Card Carrying Fans of Scotland -- That's us!

Hi Auntie,

We decided to spend the last couple of days we had at Edinburgh.  This seemed like a great idea since I had never been and we thought it best to avoid the crowds during the London Marathon.

After a scenic train ride through England, we arrived at Edinburgh, and the first thing I noticed was that it was pretty cold -- the breeze ramped up the temperature.  A man helped us with directions to our hotel, and we walked right passed it -- but eventually, after more directions and the GPS on Noey's phone, we located our hotel and were ready to explore.

En route to Scotland

Edinburg Edifice

All I could think of was getting a hat -- but I couldn't find the kind I wanted (the kind Marlyne gave Chase for Christmas) -- so I settled on a hoody from HRC.  A nice lunch and a bit warmer, we spent the afternoon on a hop on/ hop off tour.

Noelle took me to Elephant House, where J.K. Rowling penned the Harry Potter novels.  I found Noey & Laruen's signatures on a doorframe and had a tattie--baked potato with hummus and roasted peppers, and my first Scottish beer.  Yum!

Beer & Tattie at Elephant House

 We decided to stay in town, rather than go to the highlands, and we were glad we did because they had a parade to welcome home their troops from Afghanistan.  We were glad to be a part of it.  

The mascot of the Scottish Troops

We easily determined our favoirte pub.  Pubs are different here, than in England, in that the 'eating areas' are separate -- you don't eat at the pub, you drink.  You eat in the restaurant portion of the establishment.  Anyway, our favorite pub was Deacon Brodie's Tavern, on the main street.  Deacon Brodie was an upstanding citizen by day and a thief and burglar by night.  He was the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Scottish Troops

Noey in front of Deacon Brodie's Tavern

We spent the day looking for a meerschaum pipe for Steve -- ending at the only true pipe store left after an informative-though highly prejudicial- commentary from a Scotsman, during our cab ride (a true highlight of our trip).  We enjoyed the festivities celebrated and look forward to taking Steve To Scotland.  

Ceiling at Decon Brodie's Tavern

Noey enjoyed the 'atmosphere'

I enjoyed the men in kilts

Final notes on Scotland:  While the Johnston name is a big and a source of pride from Steve's part of the family, there were just as many, or more, Clark's around (my side of the family) -- just saying....

Clark Bar

Clark Flower Shop

Johnstons Cashmere

street near the castle

And on our trip back to London, we honed Noelle's pinochle playing skills.

  We are card-carrying fans of Scotland.

Pies, Pubs, and Proper Pleasantries

Hi Auntie,

Well, we’re back in London staying at the Grosvenor House Hotel, which is on Park Lane in the Mayfair District of London.  The house was owned by the Grosvenor family – the Dukes of Westminster—for over a century.   After the military asked to use the house during WWI, the Grosvenor’s sold it and it was then turned into a hotel.

coffee at Grosvenor House

Amanda and Noelle at Buckingham Palace

Anyway, as you can see we enjoyed the surroundings more that we anticipated.  Most enjoyable were our cups of coffee that we had the first morning in one of the common areas of the hotel.

Noelle was eager to show Amanda London, so on the first day we rested and stayed nearby the Grosvenor House – meaning, we were across from Hyde Park; just down the street from the London Hard Rock Café; just across Green Park from Buckingham Palace – which is down the street from Horse Parade and the War Rooms, of which St. James Park (my favorite) runs into.

It was important to me to see Horse Parade, as it is just fabulous.  From Buckingham Palace, Her Majesty can look right down ‘the mall’ to Horse Parade, which is where the Calvary would assemble when needed for battle.  The Horse Parade procession continues, and is held everyday of the week at the beginning of the changing of the guard for Buckingham Palace.

Horse Parade Procession

Horse Parade

To give you an idea, if you were to stand in the street they refer to as the mall, facing Buckingham Palace, then directly behind you is Horse Parade.   So, as I said, the queen can look from her palace to her Calvary--and vice versa.

Waiting for the changing of the Calvary

The day's Calvary

Horse Guards leave for their trip to Buckingham Palace, then through the Wellington Arch

Horse Guards, without a doubt, is my favorite.  The colors of the guard are so vibrant against the London landscape.  It was very moving to me to just be walking along and see them in the distance, at different times -- sometimes walking in procession, and sometimes galloping in procession.  This, the daily event, is interesting because they go down the road and cars just drive right along beside, behind, and around.  Commonplace for the Londoners. Enchanting to me.

After exploring this area we all went into a PUB for a pint.  A very enjoyable afternoon.

Amanda's First English Pub--The Blue Post

Looking for another perfect pub in Shepherd Market

Ye Grape--another pub I like

The next day we took the train out to Greenwich where Noelle showed Amanda around.  Greenwich is such a charming village.

Harrod's Department Store

We also visited Kings Arms (my favorite Greenwich Pub) and I did laundry while Noelle showed Amanda around Greenwich Park and the University.

Fun was had by all.  After a meal at the original Hard Rock Café and a visit to famous, Harrods’s Department Store, we said farewell to Amanda. 

We all agree that we can’t believe how quickly our three weeks in Italy went.  It was a ton of fun.

St. James Park

Big Ben

A flower stand tucked away on a London Street

 Now, on the heels of the crowds for the funeral of Lady Thatcher, the tragedy of the Boston Marathon bombings, the incoming crowds, preparation, and increasing security for the London Marathon--which originates in Greenwich, right by Noelle's dorm-- we have decided to spend the next few days in Edinburgh, Scotland.

I'll be in touch.
Lu

Roma!

Hi Auntie,

After four days of sunshine in Sorrento, we made our last stop in Rome to tour the Vatican. This being our third time into Rome, we were all looking forward to it. 

