1.14-1.50 per km, 8PM to 8AM and Sunday €4.20 flagfall then €1.45-1.80 per km. In slow traffic or if asked to wait they charge by the minute, 40-50 cents.

 * Try not to bring a car into town, it's congested and has limited, expensive parking. Central parking lots include Dyke Road and at the Cathedral.

By bus
Bus Éireann operate a frequent city bus network in Galway, consisting of seven routes:
 * Route 401 provides a cross-city service from Salthill in the southwest to Parkmore Industrial Estate in the northeast, daily, every 20 minutes.
 * Route 402 provides a cross-city service from Shangort Road in the west to Merlin Park University Hospital in the east, every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 60 minutes on Sundays.
 * Route 404 provides a cross-city service from Newcastle in the northwest to Oranmore in the southeast, daily every 30 minutes.
 * Route 405 provides a cross-city service from Rahoon in the west to Ballybane Industrial Estate in the northeast, every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 40 minutes on Sundays.
 * Route 407 provides a service from Eyre Square in the city centre to Bóthar an Chóiste in the north, every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 60 minutes on Sundays.
 * Route 409 provides a frequent service from Eyre Square in the city centre to Parkmore Industrial Estate in the northeast, every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday, and every 15 minutes on Sundays.
 * Route 424 provides a service from Eyre Square in the city centre to Barna in the west, 12 times per day Monday to Friday, 11 times on Saturdays and 5 times on Sundays.

City Direct also operate a frequent bus network on the western side of the city, consisting of four routes:
 * Route 410 provides a service from Cappagh Road in the west via Salthill to Eyre Square in the city centre, every 60 minutes Monday to Saturday, with no service on Sundays.
 * Route 411 provides a service from Cappagh Road in the west via Westside to Eyre Square in the city centre, daily every 30 minutes.
 * Route 412 provides a service from Cappagh Road in the west via Gateway Retail Park to Eyre Square in the city centre, every 30 minutes Monday to Friday, with no service on Saturdays or Sundays.
 * Route 414 provides a service from Barna in the west via Lombard Street to Eyre Square in the city centre, twice per day Monday to Friday, with no service on Saturdays or Sundays.

A map of the combined city bus network (Bus Éireann and City Direct) is available here. All routes connect with each other at Eyre Square in the city centre. Note that this map is a little out of date and route 403 has since become an extension of route 401, which now runs west-east across the city.

Cash fares on the Bus Éireann network are €2.40-2.80 adult and €1.40-1.70 child, while if paying with a TFI Leap Card are €1.68-1.96 adult and €0.98-1.19 child. On TFI Leap Card, 24 hour, 7 day and monthly tickets are also available.

Cash fares on the City Direct network are €2.50-3.50 adult and €1.00-1.50 child, while if paying with a TFI Leap Card are €2.00 adult and €1.40 child. Weekly and monthly tickets are also available.

