With the time zone adjustment, I didn’t wake up until after 11:00 this morning. I had planned on a walk that would have taken me about 5 hours, round trip, but since half the day was almost gone, I decided to forego that adventure for the time being. This would have taken me to an area where my ancestors lived.
As I was looking for some dinner, I was crossing between two main streets, and this restaurant caught my eye. I’ve found that so many fantastic places to have dinner are just off the beaten path. This gem was pretty much in a turning alleyway.
All this, after I was hunting for a simple chippy for my dinner. This restaurant didn’t even have fish & chips on the menu, however. I guess that can wait for another night. I spent way too much on the meal- the understatement of the century.
My Airbnb In Edinburgh (the two windows on the top right)
03.03.19 | Edinburgh, Scotland | 11:36
I ended up going to bed last night at about 20:30- I don’t know the exact time, but I knew it was early still. At 04:00, I woke up and thought that maybe I’d had enough sleep. I fell back asleep soon and was zonked out until about 10:40. Since church starts at 10:30 and is about an hour’s walk from the flat, I guess that church isn’t happening today.
21:27
I decided to go for a long walk through the city, all the way into Old Town. I ended up walking down to Holyrood and climbed Arthur’s Seat. Such a great leg workout! While I was up there, I shot a quick Periscope video- the view from the top is always so breathtaking!
The rest of the day was spent at the flat. Since I couldn’t attend church this morning, I guess I tried to salvage what was left of the Sabbath day. I heated up a frozen shepherd’s pie that I had picked up from the market for dinner. It was really good, especially for not being freshly made.
Before I left the airport this morning, I stopped in the airport Starbucks and ate a chocolate muffin. Since I didn’t get any sleep on the plane, I needed to put something into my body that would give me some energy. It was after 08:00 (01:00 to my body) and I just needed something.
I walked outside and requested an Uber. It’s a nice, partly cloudy day in Edinburgh. It’s not raining but it must have yesterday, because the streets are all still wet.
I requested an Uber and I had my driver drop me off at the Omni Centre in New Town. This place has plenty of restaurants, a gym, and even a Vue cinema. I just don’t have the energy to do very much exploring right now. I needed a place to keep out of the wind and just relax for the time being. I saw Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse– mostly because it was the first show playing at that moment.
I really enjoyed the animation, but there was just too much going on. I may have had a poor experience because I was fighting to stay awake for most of the film. If I could have, I would’ve spread out across the seats and just took a nap. Instead, I fought off sleep by trying to pay attention to the plot line. Occasionally I had to slap myself on the cheek to keep from dozing off.
19:49
I ended getting a late lunch at Slug and Lettuce, a popular restaurant at the Omni Centre. I’ve eaten here a number of times over the years- I ordered a vegetarian pasta. It was really good- I sometimes forget that I don’t have to eat a dead animal at every single meal.
When I checked into my Airbnb, the only thing I wanted to do was sleep. I was frustrated because I couldn’t find the lock box which had the key to get inside. I stood on the front porch of the building for about 15 minutes. Finally, the manager returned my message on Airbnb. She explained where it was and I walked up the stairs until I came to the top of the stairs, door ‘G’.
This is a cute little one-bedroom flat. At this point, all I really wanted to do is use the toilet and then take a nap. I set an alarm, just in case, but ended up getting a deep, three-hour nap. This was enough to catch up on some sleep, but I don’t feel like that was too much, especially after being up for about 24 hours. Hopefully, I can fall back to sleep tonight.
When I woke from my nap, I was feeling hungry again, so I walked down the street and found a little grocery store. I got some salad fixings, and small Belgium chocolate cake, some digestive biscuits (when in Rome) and some herbal teas. The plan for Scotland 7 is to not gain any weight. Therefore, I will eat more veggies, less junk food (yeah, right!), and be more active. If I can just come out even, I’ll consider my mission accomplished.
