Return of the Non-Native, Scotland part Deux
I tried to think of a snappier title, but titles are my great weakness.
I'm back in Scotland again. More family vacation. No worries, but it really is telling that it takes leaving the United States borders to get away from my work stress. Which I've had plenty. Working something on the order of 3-4 projects that in some perverse way were all intertwined nearly got to me. In any case...
I arrived off the plane today and found Scotland right where I left it. Good to know some things stay put when you put them away!
The flight was memorable... or perhaps the fact that it was uncomfortable was what made it memorable. Delta Airlines has the most uncomfortable international flights at least when compared to Dutch Royal Airlines and American Airlines. Delta was the most direct route, but then again, so is Fed Ex. Next time I may splurge and mail myself. I'm sure the seats may be more comfortable.
It was supposed to rain today, but really it never did. Mostly the wind was chilly and there was the hint of water in the air but nothing more. A pleasant 52ish degrees (not sure what it really was, that was what it felt like), ahh late spring next to the North Sea! Compared to humid 70s back home, it felt fantastic.
Other than acclimate, we wandered about the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, especially since we were staying in a hotel there. Seems the construction last November on St Jiles Cathedral and on the Royal Mile is complete. Looks nice too.
No new shops or stores, but saw some new street performers. One Harlequin - mime, a really funny juggler and a street corner bagpiper were an addition to the atmosphere. All were good, and I took some camcorder video of them. I'll post links when I get them up someplace.
Got some writing done, notes on my current projects and tinkered with a new Star Wars fanfic I've been writing off and on for a couple of weeks now. I may post it somewhere as I like how it is playing out. I must admit, I did do some programming, but only a little. Just enough to rid some ideas from my mind so I would quit thinking about them. This whole 'Software Architect/just get it started for everyone then invent something else' thing that work has me doing is hard to get used to.. but that would be something I'll blog on later.
Ate at a REALLY nice place called "The Witchery" ( http://www.thewitchery.com/home.html ) that serves some mean butternut soup. A bit pricy but when a place is 100 yards from the front gates of Edinburgh Castle... well ... I guess one can be excused.
Other than that, planned tomorrow. One... get a new digital camera... yes mine finally died. Digital cameras should not moan and rattle when being turned on. Then tour John Knox's home, a Tartan textile mill museum, and Edinburgh castle again (mostly cause it's just too cool to tour), and then tour a whiskey distillery (also just fun to tour). Plan to try and get to the 'Underground' tour where they take people on tours covering the plagues in scotland and so on. But that's a "as time permits" since I dunno how long it'll take. Definately taking notes again. I get the most lovely ideas when touring through there.
In any case.. that's all for now. Oh, and you can tell its spring near the Artic Circle up here... sun shining at 9pm at "night"... just too odd for words. Plays ugly with your mind if you're not careful.
I'm back in Scotland again. More family vacation. No worries, but it really is telling that it takes leaving the United States borders to get away from my work stress. Which I've had plenty. Working something on the order of 3-4 projects that in some perverse way were all intertwined nearly got to me. In any case...
I arrived off the plane today and found Scotland right where I left it. Good to know some things stay put when you put them away!
The flight was memorable... or perhaps the fact that it was uncomfortable was what made it memorable. Delta Airlines has the most uncomfortable international flights at least when compared to Dutch Royal Airlines and American Airlines. Delta was the most direct route, but then again, so is Fed Ex. Next time I may splurge and mail myself. I'm sure the seats may be more comfortable.
It was supposed to rain today, but really it never did. Mostly the wind was chilly and there was the hint of water in the air but nothing more. A pleasant 52ish degrees (not sure what it really was, that was what it felt like), ahh late spring next to the North Sea! Compared to humid 70s back home, it felt fantastic.
Other than acclimate, we wandered about the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, especially since we were staying in a hotel there. Seems the construction last November on St Jiles Cathedral and on the Royal Mile is complete. Looks nice too.
No new shops or stores, but saw some new street performers. One Harlequin - mime, a really funny juggler and a street corner bagpiper were an addition to the atmosphere. All were good, and I took some camcorder video of them. I'll post links when I get them up someplace.
Got some writing done, notes on my current projects and tinkered with a new Star Wars fanfic I've been writing off and on for a couple of weeks now. I may post it somewhere as I like how it is playing out. I must admit, I did do some programming, but only a little. Just enough to rid some ideas from my mind so I would quit thinking about them. This whole 'Software Architect/just get it started for everyone then invent something else' thing that work has me doing is hard to get used to.. but that would be something I'll blog on later.
Ate at a REALLY nice place called "The Witchery" ( http://www.thewitchery.com/home.html ) that serves some mean butternut soup. A bit pricy but when a place is 100 yards from the front gates of Edinburgh Castle... well ... I guess one can be excused.
Other than that, planned tomorrow. One... get a new digital camera... yes mine finally died. Digital cameras should not moan and rattle when being turned on. Then tour John Knox's home, a Tartan textile mill museum, and Edinburgh castle again (mostly cause it's just too cool to tour), and then tour a whiskey distillery (also just fun to tour). Plan to try and get to the 'Underground' tour where they take people on tours covering the plagues in scotland and so on. But that's a "as time permits" since I dunno how long it'll take. Definately taking notes again. I get the most lovely ideas when touring through there.
In any case.. that's all for now. Oh, and you can tell its spring near the Artic Circle up here... sun shining at 9pm at "night"... just too odd for words. Plays ugly with your mind if you're not careful.
posted by Chris Ash | 5:25 PM
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