See

 * is the place to begin exploring the city, as it's the transport hub and with a cluster of hotels and eating places. From 2004 to 2006 it was a dismal crater as an expensive redevelopment project flopped, but now it's an attractive green space, with a pedestrianised shopping mall just south. Artwork includes the "Galway Hooker" (fountain styled like a traditional fishing boat), the Browne doorway (from the house of one of the ruling families), and a bust of former US President John F Kennedy who visited in 1963. The square is officially named after JFK, but this never stuck, and it's always called Eyre Square after the mayor who presented this plot of land to the city in 1710.
 * The historic spine of the city leads from Eyre Square southwest to the river, called William Street then Shop Street then High Street then Quay Street. It's all pedestrianised, an agreeable stroll from park to pub to pub to eating place to pub. At the top of Shop Street, is a fine medieval town house, once home to the Lynch dynasty. But it's now a branch of Allied Irish Banks: you're welcome to look in during opening hours but there's not much to see.
 * : medieval Galway had city walls, which in 1584 were extended to protect the quays at the river outlet. This extension, known as "the head of the walls" (ceann an bhalla), is nowadays almost the only remnant of those walls. In the 18th century the quays were extended, and two arches were cut in the walls to improve street access to the quays. They were probably first known as the "Eyre Arches", but Galway was Ireland's main port for trade with Spain and Portugal. In 1755 the Lisbon Tsunami wrecked the arches, but one was later re-opened, so they became known as the Spanish Arch and the Blind Arch. It's a pleasant area to sit or stroll.
 * is at 8 Bowling Green. Nora (1884-1951) grew up in Galway and came to live here with her mother who'd separated from the drunkard father. Her boyfriends had a habit of dying, so she left for Dublin where in 1904 she met James Joyce, and "knew him at once for just another Dublin jackeen chatting up a country girl". Soon she would have cause to bemoan his drinking, hanging about with artistic ne'er-do-wells, spendthrift ways, obscure nonsensical writing style, and his demands for English puddings. They lived mostly in Trieste and Paris then Zurich, where James died and Nora lived out her own final years. The house in Galway is a small museum of Joyce memorabilia (including letters, but not the hotties) but is closed in 2020.
 * is at 8 Bowling Green. Nora (1884-1951) grew up in Galway and came to live here with her mother who'd separated from the drunkard father. Her boyfriends had a habit of dying, so she left for Dublin where in 1904 she met James Joyce, and "knew him at once for just another Dublin jackeen chatting up a country girl". Soon she would have cause to bemoan his drinking, hanging about with artistic ne'er-do-wells, spendthrift ways, obscure nonsensical writing style, and his demands for English puddings. They lived mostly in Trieste and Paris then Zurich, where James died and Nora lived out her own final years. The house in Galway is a small museum of Joyce memorabilia (including letters, but not the hotties) but is closed in 2020.
 * is at 8 Bowling Green. Nora (1884-1951) grew up in Galway and came to live here with her mother who'd separated from the drunkard father. Her boyfriends had a habit of dying, so she left for Dublin where in 1904 she met James Joyce, and "knew him at once for just another Dublin jackeen chatting up a country girl". Soon she would have cause to bemoan his drinking, hanging about with artistic ne'er-do-wells, spendthrift ways, obscure nonsensical writing style, and his demands for English puddings. They lived mostly in Trieste and Paris then Zurich, where James died and Nora lived out her own final years. The house in Galway is a small museum of Joyce memorabilia (including letters, but not the hotties) but is closed in 2020.
 * River Corrib flows for 6 km south from Lough Corrib to enter Galway Bay. In 1178 the friars of Clairegalway cut a new channel out of the lough, east of the original outflow, and this became the main course of the river. It passes the ruin of Menlo Castle to reach the northwest edge of the city at a salmon weir: watch them swim upriver in early summer. The last km of river is very fast, great for driving waterwheels but not navigable, so the was cut in the 19th century, with swing bridges, locks, and side-races for mills. The swing bridges have been replaced by fixed bridges so the canal is no longer navigable except by kayak.
 * The medieval fort and walled city of Galway stood east of the river, controlled by the Anglo-Normans, with "No damned Irish here!" signs at its gates. The Irish were kept in their place in a village just west of the river outlet, An Cladach, the shore. Jewellers also worked there, hence the name of the ring. Nothing remains of that village so the present Claddagh neighbourhood is modern.
 * is the main shoreline attraction, stretching for 2 km into Salthill. Traditionally you turned around once you'd kicked the wall at the two-level diving platform at the junction of Threadneedle Rd. Lots of pubs and B&Bs along here. It's long been hoped to extend the promenade west to Silverstrand, and to reinforce the crumbling coast against sea erosion. By 2015 this plan had reached design stage, but with no prospect of the funding that would enable it to go to tender, and it's all gone very quiet since then. So you can pick your own way along the headland west of Salthill but there's no paved prom.
 * is connected to the mainland at Claddagh by a one-km causeway. (Don't confuse it with Mutton Island off Quilty in County Clare.) It's popular for wedding photos taking in the lighthouse foreground and cityscape background, while artfully avoiding the sewage plant.
 * is connected to the mainland at Claddagh by a one-km causeway. (Don't confuse it with Mutton Island off Quilty in County Clare.) It's popular for wedding photos taking in the lighthouse foreground and cityscape background, while artfully avoiding the sewage plant.
 * is connected to the mainland at Claddagh by a one-km causeway. (Don't confuse it with Mutton Island off Quilty in County Clare.) It's popular for wedding photos taking in the lighthouse foreground and cityscape background, while artfully avoiding the sewage plant.
 * Castles: the city's original castle was a Norman motte-and-bailey, but it was smashed, burnt, raided for masonry and disappeared in the 13th century. It was only rediscovered in 2018 beneath Quay Street: it's hoped to put parts on display as was done for the Hall of the Red Earl. Remnants of smaller castles dot the area although it's mostly a case of "hunt the stump". They include:
 * or Doughiskey is a turret in wooded parkland 3 km east of city centre.
 * is the ivy-shrouded stump you see from the river. By road it's a bit of a scramble over a padlocked gate and down an unsigned track.
 * means "short castle", which may refer to its structure or because it was used as a short-stay annexe by Menlo Castle. The name's even more accurate nowadays.
 * is a turret along Headford Road N84 near Castlegar. Slow down for a look but it's hardly worth stopping.
 * is a 15th-century towerhouse that has been restored and is now a private residence.
 * is a restored 15th-century towerhouse that's now a restaurant, often booked for weddings.
 * Ballybrit is a turret just south of the racecourse, so if you've brought your racing binoculars you can save trudging across the field.
 * Dunguaire: see Ballyvaughan for this plush place in Kinvarra south of the bay just before the boundary with County Clare.