“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharial Nehru
Today I am extremely excited to be making my way back to Scotland. This will be my seventh visit to this place where so many of my ancestors were born, lived, and died. Over the years, I have come to consider Scotland to be a sacred place.
I just boarded the first of two Delta flights that will get me from DEN to SWF, on the east coast. I was able to score a positive-space ticket for $122 one-way. I’ll have a short layover at DTW, just enough time to change planes. This reason is so I can fly nonstop on Norwegian Airlines to Edinburgh tomorrow. There isn’t a whole lot I wouldn’t do for cheap airfare. Put me in the cargo hold- I don’t mind- just get me there. Plus, I had such good experiences on Norwegian the last three times I flew on them.
DTW-SWF | 13:04
After we landed at DTW, I had to walk all the way from the end of the ‘A’ gates to the ‘C’ gates- that is quite the hike! I kept looking for the Southwest gates, but all I could see was Delta. I think Delta pretty much runs the airport.
I forgot to get my first crew some chocolates, as is my tradition, but I had enough time to run to a newsstand before my second flight, where I grabbed some Godiva chocolates for the second. My first plane, this morning, was a Boeing 737-900, but this second one was a much smaller CRJ-200, or as I call it, a Barbie plane.
There was only one flight attendant working this flight since the plane doesn’t hold that many passengers. In the U.S., the law states that there must be at least one flight attendant for every fifty passengers. Because of this, the CRJ-200 only requires one working flight attendant, and her name is Tiara. She, as well as the two pilots, greatly appreciated the chocolate.
Newburgh, New York | 17:52
Newburgh Airport (SWF) is such a small, and cute airport. I believe I saw a total of 8 gates, as I walked through the terminal toward baggage claim. Not as small as some airports I’ve been to (Google “Sumburgh Airport, LSI, Shetland), but so cute. I’m surprised that any airline offers international flights out of here.
The Hudson Valley Hotel and Conference Center should probably be called The Hudson Valley Motel and Gang Center. When I entered the lobby to check in, there was loud R&B/Rap music coming from one of the conference room- and the “hotel” is about as nice as a Super 8. I don’t want to knock Super 8, but now, at least, you can picture the quality I’m staying in tonight. That being said, the bed is pretty comfortable, the sheets appear to be clean, and the shower and bathroom are free of any visible nastiness.
I just got back from an early dinner at Panera Bread, where I ordered some french onion soup (it’s pretty cold outside tonight), and a barbecue chicken flatbread. I swang by Starbucks for some hot chocolate to carry back. This kept my hand from freezing, as I didn’t bring gloves on this trip. If Edinburgh is as cold as I think it’s going to be, I’ll have to buy some when I get there.
03.01.19 | Newburgh, New York | 09:20
It’s 24 degrees this morning, in Newburgh. I’m sure glad I packed a scarf at the last moment- I almost didn’t. I would just like to apologize to the fine folks who work at the Super 8 here in Newburgh, after my comment from yesterday. As I walked to Denny’s to find some breakfast, I saw a Super 8 that looked so much nicer than the Hudson Valley Hotel and Conference Center. Traveler beware- don’t always trust your instincts while on the journey.
After breakfast, I walked up the road to Walmart, so that I could find some treats for the flight crew tonight. I try to get something for the pilots and attendants. I’ve said this before, and everyone should do this! It’s sort of a nice way to say “Thank You”.
11:54
I just checked out of the hotel- I asked if I could get a late checkout but they said they’d have to charge me $50 if I stayed past noon. My flight isn’t until 8-something tonight, but my backpack is far too big and heavy to lug around all day. It looks like I’m about to hang out in a tiny regional airport for the next eight hours or so. Rad!
20:29
We just boarded the plane and are taxiing. The crew thanks me for the goody bag and gave me a bottle of water in return. They seem to be extremely kind. They keep walking by and asking if I need anything and keep reminding me that it would be no charge.
The guy sitting next to me, Sam, is probably wondering why they’re paying so much attention to me. He is a student at Penn State- he said that he is visiting Scotland for four days, then will head over to Ireland for two. He told me that he has friends in both places.
