Fall is the perfect time for Europe !

Arrived in Dublin from MCO via PHL in early September and although I have been to Ireland many times before this time the weather in September was actually warm and inviting . We of course visited out favorite place in all of Ireland , Maynooth ! University town with loads of charm and friends from olden days which make it all the more special . My husband had a birthday on the day we arrived so it was the perfect setting to celebrate with friends at a restaurant in the center of this gorgeous town called Stone Haven. The food and the company did not disappoint . The staff and their service was phenomenal . Guinness tour at St. James Gate was one of the highlights of the trip, so much goes into making this brew and the history of the place will sure to interest even non stout drinkers.
The itinerary for this fall trip took us all over Europe over a span of five weeks , it included Dublin, London, Cambridge , Belfast and other parts of Northern Ireland . After leaving the UK and Ireland it was onto Brussels, Brugge, Copenhagen , Berlin ,Munich and culminating in Malaga Spain and flying home out of Madrid . Whew it was awesome !
Belfast with it’s famed black taxis yielded a land that is definitely British but on Irish soil and there were plenty of murals and talk to remind everyone of this. Our Black Taxi driver was a direct link to all the happenings back in the 80’s with unrest carried over from Britain deciding to keep the six Counties splitting them from the other twenty-six which make up Ireland . The murals on both sides of the wall in Belfast tell the stories of a people who won’t soon forget or concede defeat or land to either side . There was even talk that negotiations may be eminent again as the new Monarch is heralded in since Queen Elizabeth died while we were in Ireland. Well we will all be on the lookout for that. We also visited Duluce Castle and the Irish Causeway while in the North both were splendid places to visit .
Queen Elizabeth died a day before arrived in London and the City was truly in mourning , our tours of the Drawing Rooms at Buckingham Palace as well as tour of Windsor Castle were cancelled and the lights were off at Elizabeth Tower and much of Central London when we got there . Anyhow as I’m sure I mentioned in many post previous London has been my favorite City since high school so there was much to do with friends and family and even had a day trip out to Cambridge which was lovely. The University is the town , with quaint pathways , historical sights and eateries. Well worth the trip . Leicester Square as alway was abuzz with activity and nearby China town was our choice for dinner after the musical “Get up Stand Up “ a play about the life of Bob Marley .
Brussels was included in this trip just so we could go back to “Ribs and Beer” in Brugge ! My husband and me too fell in love with this restaurant about five years ago on our first visit to Brugge with friends from Australia. It’s all you can eat Ribs and of course all you can buy beer ! Lol ! We enjoyed it immensely …again. Brussels was a first for us ,we had visited Antwerp a few years back and enjoyed it more there. Brussels though had a fabulous Central area with shops and restaurants and was always buzzing with activities and Concerts ,that was fun.
Copenhagen was a revisit for me but new to my partner , the architecture and historical venues are many . Visited the Geologisk Museum to see the Neanderthal exhibition which was defiantly a highlight . Visit to Stenløse Denmark to see friends was a good respite from city center where we stayed at the Tivolli Hotel. Tivoli Gardens is also a great place to have a bit of childhood fun and the food offerings at area eateries were very good.
It was on to Berlin after Copenhagen with its rich history and buildings from those eras to prove it. The Reichstag , Bradenburg Gate and parts of the Berlin Wall are still big tourist draws , well worth the visit to see these relics from that time not so long ago .
Munich of course with it’s famous Oktoberfest did not miss us. We went at nighttime but could not find a seat anywhere so we revisited in the daytime, both visits were unique with all the pomp and pageantry of the most famous two weeks in Munich each year. 2022 saw the first celebration since Covid in 2020, everyone welcomed the experience even with the cold and rain that was this year’s .
An exhibition of pictures will take you along in this wonderful European trip and will propel you to plan and execute your own adventure. Let me help you with your itineraries . You know how to contact me ,here at Travelwhisperer.org
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