Back to England and Europe

I've been reading the posts from our last trip and realized that everything wasn't posted. Just finished posting the rest of that trip. We are now looking forward to the next trip to England and Europe. Bonnie and I will first visit the Mid-Western US for a few days attending the graduation party for my great nephew Jason Bladow and then be off to England with my brother Ed and Kay Alzuhn. We are really looking forward to this trip which in addition to England will probably include time in France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Netherlands. Will try to keep things up to date on this blog if you would like to follow along. But I will be writing anyway so I can more easily remember what we did and when we did it.

Back to Germany and then Home -- July 17, 2011

Today is once again a travel day. We will leave London this morning and go back to Germany. It seems like only yesterday we arrived on Mel and Neil's doorstep but it really has been almost two weeks. Neil called to have a car pick us up to take us to Heathrow this morning and I'm sure that was a lot more pleasant than trying to figure out the ground transportation of train and bus combination. Next time we will try to fly into Gatwick. The wait at the airport was pretty boring as all airport waits are. Unlike Anchorage or Seattle you have to play for internet by the hour at Heathrow (£4.95). I think that is quite outrageous but obviously many people pay it. 

The flight left a little late and seemed like we taxied forever. The actual flight was only a little over an hour but we took a lot longer than that. Had to check our bags because they were too big. Got to Germany waited a long time for the bags and then went right through passport control. Back at the Albatross Airport Hotel. Will leave for home in the morning.

Scottish Highlands, Irquhart Castle and Loch Ness -- July 16

Today we embarked on the tour we booked when we arrived in Edinburgh. We had to be at the top of the Royal Mile by 08:10 to go on the journey. Of course it was raining quite hard when we left the apartment. We stopped and picked up some breakfast sandwiches and some coffee along the way. We were planning on eating the sandwiches on the bus. We found out when we got to the bus that food and drink were not allowed. So we downed our coffee and put away our sandwiches 'til the first stop. The driver's name was Fred and he was a pretty funny guy. 

The drive to Irquhart Castle and Loch Ness was exceptionally beautiful. It's easy to see why people fall in love with the country. Often I was reminded of areas of similar beauty in Alaska and the upper midwest of the USA. But other parts have nothing in my experience to compare. It seems to me there are not enough superlatives to describe the beauty and grandeur of the Scottish highlands. We stopped for just one photo op before we reached the castle ruins. The lack of stops was probably what I liked least about the trip.

The Irquhart (erk hart) Castle is truly a ruin. I would imagine a little work was done to keep it from falling down more but little if anything has been restored. The last occupants blew up the gate house and the subsequent fire took care of most of the rest. It was certainly much different than walking around in Edinburgh Castle. There were many fewer people but that made it all the more fun. I could imagine how imposing a sight it must have been for anyone traveling on the loch. Truly a remarkable ruin to visit.

From the castle we got on a boat for a short trip on Loch Ness. It is a very beautiful lake with both sail and motor boats using it. There are small "villages" along the shore as well as solitary dwellings. Hard as we looked we were not able to spot Nessy swimming around in the loch.

The ride back from Loch Ness was once again through the beautiful Scottish highlands. Many of the places we traveled were along the coast. The North Sea was very calm and looked peaceful. I know that it can be very violent as well. But this day even though it was raining and sometime windy, the sea was calm. It would have been nice to stop by the sea and look in the tide pools and stroll the beach but it was not possible this trip, maybe next time.

Edinburgh Castle and the Zoo -- July 15

The Edinburgh Castle is enormous. You really cannot tell just how big it is from the pictures you must experience it for yourself. By the way, ordering your tickets online and then picking them up from the machine at the castle saves many minutes of standing in a queue to purchase tickets. Waiting in queues is the English way however. Do be sure to pick up the audio guide it makes the journey through the castle much more enjoyable and informative. I will let the pictures do the talking for me about the castle. I just cannot do it justice.

From the castle we went to the Edinburgh Zoo. Every zoo that I have been in has it's own character or personality. This zoo was very different from others I have visited. The Edinburgh Zoo is older than many I have been too. The habitat's are smaller and the space between exhibits is much less than in  "modern" zoos. It's built on a very large hill which for some would be challenge in itself. Many of the pathways are quite long and steep. Attending often or working here would tend to keep you in shape. I would say in general zoos outside the US let you get "closer" to the animals. Some you can nearly reach out and touch. It is very rewarding to see animals that closely. Pictures of some of the animals we observed are posted on Facebook.

I really enjoy zoos because they allow me to see animals I would never be able to see during my life time in their natural setting. It's a kind of safari that takes you around the world in just a few short hours or in days if you prefer. Where else could you see zebras and American bison within on a few hundred feet of only another. Zoos are amazing windows into our world.