Do

 * What's on? Listen to Galway Bay Radio on 95.8 FM, or read This is Galway, or the Galway Advertiser online or in print (free) on Thursdays.
 * Walk: Stroll along the banks of the River Corrib and the Eglington Canal, or along the promenade to the diving platform at Salthill, or out along the causeway to Mutton Island.
 * Guided walks: Galway Civic Trust have 90-min walks May-Sep: Tu and Th at 2PM, starting from Hall of the Red Earl and finishing at Eyre Square. Donations welcome, no booking.
 * Galway Tours run private walking tours of 90 min, minimum group of six from €80. They don't offer the kind of tours where individuals can just rock up.

 * Druid Theatre is a small independent theatre at Flood St towards the Quays.
 * Druid Theatre is a small independent theatre at Flood St towards the Quays.
 * Kayaking is a choice of gentle paddles on the upper river and lough, sea kayaking, and white water on the lower Corrib right in the heart of the city. The white water flow depends on recent rainfall and the status of the locks above. There's a standing wave at O'Brien's Bridge to test your sense of humour, and the Eglinton Canal rejoins the river at the Jury Drop: it faces Jurys Inn Hotel, where onlookers can express their verdict on your skill.
 * Rugby Union: Connacht Rugby are one of the four Irish professional teams playing in the United Rugby Championship (formerly Pro14), the European and predominantly Celtic tournament. Their home stadium is The Sportsground, capacity 8000, a mile northeast of the centre.
 * Gaelic games: the County GAA team plays Gaelic football and hurling at Pearse Stadium (capacity 26,200), in Salthill 2 km southwest of city centre.
 * Football: Galway United were promoted in 2023 and now play soccer in the Premier Division, the Republic's second tier. Their stadium is Eamonn Deacy Park (capacity 5000) 1 km north of city centre. The playing season is March-Nov with games usually on Friday evening.
 * Galway International Arts Festival features music, theatre and exhibitions for two weeks in late July. The next is July 15–28 2024.
 * Football: Galway United were promoted in 2023 and now play soccer in the Premier Division, the Republic's second tier. Their stadium is Eamonn Deacy Park (capacity 5000) 1 km north of city centre. The playing season is March-Nov with games usually on Friday evening.
 * Galway International Arts Festival features music, theatre and exhibitions for two weeks in late July. The next is July 15–28 2024.

Learn

 * The National University of Ireland, Galway.
 * Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway.

Buy

 * Eyre Square Centre is the big mall next to the railway and bus stations. The shopping area runs south from the square to the river, as Williams St, Shop St, High St, Mainguard St and Quay St. The old buildings and busy atmosphere make it an attractive area to stroll.
 * Middle Street, parallel to Shop Street, is good for creative independent outlets, including the Irish-speaking theatre "An Taibhdhearc," the Cocoon designer studio, Charlie Byrne's Bookshop and Kenny's gallery / bookshop.
 * Galway Market is in Church Lane next to St Nicholas Church. It's open Sa 8AM-6PM, Su 2-6PM.
 * Sheridan's Cheesemongers on Kirwans Lane is a great place to get wine, pates, bread, and of course cheese.

Eat

 * See "Buy" above for Eyre Square supermarket and Galway Market.

