October 8, 2006

We found the Starbucks. It's the biggest one I've ever been in with lots of 'private' doors all over the place. The view from the beautiful windows of the castle is breathtaking!! And it's HOT in there when the sun shines through...

This is an aside - I don't exactly where or when I realized that at the Starbucks I just need to ask for 'cream on the side' - it's still full-on cream but at least it's not milk. And they make their coffees STRONG here, man even the light coffees are really quite intense!

Today is SHOPPING - we're shopping! We shopped all day - House of Fraser, all kinds of Scottish souvenir shops, Marks & Spencers, John Lewis, Debenhams, HMV... Everything is so lovely with so much selection. It boggles the mind.

We stopped for tea and scones at the House of Fraser. I also bought a wee Christmas turkey ornament and a facecloth. They're not big on facecloths in the hotel rooms. Ah, who cares! Now I have a House of Fraser one! Bought three Runrig CDs, that I'm ecstatic about! There are so many beautiful plaids - I could buy them all but I kept to my two favourites - Fraser & McGregor.


We went back to our new room, No. 7 which is smaller but just as adorable and the bathroom is lovely! And right now, we're at Tonic having a Manhattan! Slainte!

Supper was at the Bad Ass - it was a really nice pub and really HOT in there. Oh my god, we're sweating!! We laughed our fool heads off cos we were so frickin' hot!! To top it off, we had a platter of deep-fried finger foods that were really incredibly hot!!

Walked back down York Street and found a wee depanneur (that we first thought was closed) and bought some chips and chocolate. Watched the Top 100 TV Moments - lots of laughing! The Brits - they do love a 'top' list!

October 7, 2006 - 'Edina! Scotia's darling seat!'

Edinburgh! Everything is grand! Seen 5 men in kilts so far!! Edinburgh is so beautiful. We're staying at the Ballantrae Hotel on York. We're in Room 9 and it's HUGE!! It's for a family but we get to have it for tonight only! We arrived on the train at around 4:30 and found the hotel without too much trouble. After a rest, we ventured out and found Ryan's Bar and I had my first 'jacket potato' with Cheddar Cheese and Pickle - so good! Washed it down with a pint of Tennant's - so good!

The castle is amazing at night - like a jewel. I fell in love tonight with Edinburgh tonight and I hardly 'ken ye'.

Watched a Top 100 videos program on telly. Heard the song 'Bright Eyes' by Art Garfunkle from the movie 'Watership Down'. I have not heard that song for many years.

October 6, 2006

Birdie woke us up on time! Took shower, packed and left by 9:00 am. Took the Dart to Dun Laoghaire and had to wait till 11:00 to board the ship - tons more people going back then when crossed over on Tuesday. The ship was cold but eventually warmed up - the Irish Sea was very rough and I was nauseaus...

We got got another Virgin train at 2:14 and got some good seats, ate a BLT. I bought a Marie Claire with a free tote bag. It's great buying British magazines - they often have a free gift, gotta love a 'gift with purchase'!

Got back to Lauren's with no problem. We all went out for dinner and drinks.

October 5, 2006

Arose at 9 - left around 11 for the James Joyce Centre. We had a cappuccino at the Cobolt Café, just across the street from 'Jim's'! The Centre was excellent - worth the 5 Euros we paid. The man was brilliant and I love him (and not just the Ewan Jim!). Always looking for an Irish or Scottish genetic link, we noticed that in several photos James Joyce looks like our Grandfather Maurice Lavallée! There is a lovely photo of him with a beard, circa 1919. Had another cappuccino at the Centre's wee café served up by some lads.

It was raining when we left so we returned to the room to get our coats and then we actually didn't need them after that! Bugger.

Did lots more walking - saw the Famine Memorial, the U2 recording studios, Oscar Wilde in the Merrian Square. Walked around Grafton Street, Stopped at Davy Brynes for a pint of Guinness and a Gorgonzola sandwich with chips 'a la Leopold Bloom'.









Shopped for a bit, had a rest in our room, then went back to the Octagon Bar for our final two Manhattans... Until we're back... Slainte!

October 4, 2006

The bed is a bed of lumpy vegetables...

Today was incredible. Found a Starbucks - she asked me if I wanted room for cream and I said 'yes!' thinking I was going to get cream. But alas, no cream - then I realized she had a non-Irish accent, maybe Canadian so she was used to saying 'cream'. More milk...


We went to the Whitefriar Chapel Church - we attended the mass for St. Francis of Assisi. Saw St. Valentine's box of bones and an altar to 'la petite Ste. Térèse'. Went to a crystal shop to buy some incense and noticed that on their door was a notice for CVs and one of the criteria was 'Must be able to speak English'! Indeed!

