Thanks for sharing your thoughts on your trip! The Hop on/off Bus in Edinburgh is also the only one I have been on and I loved it too! The pass is for 24 hrs so if you start at midday the first day, you can still go again the next morning and explore more of the city.
So sorry to hear our weather disappointed you, however like the living room curtains we do have to take the clouds in for a wash from time to time. You’ll be delighted to hear we’re re-hanging them today and they will be drip-drying all across Scotland by this evening …. (Seriously though, as someone who used to run a B&B on the West Highland Way, I can’t tell you how much of a Godsend a dry May is. Although you are certainly not alone in being disappointed if the glens fail to be all moody and misty. I have had guests complain that they bought expensive waterproofs and then didn’t need them. The very thought!)
I am so so glad you guys were able to go!! I was praying it would happen for you! Sounds like a wonderful time! I will remember some of your thoughts when it comes time to plan my own trips!
I live in St Andrews and can attest that the recent warm snap has been out of the ordinary--sorry you didn't get to experience some of that foggy, chilly Scotland magic, which IMO is one of the best things about living here!!
Thoroughly enjoyed this! I’m headed to Ireland for a week in June and also looking forward to the weather. We’re in Mallorca for 4 days before Ireland so packing light is proving challenging. “He is kinder to me than I am to me.” Same. My husband is regularly stunned by the things I would think/say about myself.
Hip hip hooray! I’m sad to hear how touristy Edinburgh and Skye are as they are both magical landscapes. Nevertheless sounds like you found magic where you could and with each other.
I totally understand your disappointment with the weather. I was hoping for foggy misty days in April when we were there, even though they said April is the month with the least amount of rain. And we still got some, although perhaps not as much as I initially hoped for
Our earth is warming everywhere, so it shouldn't surprise us to see the weather pattern changing. It should make us sad though, so I feel okay with the sadness. It's bigger than just a week long vacation.
Oh how I've been looking forward to your reflection from your time in Skye. I would also have recommended it to you after visiting for a few days in 2023, but reading your thoughts on the way tourism is a double edges sword in such a beautiful and also small place made me sad too. Thanks for sharing these thoughts with us!
Reflecting right after a trip is so great, and reading yours made me I wish I had penned some thoughts down after our last trip to Scotland. There are some memories and experiences that are just worth writing down before they slip away. It feels similar to the accomplishment of unpacking a suitcase right when you get home. 😂 Thank you for sharing.
I love the added flower to your backpack. Is it embroidered? Ironed on?
I kept my notes app flowing the whole time I was there =) I also brought along a little paper journal to jot notes down in and put little ticket stubs etc in =)
I loved reading about how the 2 of you navigated. While I love traveling with my husband, we have very different ways of moving through new spaces which can be "challenging," esp, abroad, and esp. while driving! Happy anniversary.
YES! I'm glad we aren't the only ones =) We actually do the actual traveling great together, and have learned a lot about the best way to navigate for each of us (this used to cause a lot of conflict until we learned the other person just "does" it differently). It was driving on the the other side of the car/other side of the road that caused some issues this time. We worked through it, but the tires on my side took a beating against the curb a lot and so did my anxiety ;)
Yes, we were in Wales 2 yrs ago and the other side of the road thing combined with fast drivers freaked me out. One too many times I had to say, "You're doing great but for my anxiety level, could you please slow down?" Cheers. (And now I have my first saved AIRBNB listing for our next trip, which I hope will be to Scotland!)
Travelling well with a spouse or partner is a gift beyond measure…richness of the mundane and best conversations. Can’t imagine Skye crowded… we were there 42 years ago… hostel people and the sheep! It was glorious! And we had the rain… clouds and mist… and sun! So glad you had this time together!
That sounds MAGICAL. I think our artist friend was right, trip advisors and the like have really changed the vibe since 40 years ago, or even, probably ten years ago. I am so glad you got to experience the magic!
No no no! We’ve had four summers of nothing but cold, wind and rain. It’s been horrible. The sunshine is bliss! But, I’ve just gone in from covering up my veggie seedlings because the temperature drops tonight to -2C.
The Airbnb thing is a big problem in this part of Scotland too. There are no affordable homes for our kids
You think Edinburgh was bad in May? You should see it in August ugh!!!
The Airbnb problem is a problem everywhere. It is really sad. I think I heard that the city we live in now doesn't allow them and I'm grateful for it. It drives up the prices for everyone.
We lived in Scotland for three years while my husband did his PhD at St. Andrews. There was one year I felt we had more sun than rain. I love a good gloomy day but after a year of it summers are magical. 💕 Enjoyed reading about your adventures.
I can't wait to hear all these words coming from you while you and Nate sit across from us, having dinner. The moment you're better, we'll make a date!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on your trip! The Hop on/off Bus in Edinburgh is also the only one I have been on and I loved it too! The pass is for 24 hrs so if you start at midday the first day, you can still go again the next morning and explore more of the city.
