Europe 2026

 Long travel day. As the pilot says “A short 8 hour flight”. Waiting in a airport is always fun. Luckily we could check all our bags so only a small carryon to deal with. Part of the airport fun   Saying goodbye to Ireland.  But they did have a couple of movies I liked.  “Michael” about Michael Jackson of course and “Deliver me from Nowhere” About Bruce Springsteen One was uplifting and the other depressing. But they filled the time. We are now trying to get on an earlier flight by standby, but it doesn’t look good. We shall see.  We saw and are waiting for the 9:28 pm flight. Our bags went on the earlier one so we won’t have to wait for them.  Mary Ann insists that no matter how much they offer, we are not giving up our seats.   So here we are waiting to catch up with our luggage already in Wilmington . No plane at the gate yet. But we will get home tonight.  Delayed delayed.  Peace. 

 So we start our way home. Driving on 4 lane highways with the boredom only broken by the slowed traffic at toll booths.  We arrive at our Hotel next to Dublin airport for tomorrow’s exit. So no great photos. But some observations.  Well maybe a photo   Who doesn’t like plant based water  Answer: Mary Ann   So here are my observations.  1. They drive on the left, walk on the right.  2.Many many people smoke.  3.Stays lighter much longer 4.Souvenir shops have mostly European stuff. 5.Europeans dress less formal than they used to.  6.Ireland’s and Scotland’s hamburgers are almost always 5 or 6 inches high.  7.Waiters always ask about food allergies and allergy components are listed on menus.  8. Lot more people with tattoos. Especially women.  We drove to a shopping department store and bought another suitcase for all the stuff we have accumulated over the past 7 weeks. Hope we haven’t forgotten anything.  Back to the h...

 Start of the journey home. Check out of Kenmare place and head to Limerick. Why Limerick?  It is half way to Dublin from Kenmare.  For some reason, we are shown a route that takes us on many a back road. Don’t mind the time, but Mary Ann is tired of the panic when a larger vehicle is coming towards us. Well let’s be clear, she panics and I drive. If we both stay in our lanes, all is well.  So not a lot of photos today. I guess I could repost some older ones from small country roads in Ireland and see who notices, but that would hurt if I was caught doing it. So just some photos from when we got to Limerick.  Riverside of our Limerick hotel from our room. Looking upstream or downstream.  I don’t know And again.  So we drop off our lighage and drive to downtown Limerick. Today the wind is really blowing in Limerick so we only do a drive-by if you will. I guess we are ready to say goodbye to Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain and Italy and head home. ...

 Today we will try the drive of the Ring of Kerry. We are on the Kerry Peninsula and there is a famous ring road that travels around it where you can see the Atlantic Ocean smacking up against Ireland. Included are small fishing villages, beaches and a rigged coastline.  We are in no rush and set the GPS for the furthest village and then plan to complete the ring around the other side of the peninsula.  Traffic is not bad for the narrow two lane roads that make up the ring. However the weather is not cooperating. Misty rain falling on and off, obscuring the mountain tops and even the coastline at times. Photos of the start of the journey.  The roads get even narrower when they cross over streams with old stone bridges.  The Atlantic Coast  So after a quick break to pick up scones and other snacks, we decide to go back to our place but through the middle of the peninsula.  Less traveled road but more mountainous. A normal mountain road. Have to pull ove...

A short travel day. But you know I am going to stretch it out. We check out of our place after telling the owner what a fine show it was last night. They are going to see it in August.  Our guide (Apple Maps) tales us through small country lanes that though narrow have very few cars. What is different from Scotland is that the roads are lined with hedges hence the term hedgerows. Only a break now and then allows you to see the countryside. When you do it is great. Some early shots.  And of course a Pub is around every corner even on small country roads Cafe where we had breakfast  Mary Ann a scone and me a mini Irish breakfast   So we drive on and on on small Country roads looking for a larger highway to shorten the trip to Killarney. Just before we do, we run into this. Larger newer house up on the hill.  We finally hit a divided highway and head for Killarney. Parking is not easy but we find a parking garage half empty and use it. I think there are still peopl...