 * Grain & Grill is within Maldron Hotel, see Sleep. Serves food daily 08:00-21:00.
 * Others worth trying are Finnegans on Market St, Kirwan's Lane Seafood, and Goya's bakery next door for cakes.
 * Grain & Grill is within Maldron Hotel, see Sleep. Serves food daily 08:00-21:00.
 * Others worth trying are Finnegans on Market St, Kirwan's Lane Seafood, and Goya's bakery next door for cakes.
 * Grain & Grill is within Maldron Hotel, see Sleep. Serves food daily 08:00-21:00.
 * Others worth trying are Finnegans on Market St, Kirwan's Lane Seafood, and Goya's bakery next door for cakes.
 * Grain & Grill is within Maldron Hotel, see Sleep. Serves food daily 08:00-21:00.
 * Others worth trying are Finnegans on Market St, Kirwan's Lane Seafood, and Goya's bakery next door for cakes.
 * Grain & Grill is within Maldron Hotel, see Sleep. Serves food daily 08:00-21:00.
 * Others worth trying are Finnegans on Market St, Kirwan's Lane Seafood, and Goya's bakery next door for cakes.

Drink

 * See also Galway City Pub Guide for current reviews, photos and videos.

 * Galway Hooker is the local beer, brewed since 2014 at Oranmore at the head of Galway Bay. It's a chemical-free pale ale: "We couldn't afford chemicals." They don't do brewery tours but the product is widely available.
 * Others worth a look: Blue Note on West William St, Tigh Chóilí on Mainguard St, and Front Door on Cross St.
 * Others worth a look: Blue Note on West William St, Tigh Chóilí on Mainguard St, and Front Door on Cross St.
 * Others worth a look: Blue Note on West William St, Tigh Chóilí on Mainguard St, and Front Door on Cross St.
 * Others worth a look: Blue Note on West William St, Tigh Chóilí on Mainguard St, and Front Door on Cross St.
 * Others worth a look: Blue Note on West William St, Tigh Chóilí on Mainguard St, and Front Door on Cross St.
 * Others worth a look: Blue Note on West William St, Tigh Chóilí on Mainguard St, and Front Door on Cross St.
 * Others worth a look: Blue Note on West William St, Tigh Chóilí on Mainguard St, and Front Door on Cross St.
 * Others worth a look: Blue Note on West William St, Tigh Chóilí on Mainguard St, and Front Door on Cross St.
 * Others worth a look: Blue Note on West William St, Tigh Chóilí on Mainguard St, and Front Door on Cross St.
 * Others worth a look: Blue Note on West William St, Tigh Chóilí on Mainguard St, and Front Door on Cross St.
 * Others worth a look: Blue Note on West William St, Tigh Chóilí on Mainguard St, and Front Door on Cross St.
 * Others worth a look: Blue Note on West William St, Tigh Chóilí on Mainguard St, and Front Door on Cross St.

Sleep
As Galway is a popular destination, there's a large selection of accommodation in all price brackets.

Budget
Where else would you find so many decent hostels right in the centre? In any other city, the chain business hotels and financial firms would have bought the land from under them.

Bed and breakfasts
Even by Irish standards, Galway has a ridiculous abundance of B&Bs. Two clusters are on College Road by the lough, within 1 km of the centre, and in Salthill where you'll probably want your own car.

Splurge
The plentiful mid-range options mean that the upscale group are cheaper than in many other cities. Most are clustered around Eyre Square and adjoining Forster Street very close to the bus and railway stations; this area is often noisy on weekend nights. There's a scattering further out.

Stay safe
Galway is a safe town by any standards, but give the swerve to damnfool drunks.

Connect
As of April 2021, Galway has 5G with all Irish carriers.

Go next

 * South across Galway Bay is County Clare, and the spare limestone terrain of The Burren, which meets the Atlantic at the Cliffs of Moher.
 * If you wish to hear Irish being spoken as a first language, visit towns like Carna, An Spidéal, Carraroe, Barna, all west of Galway City in the Connemara area. English is also spoken in these towns if you are not confident enough to speak Irish just yet, but as a visitor you can appreciate hearing the Irish language being spoken in one of the few areas where it is a thriving first spoken language and has priority over English.
 * The Aran Islands are reached by ferry from Connemara.

title: Galway


text:
Gamba

Gamba is a small town located in the Coastal Plain region of Gabon, on the Ndogo Lagoon, near the Atlantic Ocean. The town is surrounded by small plains and forests. Its name, meaning fog, is believed to come from the Eshira people who found the place foggy at times. Besides it's amazing landscape and diverse biodiversity, Gamba is one of the economic hubs of Gabon. The town is home of the oil company Shell Gabon.

The indigenous inhabitants of Gamba are the Balumbu people.

title: Gamba


text:
Gambela

Gambela is a city in the very west of Ethiopia, capital of the eponymous region and close to the eponymous national park.