SWF-EDI | 21:07 (East Coast Time)
It still fascinates me that humans can take to the sky in a multi-ton, cylinder and cross an entire ocean. What a wonderful time to be alive! I wonder if the Wright brothers knew it would be this amazing! Fascinating and awesome and wonderful, and how I’ve been so incredibly blessed to make my living.
Greetings from Milpitas, California. After an easy three-leg day, my I ended up at SJC. Since I’d had to wake up so early in Columbus, I felt like I needed a nap. I laid still with my eyes closed for about an hour, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be. I didn’t even get close to sleep.
After working online for a while, I decided it was time to go find some dinner. I set out to a restaurant called Sushi King, but then I noticed that it only got 2 1/2 stars on Yelp. Instead, I went next door to In-N-Out Burger. At the very least I knew exactly what I’d get for my dinner.
After dinner, I walked back to the other side of the freeway and had to grab some dessert at my favorite place in Milpitas: 85°C Bakery Cafe! I only recently discovered this bakery- the last time I was here. I’ve only tried the cake (naturally), but my crewmate who brought me there that first time said their pastries, bread, and soups were all amazing!
After walking down to the North Market to find some dinner (picture the Redding Terminal Market in Philadelphia, only more minor), I got some ribs when I was here on my last work trip, and they were just ok. Also, I needed a chicken leg, because it looked so good! This time I chose a Polish kielbasa with sour kraut and spicy mustard.
My absolute favorite thing at the North Market: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream! They have a few really cool flavors- try the lavender. Better yet, next time you’re there, grab a whole pint of Brown Butter Almond Brittle. You’re going to have to trust me on this!
Today I’m hanging out in the crashpad. I have two days off of work, but decided that wasn’t enough time to go home and get very much accomplished. That will happen sometime next week, after my next work trip. I will be filing my taxes (hoping for a big refund), visiting the D.M.V. (I hope the punishment for losing your driver license isn’t harsh in the state of Utah), packing bags for vacation, among other things.
The countdown to Scotland 7 has begun! Who and I kidding- I’ve been counting down since somewhere around September of last year. Here’s how you know you love a place and a people: I’ve already started to jot down ideas for Scotland 8, which won’t even happen until 2020. I was hoping to include some of my family members the next time, but people are busy with their own lives and goings on. I understand, though. I’ve learned that I can go on these trips by myself and enjoy every minute… most of the time, that’s actually my preference.
My originally plan after Scotland 7 was to head down and see Greece for the first time (number 45 on the bucket list). I don’t think this is going to happen, however. I just have had too many bills and expenses lately, and have had to focus on that. Perhaps it can happen later in the year, but we’ll see. This makes me sad, because my dear friend Dawn (a.k.a. MommaDawn) said she was interested in that portion of the journey. It would be amazing if she’d actually take a vacation- one where you turn off your phone for at least a week.
When I got to Nashville yesterday, my captain told me that there was going to be up to a 5-hour delay before we could go to Boston, our next and final destination of the day. I was looking forward to staying in the city, and even though the temperature was topping out in the 30s, I was probably going to go find a good salad for dinner.
The next thing I know, I’m being told that our flight was canceled altogether. I started to hope that maybe my day would end in Nashville, and I started to check the internet for last minute tickets to some kind of country music concert. I’m glad I didn’t purchase any tickets, because scheduling soon was on the phone with me, telling me that instead of Boston, I was headed to Dallas.
Partian View of the Dallas Skyline (from my hotel)
It’s so rare that I’m here, that I really should have called my sister Melanie. The only problem I see with that is the fact that we would no doubt end up going out to find some good Mexican food, and I’m really trying to be good right now. I just got back on the Herbalife bandwagon, and even though it’s only day 3, I need this strong start.
I just realized this is my first blog entry of the year. What is my problem? I have tons to talk about- just look at my bucket list! Speaking of strong starts…
DavTravels 