From Italy, I take a train to Paris, spend a few days there, and even visit a hand doctor for the crazy trigger finger issue that appeared earlier this summer. I never knew what that even was until my thumb got frozen in place when I bent it. I learn the tendon is still a bit swollen, but I’m definitely getting better. I’m finally off to Scotland to spend a month with my mom traveling around there, and Iceland! However, leaving Paris was not so easy…

Stressful Departure

I book a taxi with G7 two days before departure. I’m leaving during morning rush hour so I know that can be tough. They’re way more reliable than Uber in Paris, so once I secure my reservation I feel better. I’ve given myself almost two hours for a ride that should take about 20 minutes. I wake up in the morning, am ready to go, and check on my reservation. It says “searching for a driver.” This is very strange since someone should be here in about 15 minutes. I head downstairs anyway, and wait. Still no driver. 15 minutes past the pick-up time, still no driver, and I start to panic. I call G7, they say they’re all booked, and trying to get me a driver. I’m afraid I’m going to miss my train.

Over the next hour, I cry, I get wet in the falling rain, I call G7 in a panic, I walk to a hotel and ask for help, they find nobody even answers the phone at their taxi provider. Uber is full, there are no available taxis, and my bags are too heavy to carry onto the metro. At the last minute, G7 finds a driver, and I tell him I am going to miss my Eurostar if he doesn’t drive fast. He is determined to get me to the station on time, and appreciative that though I am frustrated and angry with his company, I’m not taking it out on him. We arrive to the Gare du Nord just minutes before my train is set to depart. He wants my number to find out if I make the train. I’m worried I’ll miss the train giving him my number so thank him, and take my leave.

I have a hard time figuring out which level the Eurostar leaves from, but quickly find it, and, I’m in luck, there are a lot of people queing up to board the train, so I’m going to make it! Phew! Not a fun start to the day, but I make it to London, the very same day Queen Elizabeth’s coffin is to arrive, sadly. I race across the street in London to catch my next train to Edinburgh, and then, finally, I’m there.

Rediscovering Edinburgh

I came here in 2018 and spent a lot of time in the Highlands. My first morning I decide to find someplace to have breakfast, but I’m a bit late so many places are closed, or no longer serving it. Thankfully, I find the Honeycomb Tearoom! Only because a couple leaves, do I find an empty table. There are only about four in the whole place, and one woman working there. This means, patience is required, and, it’s well worth the wait. She cooks your order right after you place it. Eggs, done how you like, perfect sides, and truly hits the spot. And, of course, a perfect pot of tea. I’d come back again and again if I lived there!

Once fed, I realize I’m cold. I’ve been traveling around Europe and The Balkans all summer, and have nothing warm with me. So, I dash around for something to keep from shivering. I also head to Vodafone and get a great SIM card that will last a month, and allow me to add on a week of roaming in Iceland on the same number. Then I walk along The Royal Mile and the city center. There are signs commemorating the Queen everywhere, and it’s really sad. Most sad is, I’ve been used to her face on postage stamps and money my entire life. I guess that will soon change. I watch the funeral on television. I didn’t know her personally, and yet, here I am, and it seems the right thing to pay my respects.

Mom Is Finally Here!

My second morning in Edinburgh, I get a tram out to the airport. I’ve accidentally purchased two tickets, and, in an amazing world of efficiency, I’m directed to a number, call it, speak to someone, they ask for an emailed photograph of the extra ticket, and refund me the money! I end up being an hour early so stand around, and, my mom ends up being last off the plane, or at least it seems that way, but finally, she comes out!

We have a relaxed day so she can catch up on jet lag, and over the next couple of days, we see the Royal Palace. We walk from the entrance to the top, and find that a small chapel, a gift shop with lovely whisky glasses, a prison, and a lot of military paraphernalia. Not quite our thing, so we don’t stay too long.

Over a couple of days, we take a couple of the city buses. There are about three routes, and you can buy a single ticket for multiple days ride. The trick is, you have to remember what you did with your receipt! I lost ours on our second day, and the bus driver took pity, and said he’d let us on, but once we got off, we couldn’t get on another bus. That was fine with us…though I found our receipt later!  When we pass by Queens gate and The Palace of Holyrood House, I wonder if it will become Kings gate. 🙁  We take our exit on the Royal Mile, and I get my obligatory photo of me with the local cops right there.

One evening we have a strange Indian meal at Tantra. It looks great from the outside, but when we go in and try to take a seat, away from the door, our server asks me to enter our name and contact details in his iPad. I ask why, and he explains the kitchen is right below us and there’s a big fire, and by now mom and I are wondering if we should eat there at all. Needless to say, I don’t provide my contact information, and we move to a seat up front, feeling quite strange. I think the best part of the meal was the appetizer, though we didn’t love the sauces. 

From Edinburgh, we take a train to Glasgow for an overnight. It’s a grey day, and neither of us is in love with the city center, but we have dinner a bit outside of it, and discover a lovely suburb. No time to dally, tomorrow, we’re off to Iceland for a week!