Understand
The main ethnic groups in Gambela are the Nuer and Anuak.

The region is a lowland with savanna vegetation, akin to neighbouring South Sudan.

There are in excess of 300,000 Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees in the region, giving rise to a significant UNHCR presence and many church-based charities. Protestantism is the predominant form of religious belief.

By plane

As at January 2020, Ethiopian Airlines has twice daily flights from Addis Ababa, one of which is via Assosa.

The airport is a 30 minute drive from town. The Baro Gambella Hotel provides free airport pickup if you are staying there and takes other passengers for a small fee. Ethiopian Airlines has a mobile app that enables flights to be booked and paid for by credit card. There is no Ethiopian Airlines ticket office in Gambela but the Abemeker Travel Agency is on the main road just south of the roundabout with the Nyala statue (it is this travel agency that Google maps incorrectly identifies as the airline ticket office). If the mobile app gives problems, the travel agency can arrange a ticket on the spot, but payment needs to be in Birr by cash.

Get around
Gambela is small enough to explore on foot, but there are numerous bajaj if you prefer.

Do

 * It is very pleasant to walk down the road running west from the main bridge along the north bank of the Baro in the late afternoon. There are many coffee places where you can sit in the shade and watch the river go by.
 * In a side street, lying to the west of the Tadessech Hotel, there are local markets with an interesting array of produce.
 * Gambela's Tourism Bureau can arrange visits to traditional hamlets around Itang and further west around Lare. Itang is more picturesque than Lare but the countryside on the journey from Itang to Lare reminds visitors that although they remain in the political entity of Ethiopia in other respects they could well be in South Sudan. The cost is 100 Birr per person and 500 Birr for the guide. Local buses run regularly. These visits could be a highlight of a trip to Gambela but are somewhat problematic - although the Bureau is punctilious in providing a stamped document showing that the 100 Birr per person has been paid, this money does not appear to reach the villagers; in addition, guides seem to be under instruction not to permit any money to be paid to villagers. The inevitable result is that the villagers regard visitors as intruders best ignored. A better approach might be to make it clear to the Bureau that you intend to pay a representative of the village a further 50 Birr and that you want the villagers to be given notice of your visit.

Eat
The Baro Gambella Hotel has good meals.

Sleep
There are many hotels and other accommodation. Not all of these find their way onto the internet booking sites or the internet at all.

The Baro Gambella Hotel is a popular and good place to stay with a great outside eating area where you can watch the monkeys scampering around in the evening. It is easy to make a telephone booking with the Hotel. 700Birr per double per night.

Stay safe
There are no particular safety concerns within the township of Gambela, but there have been instances of robbery and murder in the region, presumably the work of bandits from South Sudan. It is wise to check the current situation before travelling to Gambela, and check again with the Gambela Tourism Bureau before travelling any further west.

Go next

 * Gambella National Park

title: Gambela


text:
Gambia

The Gambia is a small, narrow country along the length of the Gambia River in West Africa, almost completely surrounded by Senegal. Besides beaches and wildlife, The Gambia is known for the town of Juffureh, made famous by Alex Haley's Roots. It is known as the Smiling Coast.

Understand
The Gambia essentially consists of the flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills — the highest point is just 53 m above sea level, and it is less than 50 km across at its widest point.

Climate
Tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May); Natural hazards : drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years).

History
Before the arrival of the Europeans, oral traditions preserved most of The Gambia's history. The Wassu Stone Circles are thought to be evidence of early settlement, however not much is known about it. The territory of present-day The Gambia became part of the Mali Empire in the 14th century.

Historically, culturally, and linguistically tied to Senegal, The Gambia was split from its neighbor in the 18th century by European powers. Most of the region was taken over by France, but a narrow piece of land around The Gambia River was ceded to Great Britain. This small area eventually became The Gambia.

The Gambia gained its independence from the UK on 18 February 1965. A constitution was written on 24 April 1970, before being suspended in July 1994 and subsequently rewritten and approved by national referendum on 8 August 1996. It was re-established in January 1997.

The Gambia formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity, but a new 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. Elections have continued ever since, but with government intimidation and detention of opposition leaders, they aren't completely democratic.

After ruling with an iron fist for over 20 years, during which he withdrew The Gambia from international organisations such as the Commonwealth of Nations and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Yahya Jammeh eventually lost the election to Adama Barrow in 2016. Although Jammeh initially refused to concede defeat, Barrow escaped to Senegal, and Jammeh was eventually forced to step down and go into exile under the threat of military intervention from The Gambia's neighbours. Since coming to power, Barrow has attempted to roll back some of Jammeh's excesses, with The Gambia having since re-joined the ICJ and the Commonwealth.