So sorry to hear our weather disappointed you, however like the living room curtains we do have to take the clouds in for a wash from time to time. You’ll be delighted to hear we’re re-hanging them today and they will be drip-drying all across Scotland by this evening …. (Seriously though, as someone who used to run a B&B on the West Highland Way, I can’t tell you how much of a Godsend a dry May is. Although you are certainly not alone in being disappointed if the glens fail to be all moody and misty. I have had guests complain that they bought expensive waterproofs and then didn’t need them. The very thought!)
Everyone we spoke to talked of the goodness of a dry May so I don't begrudge anyone the treat =) I'm so glad you had it!
I am so so glad you guys were able to go!! I was praying it would happen for you! Sounds like a wonderful time! I will remember some of your thoughts when it comes time to plan my own trips!
Thank you!
I live in St Andrews and can attest that the recent warm snap has been out of the ordinary--sorry you didn't get to experience some of that foggy, chilly Scotland magic, which IMO is one of the best things about living here!!
It's okay =) We still had a lovely, lovely time =)
Thoroughly enjoyed this! I’m headed to Ireland for a week in June and also looking forward to the weather. We’re in Mallorca for 4 days before Ireland so packing light is proving challenging. “He is kinder to me than I am to me.” Same. My husband is regularly stunned by the things I would think/say about myself.
I hope you have a lovely trip!
Hip hip hooray! I’m sad to hear how touristy Edinburgh and Skye are as they are both magical landscapes. Nevertheless sounds like you found magic where you could and with each other.
We did find magic and it was lovely =)
I totally understand your disappointment with the weather. I was hoping for foggy misty days in April when we were there, even though they said April is the month with the least amount of rain. And we still got some, although perhaps not as much as I initially hoped for
Our earth is warming everywhere, so it shouldn't surprise us to see the weather pattern changing. It should make us sad though, so I feel okay with the sadness. It's bigger than just a week long vacation.
Oh how I've been looking forward to your reflection from your time in Skye. I would also have recommended it to you after visiting for a few days in 2023, but reading your thoughts on the way tourism is a double edges sword in such a beautiful and also small place made me sad too. Thanks for sharing these thoughts with us!
Thank you for reading them =)
Reflecting right after a trip is so great, and reading yours made me I wish I had penned some thoughts down after our last trip to Scotland. There are some memories and experiences that are just worth writing down before they slip away. It feels similar to the accomplishment of unpacking a suitcase right when you get home. 😂 Thank you for sharing.
I love the added flower to your backpack. Is it embroidered? Ironed on?
I kept my notes app flowing the whole time I was there =) I also brought along a little paper journal to jot notes down in and put little ticket stubs etc in =)
I embroidered it on =)
I loved reading about how the 2 of you navigated. While I love traveling with my husband, we have very different ways of moving through new spaces which can be "challenging," esp, abroad, and esp. while driving! Happy anniversary.
YES! I'm glad we aren't the only ones =) We actually do the actual traveling great together, and have learned a lot about the best way to navigate for each of us (this used to cause a lot of conflict until we learned the other person just "does" it differently). It was driving on the the other side of the car/other side of the road that caused some issues this time. We worked through it, but the tires on my side took a beating against the curb a lot and so did my anxiety ;)
Yes, we were in Wales 2 yrs ago and the other side of the road thing combined with fast drivers freaked me out. One too many times I had to say, "You're doing great but for my anxiety level, could you please slow down?" Cheers. (And now I have my first saved AIRBNB listing for our next trip, which I hope will be to Scotland!)
YES!
Travelling well with a spouse or partner is a gift beyond measure…richness of the mundane and best conversations. Can’t imagine Skye crowded… we were there 42 years ago… hostel people and the sheep! It was glorious! And we had the rain… clouds and mist… and sun! So glad you had this time together!
That sounds MAGICAL. I think our artist friend was right, trip advisors and the like have really changed the vibe since 40 years ago, or even, probably ten years ago. I am so glad you got to experience the magic!
No no no! We’ve had four summers of nothing but cold, wind and rain. It’s been horrible. The sunshine is bliss! But, I’ve just gone in from covering up my veggie seedlings because the temperature drops tonight to -2C.
The Airbnb thing is a big problem in this part of Scotland too. There are no affordable homes for our kids
You think Edinburgh was bad in May? You should see it in August ugh!!!
The Airbnb problem is a problem everywhere. It is really sad. I think I heard that the city we live in now doesn't allow them and I'm grateful for it. It drives up the prices for everyone.
Enjoy the sun! I'm so glad you have it!
I am the same way with sun! I would have felt frustrated, too. Bring on the gloom! I hope you have some deliciously rainy, misty days ahead. 💛
Thank you! It is a misty chilly day here today =)
We lived in Scotland for three years while my husband did his PhD at St. Andrews. There was one year I felt we had more sun than rain. I love a good gloomy day but after a year of it summers are magical. 💕 Enjoyed reading about your adventures.
I don't begrudge anyone their sun =) I just wanted my fog =)
I can't wait to hear all these words coming from you while you and Nate sit across from us, having dinner. The moment you're better, we'll make a date!
Can't wait!