Day 6: In Search of Nessie.

We left Edinburgh at 7.10 with our first stop being the William Wallace AKA Braveheart, monument. A very important Scottish landmark.

With the camera sufficiently warmed up and no sightings of Mel Gibson it was back on the bus on our way to Loch Ness. The comfort stop this morning was at a Cafe called The Hairy Coo (cow in Scottish), nice play on words Scotland. Sad to say I didn't get any photos of any Highland Coos, disappointing because I do think they are very cute. Anyhoo no coo's but we did get our Rory fix at this cafe.

And in my opinion these little terriers are a canine version of the Highland Coo.

Comfort over and it's back on the bus, and did I forget to mention that Sandy created her own comfort stop at the William Wallace Monument ( I do hope she isn't getting into the habit of peeing at significant sights because we do have a long way to go). 

The trip to Loch Ness was spectacularly scenic although wet and misty and we arrived about midday.

INTERESTING FACTS:

Loch Ness is the deepest loch, max depth 227m ( you can't touch the bottom) . It is freshwater and extends for 37kms ( monsters need a very large lake).

It got significantly wetter and foggier as we got on the boat and the smell of monster was in the air (or was that just the Thai people getting their lunch behind me). 

 

I decided to brave the wet and cold and head out onto the upper deck, I was after the million dollar shot. It started to fine up and I got some nice shots of Urquhart Castle while Sandy was standing guard over our sandwiches below.

The monster photos are on my other camera and I can't post them yet until we have organised our publicist, you know the deal copyright, publishing issues etc etc.

Monster sightings over and it's back on the coach( that's what we Aussies call a bus) on our way to beautiful Glencoe.

The most magnificent scenery, and for one brief moment I actually thought I would like to take up hiking, thankfully that has passed now, the Scottish Highlands sure do funny things to people.

We were then off to the Ben Nevis distillery via Loch Lomond( think of Chain of Ponds and add about 500 more bends) where a wee dram of whisky would bring me back to my senses. Sandy cleaned up at the distillery as there were quite a few people not wanting to partake.

The final leg of this Highland expedition ended at Loch Long, another beautiful loch with our hotel in prime position on the loch.

I know this blog is also about food, but as yet we really haven't had anything that stands out, stay tuned!

Today's Lessons: 

don't make any rash decisions( see hiking reference). 

And just because it's significant doesn't mean you have to pee near it!

Day 5: A Day in Scotland's Capital

Our day in Edinburgh was a free day, the importance of this- not having to get up at 5.30 am, and not having to pack up the suitcase( still neat after almost 7 days). Somewhere during this trip I have managed to tweak my back a little ( insert Griswald reference here) so not having to lug around my bag is a bonus.

We arranged our day over breakfast coming to the same conclusion that the Whiskey Tour should be done last.

With this in mind we set off for Edinburgh Castle.

We wandered around the Castle with about 30000 others( about 29990 more than the last time I was here) enjoying the views within and without the castle walls, trying to keep our feet, as the wet cobblestones had turned into some sort of extreme slip and slide. I blame all those soldiers/ prisoners/ horses and royals for wearing down the anti slip surface.

Weather Update:

Scotland not being renowned for any consistency of weather lived up to its reputation, cold and rainy 90% of the day. According to the locals, temperature hasn't climbed above 22 deg all summer, certainly not kilt weather.

After being wet and soggy for a couple of hours where else could we turn but the Scotch Whiskey Experience, nothing says warm more than a single malt travelling through your veins. What a fantastic tour, firstly a ride in a barrel like carriage describing the process, then another presentation, and then Sandys Mecca

 A room with 3 walls, floor to ceiling scotch... 3400 bottles. I don't think Sandy blinked the whole time we were in there. After this we were taken to the bar where we were given another 4 to try (just starting to warm up now).

This tour certainly rates and as well as being tasty is also very informative. There were so many we wanted to buy but given it is only the beginning of our trip we abstained.

Now suitably warmed we tackled some souvenir shops... so much we could have bought with particular reference to our wee scottish dog at home. 

I had all intentions of buying some junior bagpipes, as I can imagine them coming in handy in the next few weeks, but disappointed as my fellow travellers will be I didn't get back to the store. We still have a couple of days left in Scotland so I still have my hopes up, Sandy is excited as well as she is more than aware of my natural musical ability.

Today's lessons: Our personal whisky collection is crap, and wine by the glass comes in three sizes ( no guessing Sandys preferred size).

Day 4: The Road to Scotland

Expat Explore Bus Tour Day 2:  We rose and shone  at 5.30 in our eagerness to get to Scotland before the day was done.  Our first mission was breakfast, smooth sailing except of course for the black pudding challenge, which both of us happily failed at. We left York at 7.10 in the rain.

Our first stop ( apart from our comfort stop) was Hadrians Wall, a wall built by the Romans in about 100 AD, a UNESCO site, and I know I keep banging  on about the history but it really is quite overwhelming. I failed to take a picture of the wall but here is some beautiful English countryside surrounding it.

