Visit Scotland? Yes, we did!
I don't know how long I dreamed about going to Scotland.
Maybe it started in my teens when I learned to play the guitar and began to memorize some Irish and Scottish folk songs.
Ireland I did when I got my highschool graduation. Trekking down the River Shannon in a horse-drawn caravan!
But Scotland remained a dream until now, when my husband and I were able to get off for 3 weeks and planned our tour around visiting my dear friend near Glasgow.
Since we have no car and didn't plan to rent one in Scotland, all traveling had to happen by train and bus.
Most of the bookings could be made in advance on the internet. Scotrail offers you to pick up your tickets at the station and Citylink busses even send you E-tickets. You only have to print them and show them to the driver.
Our starting point was Stuttgart, Germany, where we live.
September 14th our KLM flight left to Amsterdam and went on an hour later to Edinburgh.
Our first contact with a native Scot was on the plane right before the landing. The captain was announcing a 5 minute delay in Edinburgh and my neighbor snorted: 'This is Scotland. 5 minutes ... that's no delay at all.'
Edinburgh airport isn't a big airport and has seen better days, for sure. But they gave back our luggage quickly and we went out into the darkness.
Hmmmm - and where might the hotel be? I know it's within walking distance from the airport but which direction? Asking a man with a neon yellow vest seems reasonable and he's very friendly and helpfull.
Hilton Airport Hotel is only 5 minutes away and really isn't as posh as you would think it is ;-)
If it once possessed any glamour, it's long gone, but it's an ok hotel with everything you would expect.
It's very late, we're tired, so we sleep.
Maybe it started in my teens when I learned to play the guitar and began to memorize some Irish and Scottish folk songs.
Ireland I did when I got my highschool graduation. Trekking down the River Shannon in a horse-drawn caravan!
But Scotland remained a dream until now, when my husband and I were able to get off for 3 weeks and planned our tour around visiting my dear friend near Glasgow.
Since we have no car and didn't plan to rent one in Scotland, all traveling had to happen by train and bus.
Most of the bookings could be made in advance on the internet. Scotrail offers you to pick up your tickets at the station and Citylink busses even send you E-tickets. You only have to print them and show them to the driver.
Our starting point was Stuttgart, Germany, where we live.
September 14th our KLM flight left to Amsterdam and went on an hour later to Edinburgh.
Our first contact with a native Scot was on the plane right before the landing. The captain was announcing a 5 minute delay in Edinburgh and my neighbor snorted: 'This is Scotland. 5 minutes ... that's no delay at all.'
Edinburgh airport isn't a big airport and has seen better days, for sure. But they gave back our luggage quickly and we went out into the darkness.
Hmmmm - and where might the hotel be? I know it's within walking distance from the airport but which direction? Asking a man with a neon yellow vest seems reasonable and he's very friendly and helpfull.
Hilton Airport Hotel is only 5 minutes away and really isn't as posh as you would think it is ;-)
If it once possessed any glamour, it's long gone, but it's an ok hotel with everything you would expect.
It's very late, we're tired, so we sleep.