I started this post the day after I returned to Phoenix. Unfortunately, I got distracted by a few things that I needed to take care of and then I just got plain lazy. After being on the road for 5 weeks and sleeping on different beds, it's nice to finally sleep on your own queen-size bed. Not only that, now I have a lot of space around me, a big-screen HD TV, and a comfortable sofa to take naps on. You appreciate your home more when you travel; more so when you sleep in a room with strangers.
So, here is my final post for this trip:
I finally arrived home after an 18-hour journey from the hostel in Dublin to my house. Going through London Heathrow airport is an adventure. There is no system or organization within the airport. For example, I had to take 2 shuttle buses to go from the plane to just the Terminal 1 building. Then I had to take another shuttle bus to go from Terminal 1 to 5, where I had to get my boarding pass and go through security. From there, I had to go through a maze of corridors and then take an airport train to my gate. I could hear the gate agent announcing the last call for the flight as I was running up the escalator to the gate. I was almost the last person to board the flight. British Airways was almost sure that I would not make the flight because they would not give me my London to Phoenix boarding pass in Dublin. The ticketing agent in Dublin told me that the flight was overbooked and I have to get my boarding pass in London.
I actually felt hot when I stepped outside the Phoenix Airport. It was almost 100F or 37C and sunny. After 5 weeks in weather that never got above 65F or 18C, it is quite a shock. In spite of the cold and rain in Ireland and Scotland, it was a wonderful trip.
In the US, where there are probably more Irish than Scots, you hear a lot about how beautiful Ireland is. It is a beautiful country, with a lot of green, rolling hills, farms, sheep, castles, ocean, etc. I always hear that the Irish are very friendly. Indeed they are.
However, when we first saw Edinburgh, we were blown away by how beautiful the city is. Walking along the Royal Mile, it's like being in a fairy tale city. You have Edinburgh Castle on top of the highest point in the city on one end and the Holyrood Palace on the other end. Then you see spires of churches, hotels and even schools around the castle. Even the cemeteries are interesting. Just below the castle is the beautiful Princess Street Gardens dotted with museums, churches, restaurants, hotels, shops, pubs, etc. That is just the Lowlands.
When I traveled up to the Highlands, the scenery was even more amazing: spectacular mountains, waterfalls, Lochs (or lakes), castles, forests, lots of historical sites, etc. This is what Ireland does not have: the Highlands. And I did not even travel to the far north of Scotland, the Orkney Islands.
If you decide to go to Scotland, I recommend you read Neil Oliver's book on "The History of Scotland." It gives you an appreciation of its violent history and its relationship with England. In 2014, the Scots will have a referendum on their independence. Regardless of its political future, the Scots are one of the friendliest people in the world and the country is definitely one of the most beautiful. Hope you get a chance visit the country.
So, here is my final post for this trip:
I finally arrived home after an 18-hour journey from the hostel in Dublin to my house. Going through London Heathrow airport is an adventure. There is no system or organization within the airport. For example, I had to take 2 shuttle buses to go from the plane to just the Terminal 1 building. Then I had to take another shuttle bus to go from Terminal 1 to 5, where I had to get my boarding pass and go through security. From there, I had to go through a maze of corridors and then take an airport train to my gate. I could hear the gate agent announcing the last call for the flight as I was running up the escalator to the gate. I was almost the last person to board the flight. British Airways was almost sure that I would not make the flight because they would not give me my London to Phoenix boarding pass in Dublin. The ticketing agent in Dublin told me that the flight was overbooked and I have to get my boarding pass in London.
I actually felt hot when I stepped outside the Phoenix Airport. It was almost 100F or 37C and sunny. After 5 weeks in weather that never got above 65F or 18C, it is quite a shock. In spite of the cold and rain in Ireland and Scotland, it was a wonderful trip.
In the US, where there are probably more Irish than Scots, you hear a lot about how beautiful Ireland is. It is a beautiful country, with a lot of green, rolling hills, farms, sheep, castles, ocean, etc. I always hear that the Irish are very friendly. Indeed they are.
However, when we first saw Edinburgh, we were blown away by how beautiful the city is. Walking along the Royal Mile, it's like being in a fairy tale city. You have Edinburgh Castle on top of the highest point in the city on one end and the Holyrood Palace on the other end. Then you see spires of churches, hotels and even schools around the castle. Even the cemeteries are interesting. Just below the castle is the beautiful Princess Street Gardens dotted with museums, churches, restaurants, hotels, shops, pubs, etc. That is just the Lowlands.
When I traveled up to the Highlands, the scenery was even more amazing: spectacular mountains, waterfalls, Lochs (or lakes), castles, forests, lots of historical sites, etc. This is what Ireland does not have: the Highlands. And I did not even travel to the far north of Scotland, the Orkney Islands.
If you decide to go to Scotland, I recommend you read Neil Oliver's book on "The History of Scotland." It gives you an appreciation of its violent history and its relationship with England. In 2014, the Scots will have a referendum on their independence. Regardless of its political future, the Scots are one of the friendliest people in the world and the country is definitely one of the most beautiful. Hope you get a chance visit the country.