At this stop it was quite obvious that the comfort stop was a little too far away for some ( Sandy and Tour Leader) who appeared from behind a wall( not the famous wall) with a look of apparent relief.

Back on the bus and a number of people had a telling off for climbing the wall and not respecting the significance of the site, wasn't us thankfully. We were now heading towards the border ( rolling hills, old houses, villages, sheep with black faces), about 5 mins from the border the sound of bagpipes filled the bus and increased in volume until we arrived.

On departing the bus there was a bagpiper playing and it was surprisingly moving, especially since neither of us are Scottish ( just tired I think..). 

Back on the bus we made our way to Jedburgh, a border town for lunch, beautiful typically scottish village with spectacular Abbey ruins.

After Jedburgh it was off to Edinburgh where we have a full free day to explore, and a sleep in. It was another long and satisfying day. What did I learn today; Scottish people speak funny and I don't think haggis should be an option on a toasted sandwich.

Day 3 Taking a Punt.

Day 1 of "The Bus Tour", firstly let me just say this bus and the passengers (mostly) are incomparable to Adelaide Metro! 

The Demographics: 

Average age 45-50

Nationalities: Aussies, Kiwis, South Africans, Canadians, Dubaiians, Kuwaitians, English, Thai, maybe some Indians and a couple of unknowns.

What I have learnt today: There is always one who is pushy and needs to be first everywhere, and public toilets aren't always that easy to find.

Our first stop was the beautiful historical town of Cambridge, where we took a punt.

The sun was shining, the scenery incredible and particularly relaxing, except for 2 exceptions.. The entry and the dismount..... these required the least amount of grace possible and clumsiness  was compulsory, I semi fell into the punt( and yes that is punt with a P), which made the lady opposite a little more comfortable about her entry. My dismount was much more dignified, although Sandy did exit the punt on her knees (once again emphasising the P). All in all a fantastic way to start the tour, and no injuries except some minor ones to pride.

Back on the bus for the afternoons trip to York, uneventful, although I must add that the service stops are like mini city's, usually 3-4 food outlets, a grocery store, a chemist, a pokie machine area and also fuel. Nothing at all like Port Wakefield. Arrived in York at about 3.30 then a walking tour at 4pm. Once again another town steeped in history, we walked along the walls into the city culminating at Yorkminster, a church that took over 250 years to build. Magnificent.

The surrounding areas are as you imagine, small winding cobbled lane ways. Coming from a country that is just over 200 years old it takes some time getting your head around the history of it all. 

Understandably all this walking requires regular fluid intakes... This afternoons refreshment stop was at The Golden Fleece, York's most haunted establishment ( even the pubs have significance ), a great little pub but disappointing to not have my drink fly off the table unexpectedly, or to have some poltergeist pulling Sandys hair. Never mind the drinks were good. Our evening in York concluded with dinner at The Old White Swan, fish and chips with peas and bangers and mash... seriously it doesn't get any better than this.

Day 2. Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Another long day.... Up at 4.30am for a 5 am pickup and that 5 star hotel that was yesterday is now about 4.5, due to the lack of hot water this morning.... Dubai Airport, wow, wow and wow.... So busy, we even had to have an " if you get lost action plan". Fairly uneventful 7hr flight except for Sandy being yelled at by the bossy South African flight attendant when she tried to go to the toilet when the seatbelt sign was on.... made me laugh!

 Gatwick Airport, just another airport, has nothing on Dubai, chaotic luggage collection, and the amount some people have OMG. We finally found our way to the train station and got on the train with seconds to spare, only to have it breakdown 3 stops into our journey ... Yes the Griswalds are on holiday!!  Finally we made it to Kings Cross where we transferred to a good old fashioned reliable cab to get us to our final destination, where we get picked up tomorrow to start our bus tour!

Day 1: Dubai

After what felt like an eternity on the plane we finally arrived in Dubai.....Wow!! A bustling metropolis in the middle of the desert. We are staying at The Jumeirah Creekside Hotel... Very 5 Star, complete with Bidet which both of us have no idea how to use or are game enough even to try.

After checking in we proceeded to breakfast, what an array, delicious and fresh. The one standout for me was the coconut chutney, deliciously spicy and also quite warm... Need to look for the recipe.

After breakfast, a couple of hours sleep then off to Dubai Mall - massive shopping mall including aquarium and ice skating rink, my highlight being a lady in the shopping queue when Sandy was swapping an un tagged item for a tagged item turning to me and saying " my mum does exactly the same"..well do you think I couldn't wait to tell Sandy... you bet!! Finally we have gone from being twins to being mother and daughter!

I am looking forward to coming back at the end of our trip and spending some more time here.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Today is the day that a years planning and dreams are starting to turn into reality. We are flying out on Emirates at 9.50 pm tonight. We have packed, we have been for breakfast, we have packed some more after remembering things we had forgotten to pack. Hopefully we have got it right, only time will tell. Sandy is now the Queen of packing, after having travelled to and from Pt Lincoln for many months examining various different techniques. Her preferred method is snap lock bags and rolling...I am currently in control of the neatest suitcase.