National holidays
The Gambia celebrates its independence day on 18 February. This small country gained its independence in 1965. There is also the Muslim festival of Eid which is celebrated by virtually all Gambians and is a 2- to 3-day event during which up to 250,000 animals are slaughtered to provide food for the feast. It is also a time when Gambians, especially women, dress in their finest regalia and buying new dresses at up to D3,000 (Gambian dalasi).

People
A variety of ethnic groups live in The Gambia, each preserving its own language and traditions. The Mandinka ethnicity is the largest, followed by the Fula, Wolof, Jola, Serahule, Serers and the Bianunkas. The Krio people, locally known as the Aku, constitute one of the smallest ethnic minorities in The Gambia. They are descendants of the Sierra Leone Creole people and have been traditionally concentrated in the capital.

Tourist information

 * Visit the Gambia tourism website

Cities

 * — capital

Other destinations

 * — tiny reserve near the beaches with shady paths to get close to monkeys, bushbucks, chameleons, & crocodiles.
 * — mixed patched of thick forest and swamp most noteworthy for its migratory birds but also home to dugongs, otters, hogs, antelope, & hippos.
 * – one of the largest and most important wildlife reserves in the country.
 * , a remainder from the slave trade and a UNESCO World Heritage site
 * — a large eco-tourism project near the beaches popular as a package day trip with game drive, boat ride, & performances by locals.

The Gambia has two sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Get in
The Gambia is becoming a popular vacation destination for Northern Europeans. Therefore, many charter and holiday operators offer reasonable airfare and accommodation if desired.

Visa
Tourists from ECOWAS, Commonwealth countries and other countries not listed below, or tourists from all nations arriving in The Gambia on a charter flight may enter visa-free for up to 90 days. ECOWAS nationals may also enter with passport or Biometric ID card.

Nationals of Egypt, Austria, France, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United States, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan need a visa to enter unless they are travelling as tourists on a charter flight.

Nationals of Kenya, Namibia, Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Macau, Myanmar, Mongolia, Thailand, Vietnam, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay may enter The Gambia visa-free for up to 90 days on the condition that they obtain an entry clearance from the Gambian Immigration prior to travel, unless they are travelling as tourists on a charter flight.

Nationals of Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Libya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Bahamas, Haiti, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen, East Timor, Indonesia, Mauritius, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Seychelles require a visa, and/or an entry clearance from the Gambian Immigration prior to travel.

Visas can be obtained at The Gambian High Commission in Dakar, Senegal. Single entry visas cost USD100, XOF35,000 (about USD69, so a better deal!) and multi-entry visas for a three-month period cost XOF30,000.

As of April 2023 visa for most nationalities can be obtained at Karag, the northern border with Senegal for USD100. It will be valid for three months and multiple entries. They take cash only and there are no ATM's at the border. Travelers will have their fingerprints and photograph taken.

Information about obtaining a visa on arrival is available at the website of The Gambia Immigration Department.

A list of countries whose citizens can enter without a visa is available at the website of The Gambia Tourism Board.

By plane
Banjul is the only international airport in The Gambia. Vueling, a low-cost airline, operates regular flights to/from Barcelona (Spain) with onward connecting flights to many cities in Europe. Royal Air Maroc flies from Casablanca, Brussels Airlines from Brussels, Arik Air from Accra and Lagos, Turkish Airlines from Istanbul and Air Senegal from Dakar with onward flight to Bissau, ASKY connects Banjul with Freetown and Lomé. During the tourist season (October to April), there are regular scheduled flights direct from cities such as London, Birmingham, Manchester, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Brussels. Charter operators include First Choice Airways, Transavia, and Arkefly.

As of April 2023 a "Development tax" of USD20 was being charged at Banjul's airport before check in.

By car
Sept-places or bush taxis run from Dakar to Gambia's border, Karag. From there you must take another Taxi to Barra and then a 30 minutes Ferry to Banjul.

It is possible use your private car to drive from Senegal to The Gambia via the border town of Amdalli (just north of Barra). The border crossing is pretty straightforward. You will need your V5 logbook. The road approaching the border from Senegal is terrible and its easier to drive next to the road as opposed to on it. Check before you travel if it is ok to bring in a right-hand drive vehicle, as there are conflicting reports on the possibility of this (though it has been done).

