Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19201
Location: PDX8/21/23 7:00 AM |
Scotland Trip concluded
We had no issues. No lost luggage [had GPS tracking], no flight bumps. None of the planned tour stuff went wrong, beyond some meet up place ambiguity resolved by phone last minute.
Caught entire or parts of 5 Worlds events.
Trains go fast, like 100 mph so travel between cities is expedient as he!!. We started in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, back to Edinburgh. With a few train jaunts to Sterling and Perth.
Used ubers, taxis, trams, Brit/Scotrail and buses here and there, opting for no rental car.
Watcher zero TV, a rule I made ahead of time. ;)
Our planned places density was too thick, but we only lost going to Skye while in Inverness. Well and the Falkirk Wheel, although we ripped by it @ speed. ;)
No jet lag going, lots on return. We pushed things when we hit the states. 14 hour layover in Newark we made lemon aide out of. Rented a car and shot north for pizza and confab with old friends. One drove down from Brewster to Washington Township for the meet.
I mention that as it most likely played a big part in the return fatigue. Flying same direction the planet rotates and using most lot of the lay over not sleeping. ;) Plan was sleep on the plane coming over the big pond. Only I never get much shut eye flying.
We got about 3-1/2 hours sleep before heading to the airport for the last leg home. But car drop at EWR tram, and hotel 1/2 mile from that. Smooth running, albeit butt dragging.. ;)
Among castle visits was Doune, Monty Python Holy grail filming location. Holyrood where QE was laid in state. Edinburgh Castle including seeing the Tatoo.
And of course too many 'Outlander' filming locations for my taste. but no you know who's. ;) Oh, and Roslyn Chapel was ultra cool. The highlands are some of the most beautiful country I've seen in my lifetime.
Camera worked out great, but no so much for the Worlds. I got a lot of shots of the back of folks hands holding up their phones for camera shots when it mattered most. ;)
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