My name is Marion Vermazen. I am a traveler, hiker, reader, Sun alumnus, computer geek, YouTuber, Spanish and French language student, knitter, weaver and genealogist.
To make it easier for you to follow our 2026 Spring European trip from the beginning I’ve linked the blog posts in order.
You can go to the first blog post of our trip by clicking on this link.
At the end of each blog post after that, there is a link to the next day’s blog post.
Today we traveled pretty much all day. As happened when we arrived in Ballina, we couldn’t get a cab to take us back into town where we were planning to catch our bus. We tried for over an hour and then finally gave up and walked the 1.8 mile to the bus stop.
We caught a bus to Sligo where we got a train to Dublin.
In Dublin we went out to dinner at a nice pub called Tho Oval. Duke and I had “Steak and Guinness pie” and Gail had lamb stew.
The grounds around the Belleek Castle Hotel were converted into a public park in the 1970s. There is a very nice 3 mile loop trail in the woods along the River Moy. We walked half the trail this morning and half the trail this afternoon.
This morning, in Galway, we walked to a nearby bus stop and caught the bus about two and a half hours north to Ballina.We are staying just outside of town at Belleek Castle Hotel. The building is a manor house that was built between 1825 and 1831.
When we arrived in Ballina this afternoon we went to the grocery store and then called the hotel and asked them to order a cab for us. After more calls and waiting over an hour the cab never came. A very nice man came out of the grocery store. We had been standing there when he went in and he asked us if we needed help. After we explained he offered to drive us and our bags to the hotel and eventually we arrived.
We had a fabulous meal in the hotel restaurant.
Tomorrow we spend the whole day at and around Belleek Castle Hotel. If you would like to read tomorrow’s blog post click here.
This morning we went to the Galway City Museum. The museum is about the archaeology, history and science of Galway. The museum was excellent.
Then we want for a great walk along the water. The River Corrib runs through Galway.
On our way back to the hotel we checked out some lovely woolen goods in one of the many stores here that sell woolens.
For dinner we had a cheese board and wine at Trieste Café & Wine Bar.
To read my next blog post click here.
This morning we walked to the train station in Dublin and caught the train to Galway on the west coast of Ireland. Before we left we had some breakfast at a nearby coffee shop.
In Galway we checked in to our hotel then went exploring.
Finally we enjoyed playing cards.
We ate dinner at the hotel and listened to some live music. We are staying at the Harbour Hotel.
To read about our second day in Galway click here.
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