By bus
There are direct GPTC buses running from Barra (a ferry ride away from Banjul) to Dakar, but these are not recommended as they are slower than the bush taxis.

By boat
It is possible to charter privately small fishing vessels from Dakar and neighboring areas; though this can be fairly expensive and slow should one not be proficient at bargaining.

By bus

 * Gambia Transportation Service Company

By taxi
There are two types of cabs: green ones (tourist cabs) and yellow ones (regular cabs). Green cabs are expensive and the price is regardless of the number of passengers. Although there is no vehicle testing system in The Gambia, these taxis must have basics such as seat belts and working indicators. Yellow taxis are much cheaper and the price depends on the number of persons in the cab. They are used mainly by locals, and in many tourist areas they are prohibited from picking up tourists. Often it is worth it to walk a little to get a yellow taxi.

By car
A 4WD is recommended if you plan to rent a car, since the roads often are in bad condition and only a minority is paved.

By bike
You can rent a bike from pretty much anyone that owns one at a negotiated rate. Cycling on major roads can be risky, as motorist safety is unreliable, some roads are not well-maintained, sand and steep shoulders cause road hazards, and pedestrians may walk or veer onto the open road without warning. In high traffic areas, taxis and vans often cut off cyclists to pick up travellers and the car horn may be used excessively to warn of impending passage.

By thumb
No, don't use your thumb. It is an obscene gesture in The Gambia, instead wave if you want a car to stop. As anywhere, hitching is quite risky business, so be careful with what cars you enter and never hitch at night. Also, Gambian motorists will expect you to pay for the ride, so have some cash ready.

By boat
The Gambia River is navigable the entire length of the country.

Guided tours
There are many companies that offer guided tours in The Gambia.

There are also official tourist guides that will arrange transportation and guide you. They offer a good service and you will get to travel in a small group (usually 1 to 6 persons). Beware that there are false official guides, so always meet them at their offices, around tourist resorts.

Talk
Languages spoken in The Gambia are English (the official language), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, Sarrancule and other indigenous languages.

Most of the locals speak Wolof in the major cities, English being widely used at tourist venues.

Do

 * Four Wheel Drive Adventure. Very popular tours visiting schools, country homes, and distilleries.
 * "Roots" tour to Kunta Kinteh Island. You can go there on cruise up the centre of the wide Gambia river, towards the former French trading post of Albreda and the village of Juffureh. Views of the river bank are distant. Visit the setting of Roots, an old slave trade station. Tourists are overwhelmed by locals who appear only when the boat arrives, and disappear when the boat leaves. Locals are persistent in begging for money and thrusting craft items under tourists noses. Locals insist on being paid to appear in photos. Or you go by car, e.g. with the official tourist guides on the small roads on the North Bank and sail in a pirogue from Juffareh.
 * "Roots" tour to Kunta Kinteh Island. You can go there on cruise up the centre of the wide Gambia river, towards the former French trading post of Albreda and the village of Juffureh. Views of the river bank are distant. Visit the setting of Roots, an old slave trade station. Tourists are overwhelmed by locals who appear only when the boat arrives, and disappear when the boat leaves. Locals are persistent in begging for money and thrusting craft items under tourists noses. Locals insist on being paid to appear in photos. Or you go by car, e.g. with the official tourist guides on the small roads on the North Bank and sail in a pirogue from Juffareh.

Money
The Gambia uses the dalasi as its currency, denoted by the symbol "D" (ISO currency code: GMD). The dalasi is divided into 100 bututs. Banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100 and 200 dalasis and you may find D0.25, D0.50 and D1 coins in circulation.

It is better you take CFA francs, euro or dollars with you. If you have a Visa credit card and don't use a PIN or you forgot it, then the only bank that can help you out is (the bigger) GT Bank in Banjul, which only requires your card, your passport, and your signature.

ATM's

 * MasterCard and Visa can now be used at any GT Bank or EcoBank ATMs to withdraw cash.
 * Access Bank takes Visa cards only and can be found in Barra, Senegambia Beach and Banjul.

Souvenirs

 * Kora is the main music instrument of the Mandinka tribe, and could be considered the national instrument of The Gambia. It is 21-stringed and built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator. It sounds like a mixture of harp and flamenco guitar. Real koras can be very expensive but small souvenir versions are also available.
 * Tailor made clothes can be bought at cheap prices.
 * wood carvings
 * wooden masks
 * African drums
 * hand-woven table runners and place mats.
 * Batik and tie-dye fabric.

