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Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3
  • 1 Planet 1 Bag
  • Marc Scheulin
  • 1 Planet 1 Bag
  • Marc Scheulin

Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3

May in Edinburgh. We are expecting all of the 4 weather seasons, in the coming weeks along with Whiskey, cows, Harry Potter, trains, heaths, kilts, haggis, castles, Out Lander and public transit. Read more
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  • Trip start
    May 1, 2024
    Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3
    Every step is a different color marble for 5 floorsA little Hawaii in ScotlandBus pass. 1st official Scottish document

    First Impressions

    May 1, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    There will be lots of steps and stairs for us in May!
    While Edinburgh is very walkable and has great transit, there is a steep valley that runs through the city. There are public staircase everywhere. Between the train station and the Royal Mile shopping mall, stairs go up about 7 stories high.
    It’s that or a weird back and forth on the street.

    I’m already googling for a foot massage spa.    Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3
    The castle can be seen from everywhere
    The BBC office and the World Wildlife Fund are around the corner from our home.Beer dispenser thing for the table. Not our table as that is a lot of beer.

    Lay of the Land

    May 2, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 55 °F

    We walked around Edinburgh. First to a pub where, in a week we will attend a beer tasting, then we took a tram to the port where, again later on, we might take a tour of the Britannia Yacht. We also walked down the Royal Mile (no photos were taken and we will walk that as an event of its own). Then a bus home. Learning our new neighborhood is always fun.Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3
    View of Arthur's Seat from our Airbnb
    Top of valley, looking at parliament buildingArthur's Seat from parliament buildingTent protest about PalestiniansStreet view of our AirbnbAlley view: last top left window is our unit

    Walk around Arthur’s seat

    May 2, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 52 °F

    Today I took a walk around the mountain named Arthur’s seat that we see out the windows of our apartment. It is in the center of Holyrood park, a park of mostly grass fields and wilderness next to the parliament building and royal castle. It took me about an hour to circle the mountain.
    Many people were also on the path. All in better shape than I am.
    I’ve got 4 weeks to change that deficit.    Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3
    2Marc is on watch
    Yes, it rainedIf you zoom in you can see where windows and doors have been filled inYew trees in the courtyard. Everything about this tree is poisonous, from the bark to the seed.It's easier to mow the grass in the way a formal garden would have looked than to actually grow a gaCheck out how the wall goes around the tree

    Craigmiller Castle

    May 3, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F

    Although this castle is still in Edinburgh it felt a world away. Not an only a world away because there were only 4 other people there, but yes, a world away because they filmed several episodes of Outlander there.

    The more we travel the more We love how little structure there is when touring places in other countries. There were no monitors telling us to “stay out of there”, “Don’t touch that”, “Use the handrail”, “don’t fall off”. As a matter of fact it was the opposite. We were told to touch anything, there was a rope as a handrail, and few places had little more than a turret to save you from falling. Everyone who visits is left to themselves and to their own level and interest to walk around and explore. So refreshing that this country believes in the best of people, people will be polite and considerate and somehow survival of the fittest will win out.    Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3
    Yes, the picture on the left is a person sitting on the toiletExtra points if you know what this is used for32

    Musselburgh - Fishermens Festival

    May 4, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

    The ocean is closer to Edinburgh than we expected. 20 minutes on the bus and we were in the small beachside town of Musselburgh. We picked today to visit as it’s their annual Fishermen’s Festival. It was small beach village at its best. The people were warm and the gathering was happy. The local vendors were creative and many used items they found on the sea shore. For geologic reasons the sea shells on the beach are unbroken and you can scoop them up by the bucket full.Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3
    View from our restaurant
    2Beachside mailman with his mail trolleyMobile Sauna by beach walkGame and casinoLooking back at restaurant after tide went out

    Portobello - The sea not the antiques

    May 4, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

    The next town up is Portobello. More people and movement than Musselburgh. Complete with a small boardwalk. Very active on this Saturday with beach volleyball (in sweats) a community pool, and a gaming place with coin pushers that used actual .02 pence and the possibility to win actual money (no age restriction)!

    We stopped at an Oceanside restaurant and I had fish and chips. I’d call it more fried fish than fish and chips but still tasty and a large portion.    Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3

    Edinburgh Parade

    May 5, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    Our last adventure in Edinburgh was 2019 and we walked through the town with flaming torches on Hogemany. The Scottish celebration on New Year’s Eve day. In that case, walking with the flaming torch had us, as the parade. This time the parade was for peace, or ecology, or global warning, or worker’s rights. It was hard to know which as every group was included. Still colorful and there were bagpipes so very Scottish.Read more

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    5

    Sunday Roast

    May 5, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    Edinburgh, and all of the UK for that matter, have many restaurants that feature a Sunday Roast. Roast beef, rustic vegetables, gravy and a Yorkshire pudding (the roll/pastry thing). My mom who grew up in Manchester would frequently cook a roast beef with vegetables and it is truly a home cooked meal for me. Now we search them out each Sunday.

