For summer 2019 Sarah and I decided to take some teaching classes in London (Sarah decided, then twisted my arm) and so we talked my parents into meeting us in Scotland before heading south to the more tropical side of Britain. It’s changed quite a bit since we last visited 17 years ago. Ok, you got me. We *accidentally* went to Manhattan for two hours. For reals! The tickets from Panama to Edinburgh were waaaaaaaay cheaper if we did a redeye to Newark and then another redeye to Edinburgh. I personally don’t sleep on planes (I would if I could but I can’t so I won’t) and my kin aren’t far behind in the not-good-at-sleeping-on-planes department so one redeye is horrible enough for us, but two in a row? I found out that I could reserve a couple of rooms at the Newark Airport Hilton from 6am-2pm, so I figured we could make it work. And it worked! Though I for one was a zombie that first day in Scotland with my parents. The boys weren't, at least for a few minutes whilst wrestling on a hotel bed. So, after a slow first day followed by 12 hours of sleep, I woke up in the Old Town of Edinburgh and ran up to Arthur's Seat. Once the entire clan was awake the first bit of land to conquer was the impregnable Edinburgh Castle. Next was the royal residence at the other end of the Royal Mile: Holyrood Palace, including its attached abbey which, I must say, was completely ruined. Then it was time for an afternoon tea! That night we took a spooky tour of Edinburgh's bloody past. But since it's so far north it was actually still day. In case you weren't aware, Edinburgh is an amazingly gorgeous city to wander. Yes, it really is. Let me show you. After playing in the capital city we ventured further into the Highlands on a Hairy Coo bus tour. The Eldest enjoyed the facilities at Doune Castle, following in the footsteps of our Monty Python forebearers. We next helped to feed the local fauna. Our tour also took us to Glencoe, Culloden, Loch Ness, a couple more castles, and a great South Asian lunch on the Isle of Skye. An early morning wander before Inverness (and the rest of my family) woke up... Scotland is pretty. After we bid a fond farewell to Grammy and Gramps, we wandered around Edinburgh one last time and stumbled across the Pride Parade (the first of three we've encountered this summer!). For our last night in Scotland, we headed to Stirling, since we just can't get enough of those Scottish castles. And now, dedicated to my father-in-law, is a series of pictures of doors... Thanks for an awesome time mom & dad! You are an inspiration; we wanna be like you when we grow up!
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It's the Schnacks!Just a Californian family lost in Panama. Carry on. Archives
July 2018
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