Eat

 * Benachin or Jollof rice — a traditional West African rice dish with onions, spices, tomatoes or tomato paste mixed with meat, fish or vegetables.
 * Chicken Yassa — chicken boiled with onion, black pepper and lime or lemon.
 * Domoda — meat stew with rice and peanut butter sauce.
 * Lots and lots of peanuts, the main crop of The Gambia.

Drink

 * Gambia's own beer, Julbrew  is worth a try. It's made by Banjul Breweries, who also make soft drinks.
 * Palm Wine is juice from palm trees that is collected and fermented. It is used as a kind of wine by the locals, and you may get a chance to try it if you go on a tour to rural The Gambia.
 * Baobab juice

Sleep
There are many luxury 4- and 5-star resorts along the Atlantic coastline. Further in land there are eco camps and lodges which offer basic accommodation usually in natural surroundings.

Stay safe

There are a number of very commonly used scams in The Gambia. If someone stops you on the street, they may tell you that they remember you from the hotel you're staying at and that they work there. They may invite you to another hotel, but this could be a scam to attempt to rob you. Also, because people are constantly looking for ways to support themselves, if they offer you assistance or directions, it may be understood that they expect some monetary compensation.

Sadly, many Gambian military have an unfavorable view of Brits (sometimes white people in general) and can be extremely racist. Expect it especially at border crossings as you will almost always be asked to pay to have your passport stamped and receive more than a few insults aimed at not only your country but also yourself when you refuse to pay. As always, do NOT pay any bribes as you're only making the problem worse, not just for tourists but the locals that are already struggling to fight the rampant corruption. Absolutely do not mention calling an embassy as this will only enrage them and start another string of abuse, as your embassy has no control over them and they hate the thought of it. If you've made friends with a Gambian they might possibly be able to help but as The Gambia is seen as one of the most repressive countries in Africa, they may be putting themselves at risk of punishment - so don't get annoyed if you're not assisted.

Scams also exist in which marijuana is offered to tourists or they are invited to come smoke in a home, only to find police waiting for a hefty bribe. A simple "Sorry, I am in a hurry" could suffice to dismiss them. But don't tell them why you are in a hurry and don't say anything else after that as this may lead to a conversation, and this could lead to unwanted attention and possibly a scam. Also remember that some Bumsters are not unemployed or young, and never fall for hardship stories. Should you feel you want to give a person some money out of sympathy or just to get rid of them it will certainly lead them to ask you for more money at a later date should you meet again. Some recommend a stern and harsh response to such requests, but this should be informed by your values and the relationship formed with the individual in question. Keep in mind that you may see this person again, and they could truly be helpful if you're in a jam or need information. Many people in tourist areas are merely 'friendly facilitators' who may hope for an exchange of favors, but are harmless. Being overly guarded could deny you an offer to join a local family for a traditional meal, or to personally meet one of the craftspeople who make the local goods for sale.

The Gambia is a great holiday destination but just keep your guard up at all times.

When swimming, be aware that the currents in the Atlantic waters can be strong. Always look out for flags on the tourist beaches indicating the level of danger on a red — yellow — green scale.

Be careful about your political opinions, as such critical opinions against the government are considered a crime.

Active homosexuals could be in extreme danger in The Gambia, subject to possible arrest or even killing.

Stay healthy
Yellow fever vaccination is strongly recommended. Meningitis vaccination is recommended. Anti-malaria pills are also necessary. Most cases of malaria in The Gambia are contracted between June and December. Mefloquine, Doxycycline or Malarone are the medicines of choice for The Gambia, and for most of sub-Saharan Africa, because of the increasing chloroquine resistance.

It is a good idea to bring insect repellent, sunscreen and other health items from your home country since these may be hard to find in some areas.

Residents say the tap water is drinkable, but for travelers bottled or boiled water is advised, because you may get sick from the different minerals and microbes in the water.

Respect
Always ask before you take a photo of anyone. Some Gambians have certain beliefs about having their picture taken, in particular by a stranger.

Connect

 * Africell is the major 4G operator in the country and sell points can be found nearly everywhere. They will ask for your passport and will sell you an activated SIM card in minutes. The connection is usually good in Banjul and Senegambia beach area. a 1 Gigabyte data card used to cost 450 dalasis as April 2023.

Go next

 * Senegal is both north and south of The Gambia. There are excursions to Fathala Reserve just north of the border.

title: Gambia