We took our little beach bums to Siesta Key Public Beach this afternoon with my parents, my sister, my brother, and my sister-in-law. It's advertised as the number one beach in the country. It reminded me a lot of Pacific Beach in San Diego but with fewer waves and finer sand. We parked in a fairly full lot, and I wondered how people manage to find parking in peak season. There is probably a quarter mile of beach to walk through to get to the ocean, so I think you need a certain level of mobility to get to the ocean itself. There was a handicap-accessible boardwalk, but the boardwalk is far from the shore. The temperature was comfortable in the 70s, but it was cloudy with wind The temperature was comfortable in the 70s, but ... read more

I really haven't adjusted to the time change at all. Last night, I didn't fall asleep until 3am, and I woke up at 2pm. Andrew and I were left with about two hours of daylight. We went to Old Town to try to do the Real Mary King's Close tour. It came highly recommended on Trip Advisor and from the owner of our bed and breakfast. Unfortunately, they were sold out for the rest of the day. We strolled along the Royal Mile instead and then went back to the Christmas Festival at the Princes Street Gardens. In the morning, we're getting up early to catch the Airlink 100 to the airport. I've really enjoyed Edinburgh. It's a beautiful city that's easy to navigate. It's perfect for getting around on foot. Things aren't all that expensive, ... read more

We booked a murder mystery tour through Witchery Tours. We were to meet in front of the Witchery restuarant, near the castle, at 7pm. Our route took us through the Princes Street Gardens, where we grabbed another Toastie from the German Christmas Market for dinner. The air was dense and wet, and it started to rain. Not wanting to be late, we arrived at the Witchery entirely too early and sat outside in the cold and wet for a while. Across the street, we watched a line (or "queue," as it were) form. This wasn't just any line. The line wound from the castle above us down the streets below and out of sight. Literally, the line was over a mile long. I asked a woman what people were queueing for, and she explained to me ... read more

Edinburgh, Scotland. Andrew and I traveled a quarter of the way around the globe thanks to the airfare we won in a British Airways contest. It's unbelievable, really. I'd worried that I would have a very hard time understanding the Scottish people. I've heard some very strong Scottish accents before, and I had a difficulty following what was being said. The accent in Edinburgh isn't all that strong. It's strong enough to be unique and lovely, but it's not so strong that I'm left feeling like we're speaking two different languages! Funny thing is, many people have been having difficulty understanding me! I hadn't thought of that. On our flights, the stewardesses had to clarify everything I said a number of times. Two resorted to asking me yes and no questions! I felt bad, and, so, ... read more

We ended up spending two nights and one full day in Aspen. We knew we wanted to see Maroon Bells, so we went in the morning. The rest of our day was open to exploring. While Oliver napped, Jo and I took a stroll. She wasn't very happy to be stuck in her stroller, but I kept handing her leaves (her favorite), so she tolerated it. We stayed at the Annabelle Inn on Main Street in Aspen, thanks to a great deal I managed to score on one of those discount hotel websites. The hotel was quaint and absolutely everything you'd want on a trip to the mountains. The innkeeper and assistant manager were very friendly and helpful. I asked for a lunch recommendation in walking distance, and the innkeeper recommended Pyramid Bistro. He said it's ... read more