We left on the 9th and got back last nite.
Don't know if I'd do it again!
Me, wife & son to Ireland for a week in Galway during the Arts Festival.
At least it wasn't trekking the countryside as wife & son usually do, but still ....lots of walking.
Our apartment was about 8-14 long blocks from the main doings.
Too short for justifying a car rental (I'd be scared tho- they drive on the wrong side of the road and the streets are really narrow and there are 'roundabouts' that go clockwise -wrong directon!) and parking is difficult anywhere near the center of town where the happenings were.

We sometimes took cabs, but usually waked.
I was always 1/2 block behind- dragging up the rear. They jokingly waited, patiently, til I caught up. At nite, I'd sometimes leave them to go pub crawling and at about midnite would walk back to the apt, by myself - too tired and hurting to do the nightlife. They were understanding and kind.

The closest grocer was 4 blks away, and the festival encompasses a large square-block area in the center of the city.
But it was fun, &... I managed - but the bummer was travel!
Racing thru airports to make connections (no electric carts in site, even tho I asked ahead of time - wheelchairs were available, but we could miss a connection if we waited for one - never one readily at hand.)
Hauling baggage (no trolleys allowed in international security checkpoints- gotta schlep the bags- but my son helped and he doubled his load for me, when necessary.)
Over 1/2 mile of walking (almost running) thru JFK in NY.... cause our flight was over an hour late arriving (actually starting out) from Ireland and our connection to home was ready to leave while we were still trying to get thru Security, and Customs..
Our checked bags, with our clothing & all the gifts for the grandkids,
didn't make it on the flight.... and we're still waiting for our luggage.

I'm still on Galway time (5 hrs difference) and haven't slept much, except for 'cat naps' on the 8 hr flight across the Atlantic.
My sleep & med sched is all haywire.
I'm tired and my feet and legs are leaden & sore.
I'm 65 this Sept, and have never been to Ireland, & maybe never will get the chance again in my lifetime.... so I went.
My wife and son had been there before for a few days, while backpacking thru the whole country for 3 wks about 3 yrs ago and decided to drag me over there, this time.

While there, I had a wonderful time. We shot almost 500 photos on my digital camera.
But the travel experience has soured it a bit. Well, more than just a bit.
I don't know if I'd want to do it again.
Our Homeland Security has made travel so difficult.
No gel innersoles allowed on planes....
I need those, to be able to wear shoes (I smuggled them thru)
"why are you traveling with all these meds?"
Very longairport distances in the getting from one gate to another to make connections- its always across the entire airport- waaay on the other side. No direct flights from my home town, to where we wanted to go.

I think that I'll stick to travel by car, next vacation and maybe drive to Mexico, or Canada, .....even Alaska! I'd like to try to travel by train sometime, but that is even somewhat of a hassle with Homeland Security being in the state iof inefficiency and understaffed, causing tie-ups and delays that are unnecessary.

But believe me....International air travel is a real bummer!