    Today was extra nice as we ate with my cousin Shirley and her husband Lee. They met us in Edinburgh for the afternoon. Sunday roast was extra special with family.    Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3

    Holyrood Palace

    May 6, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌫 50 °F

    We are so happy to host our first friends who took us up on our “visit us wherever we are” option. Jim and Donna, (friends I met in Ecuador, and fellow world travelers) met us after their visits through Europe.
    We took a very short walk to visit our neighbors home (ok it’s the Palace at Holyrood) but fun to say it’s our neighbor. Lots of walking in and around inside the Palace. There’s a headset so you get all the info on what you are seeing sent right to your ears.
    This Palace is actually the home of the Royal families when they are in the area, which is fun to think that they walk the same hallways.

    Oh, no photography allowed inside the Palace. So just a few of the garden.    Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3
    King James famous for his rewrite of the Bible

    Edinburgh Castle

    May 6, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    At the other end of the Royal Mile (the road that connects the two) is Edinburgh Castle it is the main focal point of the town. This dominates (and shouldn’t all castles dominate?) the skyline and the hill of Edinburgh. There is too much history to get in to here, so let’s just say that the old parts are really old 1100 and the castle is still the main base of the Edinburgh Military guard. It is also the home of the Scottish Crown Jewels which is beautiful red (no photos) and the entire castle is considered the ancestral home of the true Scottish Monarchy.
    As is fitting a castle, the views of the surrounding area are spectacular.    Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3
    This looks like a Disney creation.The first flying machine in ScotlandSoooo many numbersMillennial mechanical clockThe Dr. Pepper made me smile

    National Museum of Scotland

    May 7, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    In a country with human history that goes back to the 600’s. Any museum that attempts to chart this history would be huge, and the museum of Scotland is indeed huge. Oh and beyond charting the history of the people the museum has floors dedicated to: aviation, animals (Dolly the cloned sheep), geology, textiles and innovation. Basically anything in Scotland! We tried to focus on the human development and sociology but after 3 floors of that and 3 more to go, our brains were tired. We wrapped up our day looking at race cars, and an incredible mechanical clock. Luckily it’s free so a second trip is possible.Read more

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    Hop-on-hop-off- Grass Market

    May 8, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    Shhhh, don’t tell! We doubled up on Jim and Donna’s hip on bus tickets today. We caught the bus at 9:45, rode the whole loop, then back around and off at the Grass Market.
    The Grass Market used to be for the sale (and purchase) of any animal that eats grass. Good name I think. It was a good place for lunch and a walk around. Nearby was another street claiming to be the inspiration for J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter.Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3

    Golfing at St. Andrews

    May 10, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

    Today we had a 11:45 tee time at the Himalayan course, just next to “The Old Course “ at Saint Andrew’s.

    Pam for the win! Enough said. She shot 54 for the 18 holes. Extra impressive as we all had rented clubs.

    It was a great way to spend the morning with Marc and Lee. The sun was shining and the grass was green.

    Well played all around and much fun. Oh, and Marc had a hole in one on the 13th hole!

    Did I mention we were on the St. Andrew’s Ladies Himalayan 18 hole putting course? Ah, must have missed that in my headline…    Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3

    Meeting other nomads

    May 10, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    St. Andrew’s was a busy stop. We wrapped our day of excitement with another meet up with more nomad travelers. Ian and Diane (although technically not nomads) are travelers like us. They’ve lived in several states and are currently making their home in Perth, Scotland. It’s always great to sit and chat about this lifestyle and share ideas and travel destinations. They are doing their adventures with Tess, a beautiful black lab, who was well behaved and took her world travels in stride. Let’s meet again.Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3
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    St.Andrews Village

    May 10, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    Beyond the golf course and the University, St. Andrew’s is a very nice place. Typical Scottish town with a castle and cathedral ruins but a very nice seaside and beach. Pretty and worth the side trip.

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3
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    Cold Town House - Beer festival4

    Beer Fest and Clubbing?

    May 12, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    The grass market area got its name as the market location for any animal that eats grass. It was also the location of executions. Its history is reflected in the names of the current pubs and restaurants including the oldest still operating pub in Edinburgh called The Last Drop. It was one of the first areas we visited and is actually on the same steer our house is on so it’s possible to walk (about a mile). We got tickets to a beer event at a pub and today we spent several hours drinking all types of beer. The most common of these craft beers had fruit (mango, citrus) which was slightly sweet and refreshing. I liked it (not loved it) and it wasn’t Marc’s taste at all. But we tried it non-the-less. Also met a couple of new friends on the roof terrace and the conversation was lively.

    Marc hung out at the pub and I walked towards home. I stopped at a couple of clubs on the way. It was nice to be around happy people in their 20’s out on the town. There was an acoustic guitar player singing popular radio songs, and I liked how they sang along, as a mass, to certain songs.

