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Read my blog posts for our 2026 European Trip from the beginning

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.

Galway to Ballina

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.

Waiting for the bus in Galway this morning.
One of our bedrooms

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.

Playing cards in the hotel bar

We had a fabulous meal in the hotel restaurant.

Duke’s cod
The front of the hotel after dinner

Galway Day 2

This morning we went to the Galway City Museum. The museum is about the archaeology, history and science of Galway. The museum was excellent.

Inside the Galway City Museum
There was a very interesting display about all the medical technology that is developed and manufactured around Galway. Galway is a Global Medtech Hub.

Then we want for a great walk along the water. The River Corrib runs through Galway.

The view as we walked along the water.

On our way back to the hotel we checked out some lovely woolen goods in one of the many stores here that sell woolens.

Do you like my hat?
Sweaters in any color.

For dinner we had a cheese board and wine at Trieste Café & Wine Bar.

Dinner

To read my next blog post click here.

Dublin to Galway

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.

My sultana scone and coffee
On the train to Galway

In Galway we checked in to our hotel then went exploring.

On High St. in Galway
We saw lots of well stocked and interesting music stores.

Finally we enjoyed playing cards.

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.

Alcalá de Henares, Spain to Dublin, Ireland

Today was a busy travel day. We left the hotel in Alcalá de Henares at 7. Then we filled the car with gas and drove to Madrid airport terminal 1 where we turned in our rental car. Next we took a shuttle to terminal 4, checked in, rode a train out to the terminal four auxiliary gates, and got to our gate with time to spare.

The flight to Dublin was about three hours. From the airport in Dublin we took the Dublin Express bus into the center where we are staying at the Temple Bar Hotel. As we walked up to the hotel Roger and Gayle walked up from the other direction. They had arrived in Dublin a few hours earlier. Our rooms weren’t ready so we they gave us coupons for free drinks next door.

It was great to catch up.

Next we went out and walked around a bit then had some lunch. Each couple shared a shepherds pie. They were delicious.

Guinness while we waited for the food to arrive.
The shepherd’s pie.
The pub we ate lunch in.

For dinner we had fish and chips at Leo Burdock and then walked around, enjoyed some of the live music and explored a bit before calling it a night.

Leo Burdock’s fish and chips.
One of the live music venues we stepped into.

Siguenza to Alcala de Henares

After breakfast this morning we walked around the Parador of Siguenza a bit. It is magical to be staying in a castle.And the weather today was perfect

We drove 15 minutes north to record a car review video.

Our spot for the car review video.

Alcala de Henares where we are tonight is only about 20 miles from the Madrid airport. Our flight to Dublin is tomorrow morning at about 10:30.

We have been here before so it was fun to go walk around the town again.

Out for a walk in Alcala de Henares
Alcala de Henares is the birthplace of Cervantes the author of Don Quixote.

Tomorrow we leave Spain and fly to Ireland. Click here to read my blog post for tomorrow.