Category: Europe 2026 – Bulgaria Greece Spain Ireland Scotland

Our 10 week trip to Europe in the Spring of 2026.

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.

Lerma to Siguenza

We had a lovely drive today on backroads, basically south, to Siguenza. Every time we saw a sign pointing to something interesting we stopped to check it out.

Monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos
The sign said that this was the Lavadero (wash house) for washing clothes.

Next we saw a sign for the Mirador de Galiana. Mirador means viewpoint. It was a pretty phenomenal view.

The dropoff was spectacular
If you didn’t like heights this would not be comfortable.

Next we saw a sign for a Roman canal. We walked down a short path and found a tunnel that was part of the 18 km long canal.

Eventually we came to Siguenza. The Parador is at the top of the hill in the town. We have stayed here twice before in 2016 and 2018. We had our welcome drinks and a sandwich overlooking the courtyard.

The Parador of Siguenza

For dinner walked down the hill about half a mile and 210 feet down to a wonderful restaurant called El Fogaril Gastrobar. We had a delicious tasting menu and enjoyed talking to the owner. Before we left we talked to a couple from Florida who were sitting next to us. He was 79 and she was 76. They have been visiting Spain for many years since he was stationed from 1968 to 1972 at the U.S. base outside of Seville.

El Fogaril Gastrobar
My salad

You can read my next blog post here.

Lerma Day 2

Today was a very relaxing day. After breakfast we went out exploring in Lerma. The palace that is now the Parador and many of the grand buildings in the town were built by the Duke of Lerma in the first two decades of the seventeenth century.

The Arches Lookout
At the bottom of the hill is the former Monastery of Santo Domingo
The bottom right corner of the wall of this house is part of the original walls of the city.

We relaxed in the central courtyard of the Parador. Yesterday, Sunday afternoon, the room was packed. Today, Monday there were less than ten people enjoying the space.

Central courtyard of the Parador today (Monday).
The same space yesterday (Sunday).

Tomorrow we go to Siguenza. You can read tomorrow’s blog post by clicking here.

Santo Domingo Bernardo de Fresneda to Lerma

Today we drove southeast to Lerma. We enjoyed the backroads again although today was a cold and windy day.

When we started out it was foggy and misting
We stopped at Uzquiza dam and reservoir.
This is the Monastery of San Pedro de Arlanza. The movie the Good the Bad and the Ugly was filmed here.

Tonight we are staying in the Parador of Lerma. It is in the former palace of the Duke of Lerma.

The Parador of Lerma
We had our welcome drinks in the central lounge

To see tomorrow’s blog post click here.