Category: Europe

  • A Week in Richmond, UK

    Aug 5-12 Around Richmond Bike along the Thames to Hampton Court Palace Kew Gardens Meeting Friends Theatre Day in London Back to London for an afternoon with the Sonne’s On to Hastings from London Waterloo

  • A Weekend Adventure in Historic York

    Aug 2-5 Our weekend in York was brief but memorable. We managed to catch the highlights, though there’s so much more to see and experience. Shambles – 14th-century landmark road City Walls Bike Ride from York to Beningbrough Hall Next stop London Kings Cross

  • Exploring Scotland: A 4-Day Journey

    July 29-Aug 2 We began the journey by taking the train from Liverpool Lime Street station to Edinburgh. Our four days in Scotland barely scratched the surface of its many wonders. We explored Edinburgh’s major sights, savored the vibrant pubs of Glasgow, and embarked on an all-day tour of the breathtaking Highlands. After over 20…

  • Liverpool – You’ll Never Walk Alone

    July 24-29 In Liverpool, we had the opportunity to reunite with friends we’d met during our travels. We explored iconic sites like The Beatles’ landmarks and enjoyed the company of the Sonne brothers (Peter and Andrew), whom we first encountered in Carcassonne, France back in 2019. They graciously showed us around on our first night. …

  • Irish Road Trip Part V – Killarney to Cork to Dublin

    July 22-24 The drive to Cork Leaving Killarney, we headed for Cork via Kenmare and Baltimore a distance of about 230 km. We stopped at Molly Gallivan’s Cottage & Traditional Farm. We toured the cottage, the farmyard, and experienced 5000 years of history on a 500m walk as advertised. We continued on through Turners Tunnels…

  • Irish Road Trip Part IV: Doolin to Killarney

    July 19-22 Leaving Doolin we were off to Killarney and a drive of about 190 km. Along the way, we ventured through Clare, where I had the pleasure of catching up with a colleague from Beckman Coulter, Carmel Kelly. Before our coffee meetup, we stopped at Clareabbey, and later in Limerick (where an old man’s…

  • Irish Road Trip Part III: Galway to Doolin

    July 17-19 After concluding our stay in Galway, we embarked on the short drive (~75 km) to Doolin – gateway to the Cliffs of Moher. Towering over the Atlantic Ocean, the Cliffs of Moher stretch 14 km starting at Doolin in the north and ending at Hags Head in the south. These cliffs reach a…

  • Irish Road Trip Part II: Roundwood to Galway

    July 15-17 After saying our good-byes to Clare and David, we were off on the drive (~230 km) to Galway. Heading north, then going west of Dublin we reached M4 motorway. The majority of the drive was on M4 and M6 motorways to reach Galway. Galway As we stayed outside the city center, so we…

  • Irish Road Trip Part I: Dublin to Roundwood

    July 13-15 We set off on a 12-day venture around Ireland via car. We rented our manual transmission, Opel Corsa from Budget Rent A Car (with full insurance) using the site DiscoverCars.com. After picking up our rental at Dublin Airport, off we went on the relatively short drive (~60 km) to Roundwood. Driving from the…

  • Dublin Delights: Guinness, pubs, & grub

    Despite the chilly and damp weather during our July 9-13 stay in Dublin, we embraced the Irish spirit and explored the city. We wandered the streets on foot and hopped onto the convenient hop-on, hop-off bus. We saw the sights, experienced the music and friendliness of the pubs, ate fish and chips, and enjoyed the…