Stayed tuned: SUMMER 2012

We are planning to spend 2 months across the pond again, July thru Sept! We really wanted to spend christmas in dear Oxshott again with our family the Batty's, but figure we will have a butt load more money to spend if we save that litte bit more for the summer.
The plans are :
1: what our dear girl Lydia calls "inter railing" which we take as getting a train pass and slumming country to country
2: avoiding the Olympics like the plague......unless, I would love to see the horsey stuff being raised watching " International Velvet"
3: Getting my duel citizenship
4: THE FRINGE FESTIVAL in EDINBURGH!!!
5: popping over to Holland and see our loved ones in altmaar and amsterdam
6: maybe squeezing in a trip to spain to stay in Xaviera's spanish b&b

So up til then I will be adding little posts leading up to all this, the flight arranging, getting places to stay, hopefully "apartment by Castle" again, papers in order, all the little vital things you need to do before international travel in case you yourselves are planning something and need help, you can follow the boy's!

Now THIS is a festival of chimes and light's!

If you are looking for suggestions to put on your bucket list, going to Edinburgh Scotland during the holidays, heck, ANYTIME, should be at the top of the list!

From Christmas time to the first of the year, the whole city celebrates what is called 'Hogmanay' It is festivals, carnivals, live music ect. They fence the city off and you must pay to get in unless you already live inside the city or staying there. Unfortunately they charge 3 times the going rates, but when 80 thousand people descend into your city you can. Their goal this year was to get the largest assembled group to sing 'Ol lang syne' and they did it! Good on you!

So we arrived Jan 3rd cause you know I am a cheap bastard, but the carnival was in full swing, and there is nothing like Princes Garden (which is situated below the castle and High Street) all lit up with the multitude of colors and music. From vendors booth's, ferris wheels, bungie balls, this carnival had you covered for entertainment. I am old now so we only did the ferris wheel (I think I am too old for even that, if you remember my success on the 'eye of manchester', I didn't learn my lesson)

The apartment Tim found was called 'Apartment By Castle' and it was jaw dropping amazing. The castle was literally a stones throw from it and right there in view from our window! With 20 foot high ceilings and real ornate crown molding, comfy leather couches and flat screen tv, I was in heaven, the wonderful owner Moira even had real Edinburgh crystal to have our drinks in. From the 2 HUGE bedrooms we could see the boy's school that inspired J.K. Rowling to create Harry Potter, and boys school turned into Hogwarts! More on THAT later! The apartment even had a full kitchen with washer and dryer and dishwasher! Upon arrival she took the time to explain how everything worked, what restaurants had received great reviews from past guests and which tour companies to use. (remember the Timberbush tours in the last post to Loch Ness, her suggestion!) Moira even had a welcome basket that contained coffee, fresh baked bread, tea's, cookies to dunk, and the BEST jelly I ever had! It is called Roses, and its a lime marmalade and I could have mainlined it. She even stocked the fridge with butter, water and other goodies. Only in Scotland I swear to God! We all think we even had a ghost who really liked Destini. (pillows thrown, picture crashing to the floor, nothing scaring, just a 'what's up' from the other side, but what can you expect from buildings 300 years plus old?)

The people of Edinburgh and Scotland in general are hands down the nicest people I have ever met, they even try to get out of your way when walking. I can still feel the 1000 year old cobblestone on my feet where we walked. The history of that stone in imprinted with the bazzilion people who have walked it before you and I swear retains that energy.

The food was amazing, but I think I will post separately on that, it was that note worthy. Anthony Bourdain would be proud, we made quite a dent.

If you have ever valued my opinion and word, then believe this, Edinburgh hands down is the BEST place to vacation (or move to..........) From butch guys with tattoo's in kilts yet no 'alpha' retentiveness, a language spoken in beautiful brogue, food that warms the gullet and NOT depletes the wallet, visual grandeur at every turn, quality shopping for the most discerning diva and smiles and friendliness abounding, Edinburgh, you are my home!

Here is the info for Apartment By Castle if you take our advise and stay there

abc@ednet.co.uk http://www.abc-edinburgh.co.uk Tell Moira we sent ya!

*wink* Julia "diva" Brink

On to Loch Ness

If you ever go to Scotland, and visit Edinburgh, you must visit Loch Ness via Timberbush Tour's and ask for David to be the tour guide. he didn't bore us once, drove beautifully thru the winding scenery, and really made the trip amazing. It started out at 8 in the morning right outside the castle, with roomy seat's. Now if you have any bladder issue's there is no "loo" on the bus, but he does make a lot of stops along the way so it really was no problem. Here is another hint, people line up early right at the office sign, so at first we thought 'Damn' we won't be able to sit together, but here was the thing, he turns the bus around up at the castle and loads the other way, so being at the end of the line turned into our benefit!

You know how some guides really just go thru the motion to where half way thru your screaming 'shut up' over and over again in your head? Not with David, this man truly loves his country and its passion showed thru the story telling, it was almost a comedy show. From Mary, Queen of Scots, to Rob Roy, he brought them all to life.

The scenery was breathtaking. Normally I am the 'yeah it's a mountain, yeah it's pretty, yeah lets get back on the bus' kinda guy. I just could not with Scotland. Maybe because my blood run's from there, but Even Tim and Destini were gasping from the majesty. From frozen loch's (which is a lake by the way, like brun breed is brown bread) wildlife, statue's on top of mountains dedicated to fallen soldiers. Every turn presented something else jaw gasping.

Loch Ness is awesome, the tour dropped us off to take a boat ride on it (yes I stole a rock) that had a full bar, and went up to an abandoned castle and then back. (The whole time your just going 'I'm on Loch Ness, trippy)

Anywho, the tour took around 8 hours with drive time, but David and the scenery made it fly by! Timberbush charged us 38 pounds each and worth every pence! You know how cheap I am and I would pay it again! I cannot wait to tour it with my mom and dad!

*wink* Ruth & Ted Enderle