There's No Place Like Home

Yesterday was a long day. Packing, airport check in, a final pint and a bite of lunch

and then the long flight to Toronto followed by a ridiculously chaotic arrival at Pearson. Too many people with "jobs" directing and misdirecting us, others "checking our paperwork, but really barely glancing at it" and finally the wait to get our luggage. 

I picked up the car and immediately went in search of a decent cup of coffee before the drive home in rush hour traffic. 

The necessary travel at the beginning of the trip seemed far more manageable. Even with a lengthy delay. Perhaps it was the excitement of the trip itself. Perhaps it was that I wasn't as tired. But more importantly, I think it was because, yesterday, I just wanted to be home. There really is no place like home. Back to some sort of routine - even if that routine is simply walking or feeding the dogs. No need to figure out transportation or admission fees or manage admission times. No new historic information to take in, process or retain. I was so ready. 

This trip has been amazing. Travel really is the best form of education. We learn about other cultures, we learn about their history, their food, their celebrations and the things that formed the people in those countries or counties. We learn to appreciate the natural beauty of a new place. It makes us feel more connected. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to travel. I am grateful that I am healthy enough to travel. I am particularly grateful for medical science that allowed me to be able to walk for miles each day and ascend and descend countless flights of stairs. Just a few short weeks ago, none of this would have been possible and I would have missed out on so much. 

Being in Ireland strengthened my love for the people of my homeland. While we may share a sense of humour, the Irish seem far crankier than the Scots. Not the least bit helpful with tourists. The hospitality sector were fantastic. The locals, the bus drivers and the average resident not so much. 

Now to process all that I have learned. About Scotland. About Ireland. About connecting. I look forward to finding ways to share what I have learned and I am particularly looking forward to making the scrapbooks to remind me of my wonderful trip across the sea. 

Are we There Yet?

 I rented a car at the airport so I could get to Paisley and Airdrie. 

To drop the car in Edinburgh was going to double my fee. So, from the hospital it was back to the airport, onto the express bus to the city centre. Off at Queen Street Station and onto the train to Edinburgh. 

The train was definitely not the express train it stopped often. But these stops provided a raw familiarity with my own family’s history. The Crawfords have history here. Coatbridge, Airdrie, Caldercruix, Bathgate. 

At long last I was in Edinburgh and after a not so quick jaunt pushing wheeled luggage over cobbled stones, I was at the hotel. I was knackered. But also starving. 

A quick bite, a relaxing shower and the last half of a Vera rerun and I was off to slumberland. 

Best Laid Plans

I like to arrive a few days ahead of a tour. This allows me to see parts of Scotland I haven’t yet seen, visit attractions or connect with family and colleagues. 

This time I am flying Aer Lingus. Primarily because the price was right and the airline is reputable. I fly from Toronto to Dublin and then Dublin to Glasgow. There’s an over stopover on the way to Scotland. Essentially enough time to get from one gate to the next. 

I’m scheduled to arrive in Glasgow at 8 am so made plans to connect with family and colleagues before heading to Edinburgh. After all, check in isn’t until 3, so plenty of time. Or so I thought. 

Thirty minutes before I was going to leave for the airport, I received an alert that the flight was delayed by an hour and that I should call the airline about connecting flights. Knowing I had a tight squeeze between flights, I called the airline. They had no information about the delay. After 15 on hold, I was told the next available flight from Glasgow is 10:30 instead of 6:30. Aaarrrrggghhhh. 

That then meant rescheduling my entire day. Thanks, Aer Lingus. Of course they don’t care.

I made it to the airport and through security with relative ease. Then I bed-lined to my favourite airport pub, Fionn MacCools. First pint went down a treat. Now I’m ready to “roll with it”

Traveling is always an adventure but not always stress free. 

Scotland, here I come. Even if several hours later than planned.