Blogs from Europe - page 4

Started the day off with a hearty breakfast and then headed for the train station. Today’s destinations, Stirling and Linlithgow. The trains here are super easy to navigate. You can buy a ticket through the app, using one of the machines in the stations or by visiting one of the helpful information folks. I went the in-person route as I wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing. Tickets can be one way or return and allow you to get on and off at any station in between the origin and destination. The ticket can also be used at any time during the day, which is super helpful when you do not know your return time! The trip from Haymarket to Stirling is about 50 minutes and the train I took made a few ... read more

We had a lovely breakfast at our hotel this morning. An assortment of fresh fruit, breads, scrambled eggs, salami and cappuccino. The hotel Mon Plaisir was beautiful with well kept gardens and a pool. We were not able to use the pool as it was too chilly outside. We loaded the Tiago and headed to Erice. It was up the hill outside of town and after about a half hour of switchbacks we made it up. We visited a variety of churches and the bell tower. We had lunch at Postale 17. Pasta again. Very nice eggplant sauce with pasta shaped like a hollow spring. It was the width of about 1/4 inch and about 1.5 inches long. After lunch we drove down towards our next destination. The roadway was set up for a race up ... read more

April 21 Last night I asked the desk for a Tapas Bar close by. Following his directions I came upon the source of last night’s activity. Not a protest, not a political demonstration but rather a religious parade of a sort with drums, Roman candles, little devils and a dragon. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the show so I did too. I never found the place recommended but did find a small restaurant where I settled in with a view of the street with a glass of wine and a bowl of mussels . Might go there again today. One hour to Basilica. Wish it was warmer and the sun was shining but you can’t have is all, all the time. Entered on time and roamed around visiting all the remembered spots. Unfortunately it was overcast ... read more

Crossing another country off my bucket list! Technically I have been to the UK before when I was one and a half but I have never been to Scotland. Castle ruins, abbey ruins, amazing scenery and the Scottish accent are the reasons I have long wanted to visit. SAS had a great sale where I was actually able to fly into Edinburgh for not a lot of money. I booked the flight back in August and finally the day arrived to leave! Original flight plan was O'Hare to Stockholm, 11 hour layover which would allow me to get out and explore a little bit and then on to Edinburgh. However SAS changed the itinerary and here is how my travel day went. I worked until 2, did some last minute stuff at the house and then ... read more

Back when I was an active tennis player, I had the goal of attending the four Grand Slam events. I doubt if I will make it back to Australia, but one never knows? From Passing Thru Travel, about the Grand Slam of Tennis: Embarking on the Grand Slam circuit is way more than a journey through the world of elite tennis; it’s an exploration of diverse cultures, cities, and the spirit of competition that defines the sport at its highest level. Each tournament offers a unique blend of athletic excellence and cultural experience, reflecting the distinct character of its host city. From the sun-drenched courts of the Australian Open to the historic lawns of Wimbledon, the clay of Roland-Garros, and the hardcourts of the US Open, the Grand Slam tournaments are all about the trophies and ... read more