    I completely missed the aurora borealis that was visible in Edinburgh on May 10, (if I had just gone outside it would have been obvious). With high expectation for a second night of lights, I got home by 9, took a nap and was up by 11:30 with my fingers crossed. Alas, it didn’t happen, so I’ve added another country to my list of places where I’ve actively tried to see, but missed the lights. Alaska, Norway, Finland, Lapland, Iceland and now Scotland. One day, one day.    Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3
    A moody Monet
    Da Vinci with help from another artist at a different timeOnly in ScotlandA cubist view of Edinburgh4

    National Gallery

    May 14, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    I’m very fond of paintings. Mostly the impressionists so I always hunt around for viewing museums. Today took me to the National Gallery, not the portrait gallery or Modern 2, which I’m saving for another day. Made up of two buildings connected below grade, the 5-story building is old on the outside and beautiful on the inside.

    Sauret, Monet,Poisson, amongst many others. I really enjoyed the art created by Scottish artists with Scottish themes. Men in kilts, dancing girls, wild scenes of the highlands, only in Scotland images.

    I also discovered a new trick. With my headphone in one ear, I could listen presentations on YouTube about the art, while I was looking at it in person. Also, the Audio Description (for visually impaired folks), provided by the museum, was another new (to me) way to look at the paintings.

    And it was free!!    Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3

    Royal Botanical Garden

    May 15, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    A leisurely stroll through the Royal botanical garden. Many flowers were getting ready to open their blooms. Occasionally there was an early bloomer. It felt like a preview of an upcoming colorful event.Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3

    A Bar with a Video Game Theme

    May 16, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    This crazy colorful, energetic, bar was wild. In flavor and design it was creative. And they change the theme every 3 months, so it never gets boring. They’ve done Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Outlander and this go round it was Super Mario (from the video game). The drinks menu matched character names with drink flavors. From spicy to fruity. It was a nice diversion and had me smiling from the moment I sat down and the waiter came up in coveralls and a hat.

    The Cocktail Geeks on Market near Waverley Station, Edinburgh.    Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3

    Book Signing

    May 16, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    One of the joys of living in a city for a month is discovering an event early in the stay that is happening weeks later, and then knowing you’ll be around long enough to do it.

    This time it was an authors discussion and a book signing for What If Women Designed The City? By Dr. May East. I bought the book a couple of weeks ago, read it, and then I was eager to hear her talk.

    Wow! When reading the book it was academic, but when she spoke about it…. It got worse. She talked to the group as though we were a group of fellow academics in her same field sharing a common vocabulary. Of course, only a couple of people in the group of “regular bookstore patrons” were at her level. Needless to say, the group was lost and it was hard for her to make her points understood.

    Didn’t stop me from having her sign my copy.

    Which I will leave at the Airbnb, it wasn’t that good.    Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3
    Main highway into the townPub for lunchRailway trestle across TweedNew highway bridge into old townJust another castle in the country

    Berrick-upon-tweed

    May 18, 2024 in England ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F

    Long name for a very nice village. On the border with Britain, this Burgh changed hands 10 times between Scotland and Britain before settling in England (subject to much heated debate at every Scottish pub). Almost all of the fortress walls are still intact and in many cases the ramparts and earthen bombardments remain. The North Sea and the river Tweed create the other borders and make a snug surround to a peaceful place.Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3
    Marc's Vegan RoastPam's "real" roast

    Sunday Roast & walk about

    May 19, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    We took a 40 minute walk to the other side of Holyrood park so get a Sunday Roast a a real local pub, the “Sheep’s head Inn”. This pub was established about 600 years ago. Unfortunately, they were short staffed and could only offer us a beer today.

    So, we took another 30 minute walk to another local pub “the Salisbury arms”. Great atmosphere & service, very pleasant dining. Except, Marc can’t read an English menu. I thought I ordered roast pork with a fig stuffing. In fact, I ordered only fig stuffing with NO MEAT!
    It tasted great, but just wasn’t satisfying!

    Pam ordered the perfect Roast, with pork, beef and roast chicken. She was super nice and let me have some meat scraps off her plate.    Read more

  • Scotland, Yr 1, Home 3
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    The Station Hotel (from the Calm story) and the reason I cameEven the carpet is a tartan plaid

    The Far North Line

    May 20, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F

    Do you use the Calm ap? It’s an ap with a bunch of adult sleep stories. All of the stories are chill and relaxing and honestly I don’t think I’ve made it through any of them before I’m asleep, and I recommend it. Several of the stories are about train trips. In short the story is that the protagonist gets on a train, then explains the trip and the things they see. And then I’m asleep and I really don’t know how they turn out.

    I’ve been on several of the trains in the stories and there are two of the Calm train trips in Scotland, The West Highlands (that’s next weeks adventure) and the Far North Line from Inverness to Thurso. With 30 stops and 3.5 hours covering 111 miles of the Scottish Highlands to the sea.

    Which brings me to today’s solo adventure. Me, my ScotRail pass and a 9 hour total train trip to Thurso. leaving Edinburgh at 8:38, arriving in Inverness at noon, then the Far North Line from Inverness to Thurso from 2:00 to 6:00.

    I’m staying overnight in Thurso and we will see what train I take tomorrow!!

    Oh and there is a high chance of seeing the Northen Lights in Thurso tonight, so it could be a massive adventure.    Read more

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