Scotland - Day 1

So as most of you know, I like to blog...especially when I'm traveling...so here we go, for the next 13 days!

Scotland has been my number one destination since I was 13 years old...don't even ask why it took so long.  Once the Hallsted's took up golf, St. Andrews was always a destination.  Then, as I got more and more into history, Scotland is just a treasure trove.

So finally I made it happen.  I really wanted Peter to go along, but he couldn't get away.  So then I wanted Karen to come along, but she was in Europe this Spring and couldn't return quite so quickly.  So I said "OK" I'm ready to go (after all these years) I'm going!

Originally I struggled putting this trip together.  Was trying to arrange it all myself.  There were just too many options and I couldn't make up my mind. So I gave up and turned to AAA.  My number one priority was to see as much of the country as I could.  It helped that this 13 day trip was marketed to "Outlander" one of my favorite book series, but what really sold me on the itinerary was that it covered all major points in the country.  I wanted to go to the Orkney Islands and the Isle of Sky and everything in between.  Bingo!  This 13 day tour filled the ticket.

At 5 PM, on Sunday, September 1, 2019 my Delta flight left from Cincinnati to Boston.  Then at 10 PM the flight left from Boston bound for Edinburgh.  I always dread those 5+ hour over night trips.  I did luck out and got an entire row to myself so was able to stretch out a bit and did get a little sleep...but not much.

Sometime right at sunrise I woke up, raised the blind on my window and was greated by a new day...Monday, September 2.

And, I was just a little more than an hour away from my destination!  Scarfed down the meager breakfast Delta served, read a little more in my book and then looked out the window again to my first view of Scotland!!!

Had my first encounter with face recognition technology at Customs.  Neat in that it works so well, but you no longer get your passport stamped.  Darn!!  I like collecting those country stamps.

Had to wait 3+ hours for our shuttle to the hotel.  They had 3 pickups today and I missed the first one by about 15 minutes.  And I was soooo tired.  Just wanted a hot shower and a quick nap but it took a lot longer than expected.  Just as we were ready to board the coach another couple showed up and he had left his cell phone on the plane.  Had to wait to find it and get it back to him.  Just wanted a HOT SHOWER AND QUICK NAP!!!

The hotel is nice, have stayed in this chain in France before, Novotel.  My room is a little on the small side since I am not sharing with anyone, but still works just fine.  More new technology was involved at the hotel.  Turns out you have to use your room key card to run the elevator.  AND....it also turns on the lights in your room.  Was a little confused.  Tried to turn on lights and no lights anywhere in the room would turn on.  Called the front desk to report the problem and it turns out there is a key pad just inside the room where you insert the card.  Leave it in the key pad to operate the lights, who knew??  Front desk clerk thought I was some kind of idiot!!!!

Our group (48 on this tour) met in the lobby at 5 PM for an Orientation and then

 headed out to a yummy dinner at Browns Bar....very, very nice.

Had Sea Bass and a delicious chocolate dessert.  Two glasses of wine should help with sleep tonight.

Day 2 starts with breakfast at 7:30 and on the bus at 8:30.  Would love to sleep in one day as this will be 2:30 AM my time!!!

See you tomorrow!!!!