Had a delicious fish 'n chips lunch on the lawn of Christ Church (it's dated circa 1087 A.D.) with 'les 'tit valiants'! Off to the Guinness Storehouse! We had lots of fun goofing around and reading all the great information about how to make the lovely Guinness. We went round and round until we got to the top (8th) floor. The view was incredible! And we got a free pint of Guinness - another afternoon delight!! The gift shop was fabulous. I love it here.


Back to the hotel and out again to the Clarence and the Octagon Bar! We had our first drink at the bar and watched the best bartender ever make drinks. He was brilliant - he made a Cosmopolitan and finished it off by torching the fruit!! We then went to 'our table' and had a second Manhattan. We also had some Irish Cheeses with relish and crackers. I had noticed a young couple with a little baby girl at the Storehouse and then saw them again at the Octagon Bar - cheers to them! We wrote up some hasty postcards! When you're a little 'sheeted' you tend to write really quickly!!

October 3, 2006 - on the rocky road to Dublin

Took a cab to the train station, then a train to Chester, then a Virgin train to Holyhead, Wales. The Virgin train is really nice - we had ourselves a coffee and some Starbucks Ginger Snaps. The view is incredible, lots and lots of sheep!! Also, a bit of a disturbing sight 'trailer courts' - wow, that's something I never thought I'd see in Britain. And they're just as ugly here as in North America. There was a wee baby in the seat across from us and earlier in Liverpool I saw a wee girl all dressed up in her red football (soccer for us) kit - she was only about 3 or 4, so adorable and quite serious about her football.

We waited around the Holyhead ferry station for about an hour and a half. We enjoyed some O'Brien's Irish Sandwiches - Ham, Cheese & Pineapple sandwich and a Cheese Savoury sandwich. They sure do know how to do sandwiches over here!! So boarding a ferry/ship is much the same as a plane - I got frisked going through Security. Our ship was the HMS Stena and it was like a cruise ship, way different than any other kind of ferry boat that I've ever taken. Shopping, drinking, gambling, eating - it's all there! We had a pint of Boddington's. Here's to drinking in the afternoon!! Wee hee! Well actually it was more like 5ish - damn near the Cocktail Hour!

Hotel Clifton Court - Room 308, well, it's a tiny room with a tiny, tiny bathroom!! There's only one place to stand and from there you either sit on the toilet, stand at the sink or walk into the shower. No elevators either and it is quite the hike up the stairs and down these long hallways with luggage!! Getting a workout!!

We walked down O'Connell Street, the Liffey is so pretty, all the bridges are lit. Next stop - the Clarence Hotel and the Octagon Bar. I walked into the Octagon Bar and knew it would haunt me. It's cozy, beautiful, and they make the best Manhattans I've ever had in a bar. They're big, they're beautiful, they're expensive and they're worth every penny!! Our Cocktail waitress was a lovely blond European girl who was so attentive and efficient. And they served some lovely complimentary spicy nuts... I have arrived.

October 2, 2006

Started the day on a doubledecker bus! Walked up to the Liverpool Cathedral, beautiful church and view of Liverpool! We stopped for a Starbucks coffee with milk and a lovely Cheddar & Pickle sandwich. Pickle doesn't mean a pickle like we think - but a delicious relish/chutney thing. We did more walking, stopped at the Walker, had lunch at Tabac (tomato soup with garlic bread) and at last 'we're s-h-o-p-p-i-n-g, we're shopping!' We hit Marks & Spencers - I could fill a page on this store - Topshop, Miss Selfridges, and Boots. I bought a skull necklace and knickers and bras.

After shopping, it was drinking - the Fly in the Loaf (Weihen Stephaner, Kristall Weissbier) was first, then the Philharmonic (too many pints to mention). We did have a lovely meal at the Blackburne where J'nyn had the tallest and smallest burger ever.


Tomorrow I'm going to Dublin!!

This is an aside - I must mention that the chip action in the UK is utterly amazing! The Canadian and American chips/snacks industry pale in comparison. I was in 'chip heaven' and yes there IS a chip heaven. As you can see from the photo that I am just so fricking elated that I cannot even do up my jacket properly!! Wee hee!!

October 1, 2006

We three Canadians headed out, rode a doubledecker, and found the first Starbucks. Thus begins the 'coffee saga' in the UK. They don't do 'coffee cream' 'half & half' '10% cream', what have you. It's milk or FULL-ON cream. I drank my first coffee with milk - ick.

We walked on Canada Boulevard that is lined with maple trees and around the Docks. Saw the "Hello Sailor" and the "Transatlantic Slave" exhibits. Lunch was at the Tate Café - it was when we still ate lunch - I had the Scottish Salmon Open-face Sandwich. Toured the Tate (Patrick Cadwell) and the Gift Shop. There was a lovely wee girl that bought a purple pencil - she was all dressed in purple, must be her favourite colour. When the salesclerk gave her the bag, the girl clutched it to herself with such joy - it touched me so much...

