Tag Archives: castle

Unforgettable Stay at an Irish Castle

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Repeat guests Sam, Judy, Colleen and Don enjoyed a night at Dromoland Castle in County Clare at the tail end of their recent tour in Ireland, Sept 13 – 23, 2023. This was Don’s sixth tour with European Focus, Colleen’s seventh, Sam and Judy’s fourth.

Dromoland should be called “Dreamland,” because it’s so… yes. The estate was owned by the O’Brien family, and it was not burned during the Irish Revolution of the early 1900s because the family had good relations with the locals, whom they treated with respect. The estate has an 18-hole golf course, extensive woodlands, wonderful paths for walking, a large lake with free rowboats and a gorgeous, peaceful walled garden. Inside, at least three large fireplaces are kept going all day long, adding to the warm atmosphere punctuated by reds, browns and blues. Lush doesn’t begin to describe Dromoland.

I look forward to bringing many more guests to this special place in the future.

Images from our September 21, 2023 stay at Dromoland Castle

Paris and France D-Day History Tour

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August, 2022 Day 1: Arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport Paris (3 nights) Highlights of this tour: Paris Latin Quarter Louvre with guided tour Notre Dame (exterior) Seine River Cruise Eiffel Tower at night for the light show Montmarte and Sacre Couer D-Day landing beaches and museums, American cemetery Stay in a chateau […]

The Ancient Castle of Runkel, Germany

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August 9, 2015 While on an ancestral discovery trip to nearby Oberursel, our guest Steffani from near Atlanta, Georgia had the opportunity to conquer her fear of heights AND explore an ancient medieval castle all at the same time. It was a bright and gorgeous July day when guide James Derheim offered a day trip […]

Castle Combe is England’s Frozen in Time Village

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Sept 1 A stop in Castle Combe is a must while visiting England’s Cotswolds district. The hamlet is nearly perfect. All that would be needed to make it 100% so would be if the locals all dressed in period costume, say around 1801, and if they got around on horseback instead of in cars. Even […]

Prague’s Secret Garden

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October 18 We made a new discovery today together with a visit to Prague’s wonderful Secret Garden, located below Prague Castle. It truly is a secret, only a small door leading off a busy street with no English signage. One has to be a bit adventurous to find it. We spent a happy hour wandering […]

Wine Tasting on the Mosel River of Germany

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October 3 The Day of German Unity is October 3rd and it seems as if on this gorgeous early autumn day everyone is touring around the Mosel River Valley. Including four Americans from Texas and one from Minnesota. We spent our final day of this tour visiting the medieval Burg Eltz, nestled in its protective […]

Linderhof Castle, King Ludwig’s So-Called Hunting Lodge

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September 30 from a visit on September 28 Bavaria’s last real ruling monarch, King Ludwig II, left behind many IOUs and debts from his wild building program. He built three castles, two of which were never completed. He wrote out huge IOUs, was declared crazy, put into a hospital and was a short time later […]

The View is Worth the Climb in Budapest

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(September, 2012) We rode the fun funicular up to the old castle hill on the Buda side of Budapest. Once up there, we were treated to a splendid view over the Pest side with spires of Buda down below. The Danube really is blue, on a clear day.