City
Created by mandi2doors
Fri 07/14/06 (day 1)
Nashville Airport
Well, I got the airport good and early just in case there were any lines for security. I shouldn't have rushed. The computer on the plane broke and, wouldn't you know it, they had to fly in a new one from Atlanta. The really bad part is that my flight out of Nashville to Atlanta was the last flight to Atlanta for the evening and my connecting flight in Atlanta to Gatwick was the last flight to London for the evening as well. So, they've rescheduled me for late tomorrow morning and have put me up in a hotel for the evening. I hate Delta...this only ever happens to me when I fly Delta. I wonder what's going to happen with my train ticket when I finally get to London...
So the hotel was out of non-smoking rooms...it smells like an old nightclub in my room and I have to keep the windows open for ventilation. Yuck. Tomorrow has got to be better.
Luckily, I bought a quad-band cell phone with a prepaid sim card and already had 5 pounds on the card so I could call Ali. She's waiting for me in Edinburgh (thankfully with her friend Meg so she's not waiting for me alone). Otherwise I would have no way of reaching her to let her know that I won't be at the train station in Edinburgh when I told her I would be. She's been doing a 10 day tour of Ireland. I'm so jealous!
So the hotel was out of non-smoking rooms...it smells like an old nightclub in my room and I have to keep the windows open for ventilation. Yuck. Tomorrow has got to be better.
Luckily, I bought a quad-band cell phone with a prepaid sim card and already had 5 pounds on the card so I could call Ali. She's waiting for me in Edinburgh (thankfully with her friend Meg so she's not waiting for me alone). Otherwise I would have no way of reaching her to let her know that I won't be at the train station in Edinburgh when I told her I would be. She's been doing a 10 day tour of Ireland. I'm so jealous!
Planned Activities
Unscheduled - Edinburgh
Unscheduled - Inverness
City
I learned some very valuable traveling tips on this trip. I've recently bought a backpack...NO MORE SUITCASES! We got SO tired of lugging our suitcases up and down stairs in the B&Bs and train stations...it was really exhausting.
Also, I used those Space Bags that you squeeze the air out of your stuff. While it was really annoying to compress them EVERY time we had to pack up and leave a B&B it was nice having everything in different bags...made it easier to find stuff and kept me more organized. So, I've bought packing cubes for next trip.
Traveler's checks were probably unneccessary but made me feel better. Also, my backpack was like my new left arm, although I'm buying better quality for next trip. This one was falling apart after only a week.
We ended up in the UK during the hottest heat wave in history and I didn't bring shorts. Next time I'll know better to bring at least one pair just in case. I also packed WAY too many clothes. I only needed a few pair of jeans and some tops, although the scarf I packed came in handy at the Highland Games when it was SO cold. Layers are good in Scotland, even in the summer. It got down to maybe 55 or 60 in Inverness in July.
I had an entire cosmetics bag full of cords...for my phone, laptop, camera, mp3 player...so I've recently invested in an iGo. One cord, different tips for different electronics. I got the one that charges two devides at once to help me travel lighter.
My Lonely Planet travel book was the best, although I loved the little map inside of the Scotland's Top 10. It was great for a quick reference on the road. Also, radio stations in Scotland are few and far between in the Highlands. I brought my FM transmitter for the cigarette lighter and plugged in my MP3 player for music. It worked great.
We learned after a few days that you don't need to call ahead for a B&B. It's socially acceptable to simply drive the down the road and stop and ask if there's a vacancy. It's a good idea to book in advance in August when it's their peak travel season or if there's a big event going on, but other than that we had good luck not planning most of them out. I don't recommend ringing the bell late though...these are peoples' homes and they have to go to bed eventually. We tried to find a place no later than 9pm.
The B&Bs were only a few pounds more than the hostels and, once you counted the fact that you got a hot breakfast in the morning, they're probably a better value since you get a nice room to yourself and sometimes a private bathroom.
It was a great trip...I can't wait to visit again!
of my Scottish relatives and hope to do some research, also I have English (UK) heritage and plan to check it out. I will be watching all
the info on the TRIP PLANNER for anything that is helpful.
I will be going in the Spring of 2009.
Thanks for the information.