Next was the Duckmarine City & Dock tour - it was fun. But finally the pubs!! We started at the Pumphouse Inn (John Smith's Extra Smooth Ale) , Doctor Duncan (Dragonheart Ale, FA - Formidable Ale). We three Canadians were pretty 'sheeted'. We walked a bit more and ended up at the Royal Tandoori where we feasted on nan bread, korma veggies, rice, green chicken from Goa, papadoms with a bottle of Chardonnay Sauvignon. The evening finished off with a pint of Strongbow at Penny Lane pub. Pretty good for the first full day!

 

 

September 30, 2006

...September 30! We've landed! Blessed joy! And the first thing I hear as I'm waiting to go to Immigration is 'Please fill out your Landing Cards in English.'! Yes indeed - English!! Yippee!

So we're off to Security and here They mean business and with good reason. I had to take off my shoes (a new thing for me) and my belt. Everyone is taking coats, belts and shoes off - it's quite a funny sight. One man said to me 'Everyone stipping down - it's like bedtime'!!

And to make it more exciting J'nyn couldn't find her passport... Yup, the sweat ducts were working. Now we're waiting in the 'Quiet Area' trying to cool off! Stopped in one of the shops that sell magazines, chocolate bars, chips, etc. Oh boy... The fun begins!

'in the unlikely event' 'tie the belt on your safety jacket into a double bow' We were laughing our heads off because of Billy Connolly 's airplane routine - they DO actually say these things!

The British Airline flight was incredible! We're buckled in, the flight attendants are great, they toss us a delicious Honey Mustard Chicken Wrap, we're squealing with delight when they came around with the drinks cart! Did we want a drink? J'nyn spotted the Lea & Perrins and said 'a Bloody Mary?' 'with Lea & Perrins?' 'yes please' 'make it two!' Absolutely brilliant! They were the best Bloody Marys ever! We were about half way through when we started our descent and final approach - we gulped back those Marys like our life depended on it! Did I mention the pilot was a woman? She brought down that plane like she was riding... well, let's just say 'it was BRILLIANT!!' Wee hee - British Airways!!!

Lauren was waiting for us when we arrived - it's nice to have someone waiting for you at the airport! Took the train from Manchester to Liverpool, about an hour's ride. Lauren commented that 'she's got a smile on her face' - happiness all over my face. Lauren lives in a lovely flat with her flatmate Sam. We sat around for a bit and then headed out. It was a lovely walk through some parks - saw a Magpie, first one since leaving Alberta!

We ended up at Keith's Wine Bar where we did indeed have a couple bottles of wine along with some appetizers - namely the Fried Halloumi, really good!



And now off to sleep...

September 29, 2006

We left for the airport in a cab in the cold and the rain...

"we got a cab to PET, did the Express Check-in, got rid of the luggage and proceeded to the security area where we waited in line for about 25-30 minutes - let's just say that anyone with shares in Ziplock is now making a fortune! Got through okay with our 'liquids' - my purse was swabbed for explosives. We than had a drinky-poo in a lovely bar - there's quite a few of them here at PET. A lovely Manhattan and nachos to entertain us until takeoff.


Flight left on time with no glitches - dinner was something trying to be beef burgundy and ice cream. Tried to sleep but too turbulent and there was this annoying beeping noise that was bugging me that apparently I could only hear. A breakfast was served with crap Second Cup coffee - is this foreshadowing?! More coffee issues later! They have just given us our British Immigration card to fill out - almost there and by the way its...

Och aye laddies, it's been a wee while since I was last on my blog... A ton have things have transpired since then... Like I've been to heaven and back!! Yes indeed I finally went to my beloved Scotland and I'll never be the same again...

It was a near perfect trip and I still cannot quite believe that I was there but I was because I see photos taken by others of places I visited and I know them, I saw them and I was so happy! I'm still happy and the 'tears of missing' flow very very easily.

I'm going to post my travelogue for those who may care but mainly for myself so I can relive it again by re-writing all the experiences, the laughs, the fun, the food, the drinks, the sights, the sounds... I will also attach photos - between my sister and I we took over a thousand photos and she also did some wee videos.

My cousin has made up a word 'escotiophiles' hopefully meaning 'people who love all things Scottish' which I have been for a very long time. I'm going to try to see if there is an official word or if anyone knows let me know!

That's my bit for today but more is coming that's a promise. My sister saw this on a mug in Glasgow and it's all that keeps me going: "Hasten ye back".