Edinburgh = Awesome

I'm loving Edinburgh. It's been cold, rainy, overcast and generally not so hospitable and I love it. I'm totally happy with my decision to fit Scotland into the trip - it's such a great place.

I did a walking tour today that covered the highlights of the city - the castle (there's always a castle), the churches (there's always at least one) and the general history of the place - which apparently is slightly different from Braveheart (who knew?). I'm going to walk around taking pictures tomorrow and then going on a "haunted" tour tomorrow night. I figure the haunted tour will be pretty crap - but it gives me an excuse to take some night shots without having to wander around the city alone at night with my camera (thus painting a giant bullseye on myself).

Then on Wednesday I go on my day tour out to Loch Ness in search of the monster (and, I'm told, so really amazing scenery). I'm really looking forward to getting into the highlands a bit and seeing what it's like outside the city.

I haven't decided what to do with Thursday yet, I might grab a train or a bus to Glasgow - just to check it out. I've heard it isn't as nice as Edinburgh - but I probably should see it while I'm here. Then, Friday, it's back on the bus to London where I'll crash until I meet up with the family on Monday morning. Then it's cruise-city baby!

I've uploaded some pictures of San Sebastian for your viewing pleasure. I'll try to upload the Scotland pictures when I get back to London this weekend. Hope all is well with everyone back home.

It's Like They've Never Seen a Pigeon Before

So Barcelona, apart from the massive crowds, was a hit. I liked the architecture – although that Gaudi guy that designed half the city was a little touched in the head. You can see pictures of the weirdness on Flickr (I’ve updated with Barcelona and Madrid). He’s very against straight lines and general rules that make buildings actually…livable. It’s very strange but apparently they love his stuff there.

So now I’m in Madrid and it’s taken a couple of days for Madrid to grow on me – but overall I’m a fan. It’s a very different vibe from Barcelona. Madrid seems much more serious and less about the all night party (though they do stay out late in Spain – with most clubs closing at 6 AM). But Madrid has this great combination of the old and new – big grand boulevards flanked by tight, narrow little old streets. It’s really quite cool and I hope that my pics do it some justice.

One thing I’ll never understand, however, is people’s fascination with pigeons. Tourists freakin’ LOVE pigeons – it’s a universal truth. In every city, in every park or square or fountain, you see these people, the pigeon lovers. They feed the pigeons. They try to catch the pigeons. Their children chase the pigeons. And, this is my favorite; they put pigeon food on their hands or on their children so the pigeons will land on them.

I watch this from city to city and all I can think is – what the heck is wrong with you people. Pigeons are RATS with wings. Don’t other people know this? Would these same people come to New York City and put food on their kids’ heads so that the cute little subway rats will crawl on them? No wonder the plague spread so easily over here.

OK, back on topic. So, not really expecting a lot from Spain, I think it’s been a good surprise. I don’t think I’ll be spending summers here for the rest of my life (or anything like that), but it has been pleasant enough to spend time here. I might even come back some day. I’ve got one more Spain stop left (a beach town called San Sebastian) and then off to Paris (again). I’ve skipped Lisbon because train prices are high and because it’s hot there right now (and between Italy and Spain – I’m over hot weather for a while).

So here’s the change of plan, I’m heading back to Paris where I will be taking a Chunnel train back to London (after getting Bobby a Hard Rock Paris shot glass). From London, I’m catching a bus to Edinburgh, Scotland (where it’s not even close to hot). I have plans to find me a Loch Ness monster. Then I take a bus back to London and spend a couple of days before I catch up with the family for the cruise back to the States.

And let me tell you I am SO looking forward to that cruise. Primarily because I do actually miss the family and it will be good to see them again. But also because, after months of living in hostels, I’m dying for a little luxury. Not even real luxury, just minor luxury will do – you know stuff like taking a shower without wearing flip-flops, drying off with a clean towel that is changed daily, eating food I can actually identify (and pronounce)…

Don’t get me wrong, I love that I was able to do this trip and I’m having the time of my life. But a little pampering after months of none just seems like a really good thing right about now.

Leavin' On a Jet Plane

Well a "coach" actually. I leave tonight from Britain and get into Amsterdam tomorrow at 9 AM. Turns out Nicole Hrycaj, who some of you might remember from High School, lives in Amsterdam now and she's crazily agreed to meet me at the station tomorrow morning and take me bike riding around Amsterdam - how cool is that? It should be a great way to see the city and not something I would have done on my own (I don't even remember the last time I was on a bike - but I haven't told Nikki that). So I'm really looking forward to it.

Other than that the last day in Britain was pretty much just a recap. Went back to Trafalgar (I know I mispelled that) Square because it was raining the other day when I went and today was bright and sunny. Went back to a couple of other places as well. Now I'm back at the hostel where I'm going to hang out until 6 then I'll collect my bag and head to Victoria Coach Station for the (hopefully) uneventful overnight trip to Amsterdam.

I've posted some of the London pics (http://www.adoramapix.com/jjtest/London/), put only a small sample (like 30 of 300). This internet access at the hostels kinda sucks but I'm trying to figure out a better solution. But the cell networks here are just as screwed up as they are back at home with roaming charges being crazy expensive. So y'all are stuck with the sporadic posts and emails, the lack of spelling and grammar checking and watered down pic uploads until I figure something out.

I have to say I'm starting to get a little homesick already which I hadn't expected. But isn't entirely surprising either. So that's it for now. I'll post more rantings and, hopefully, some pics of me NOT falling off a bike into oncoming traffic (kidding Mom - i'll be fine) tomorrow or the Monday.

Days 2 and 3

Spent time just walking around for these days - checking things out. I walked my ass (arse) off - well I would have if I actually had an ass to walk off. But you get what I mean. I went and checked out all the sites: Big Ben and Parliament (look kids), the London Eye, the Tate, Westminister Abby, and all sorts of other very British things.

Then today I went and checked out the British Museum and they supposedly have this really good section on Mummies but I didn't see that (though I did get to see some Egyptian stuff and the Rosetta stone). But the mummies were upstairs through throngs of Asian tourist groups (at least 6 different groups - I kid you not) and I just couldn't deal. I hate crowds as it is, but tourists groups are a whole different animal. And then Asian groups on top of that - all the cameras - it was mind boggling. So, sorry Monica, no mummy pictures for you.

I'm still getting used to the whole hostel thing. My lack of patience for people who aren't me coupled with the fact that most of the people here are about 18 years old has been a challenge. It's getting better though. I'm learning to cope (or just avoid) and it is way cheap to stay at these places. I will say this - if these kids are the future - we're all pretty screwed.

I've seen how the other half lives...

And I'm not going back! So I'm here in London (though I haven't left the airport yet - more on that later). So after going on ad nauseum about this trip - I'm finally here. Thanks to all who put up with and encouraged me while I planned this hare-brained scheme (especially Nancie who took the brunt of it). And thanks to Monica, Kerry and James who made my last weekend in DC (for a while anyway) lots of fun.

So, now I have to say, this first class plane tripping is the way to go. From the departure lounge at Dulles, to the flat bed on the plane, to the arrivals lounge with showers and a complimentary massage (which I'm still waiting for - hence my still being at the airport) - this is the only way to travel by plane. So I guess I should thank American Express for sending me a crazy points deal - this is the best 50,000 points I've ever spent.

So the plan is to see London until Saturday and then grab a coach to Amsterdam for 5 days. I’ll keep you posted on how things go.

Hope everyone is well and I’ll post some pics later…