Arrivederchi Sorrento--Buongiorno Roma!

We picked a hotel on the famous shopping street of Via Veneto. We like the area because it is very quiet (quiet during the day anyway) and is near the Spanish Steps (lots of fun places to explore) and also the Trevi Fountain and Pantheon (no shortage of nearby Landmarks) – and just as importantly, the street that the Hard Rock Café is on.  We were eager for some familiar food. 

Our hotel room on Via Veneto --very nice, but...

Don’t get the wrong idea.  We loved the food – but our dining soon became too much, too late, and by the end of nearly 3 weeks, too unpredictable!  As Noelle says, it’s just never what you think you’ll get!

Charmingly, most restaurants were eager to show off their specialties.  They don’t take 'no' for an answer.  Among our free ‘house food’ we enjoyed  special pizzas, unique ciabattas, fantastic brusciettas, and the delicious liquer, limonchello.   

Complimentary House Ciabatta in Roma

 Some locally recommended choices (that stretched our envelopes) included seafood pizza, linguini with ink squid, sardine fettucini, marinated octopus with onion, fried baby eels (?) – not sure on that one--it sort of seemed like miniature tongues.  Just saying...
Anyway, we had endless choices of tartare – you pick the meat—along with tripe, tongue, etc.
All along the way we admired the gelatos and enjoyed what became our favorites:  canneloni, various risottos, white truffle sauces, chili oil spaghetti, broccoli flan, and one of our favorite local pastas,  Busiati- a corkscrew pasta from Trapani, Sicily.  We’ll not forget the breads and wines everywhere--our favorite of what Amanda coined, and we now call, "Roma Reds" – the red house wines in Rome. Fabulous.

TIP#1: You’ll never go wrong ordering the house wines in Italy.

But as you can see, we were ready to calm down our culinary experience. *Sigh*

Our lovely hotel room on the quiet street turned out to be very noisy.  We had to leave the windows open all night because the thermostat did not work and the room was overheated by the towel bar that warmed our bath towels in our bathroom.

So between the street sweepers, garbage trucks, Italian men and young Americans, we were awake for most of two nights.

Lookin' cool

So on our final day in Italy, we walked to the Vatican donning our new Italian sun glasses. 

Amanda on our way to the Vatican

Over the door to the museums

   The trek was a very enjoyable 2 miles, or so.  Once there, we picked up our tour with tour guide, Marguerite. She was all business. 

Awesome tour guide, Marguerite; Noelle being sure she 'gets with Marguerite's program' 

In spite of her solid instructions,  one lady left our group then after a lengthy delay of searching for her, she caught up and reamed Marguerite in front of the rest of us – 23 in counting and all supporting Marguerite.  This after one of the security guys wouldn’t let us into St. Peter’s Bascillica—Marguerite, a Vatican tour guide, stated that this was an "unbelievable organization".  She worked her magic by going to the top, and the basilica was enjoyed by all—well, except for the rude lady whose husband was now missing.

It surprises us how irreverent people are -- the Vatican holds many relics--but we can see why they are not shared.  The museums are basically collections of art -- not really relics, like we had hoped. There was a vault with remnants of the cross Jesus was crucified on, but that's about it on the relics.  However, we understand after being with the masses, for a half a day,  in this sacred place.

font

one of many ceilings of the museums

Another noisy night brought us to our trek to the Rome airport in a hired car.  It broke down.  But the pick-up car got us to the airport on time.  

waiting for our pick-up ride after our car breaks down

To me the hasty response to our predicament reflected the gracious friendliness of all the Italians we encountered on our three week trip – sans the manger at our first hotel in Rome (see blog #1). 

TIP #2:  Don’t believe the Italians are rude and Rome is to be avoided.  They aren't and it isn’t.

Back to the Brits – Ciao’

And Cheerio!

Sun in Sorrento!

Mt. Vesuvius

Off to Sorento – we got lost for just a bit once in Florence, but with the directions from an Italian lady who repeated a word beginning with “F” three different times,  we saw that word on a sign, followed it and voilla!  It led us to signs for the train station, and the rest is history – as they say.

At Naples a man named ciro (cheer-0) took us to Sorrento in his taxi cab for a ‘deal’.  Enroute he pointed out Pompei , Mt. Vesuvius, Vico…sort of a guided tour.

Sorrento is down the coast from Naples, sitting just around the corner from the Amalfi Coast. 

The view of Sorrento Bay from our Room

We had 4 lovely days to relax in this seas side town that caters to English speaking people.  It was fun.

Breakfast at the Capodimote Hotel

Noey and Amanda went to Pompei. 

Noelle at Pompei brothel

Amanda at Pompe

I stayed home as was 'under the weather' with something I picked up in Venice.  It was nothing an afternoon of sunshine, a good beer (my dad always said there's nothing better to settle an upset stomach than a beer),  and a fabulous view, didn't cure!

Noey and Amanda at the fruit stand

Afternoon in Sorrento

Four days of relaxing, shopping, enjoying the cuisine--and, of course, the Isle of Capri.

View from Capri

 

We took a boat to Capri

Capri Coast 

On the way back to Sorrento we had a beautiful view of the Amalfi Coast and the Bay of Sorrento.

 Sorrento is know for it's giant lemons -- called Femminello St. Theresa Lemons--aka Sorrento Lemons.  Although 4 areas in this region claim to be the center for Limonchello, Sorrento is the actual 'birthplace' of the liquor.  It's tasty and very popular in Italy.

Lemons from Sorrento

Gardens in Capri

We all loved it here.  It would be a good place to come back to with our friends and family.

Ciao!