Snowy Scottish Saga

Our trip began with some hint that the weather might not be agreeable.  I could see on my weather app that Scotland was expecting snow with temps in the 30’s.  I told our group to pack snow boots and warm clothes.  Its a good thing we were prepared because I never expected such a small amount of snow to wreck such havoc.

We left Wichita with no indication of flight delays.  We arrived in Chicago and I had  notice that there were some weather delays at our destination, but our flight was on time.   I arrived in Newark quite nervous to see if we would be spending the night there because our flight to Edinburgh was cancelled, but we were in luck!  Flight was a go and was on time.  However, there was a notice from the conference organizers that many of the conference participants were experiencing delays getting to Edinburgh and to stay tuned for updates.

Newark airport must have 1000's of tablets at work station at every gate.

We landed in Edinburgh and it was quite pretty with several inches of snow and big flakes coming down.  I got my first bit of challenging news when I purchased our bus passes into the city...I asked for the full day pass, which included the airport shuttle and the day pass for the city buses...the vendor said “you do know that none of the city buses are running today, right?” 

First change of plans, take the shuttle into the city, walk to our B and B, half a mile, no big deal.  We get off the shuttle and immediately discover not a single walk has been shoveled.  There are several inches of heavy snow that drag at our bags every step we take.

Second change of plans, find a cab and send a member of the group ahead with the luggage to our B and B.  However, there is NO traffick on the street.  We stand in front of the taxi stop at the train station for five long minutes, hoping a cab will pull up.  One finally does.  We cram 12 suitcases into it (thank goodness for large London cabs) and send Daisy on her way.

We start walking up the street (feeling much lighter without the luggage), and I realize that I’m not seeing ANY open restaurants.  I’m thinking – we are at a bed and breakfast.  We need food before tomorrow morning.  Third change of plans, stop at the first local grocery store we see and grab food.  We pass a “European Market” and go it.  Much to my surprise and delight, its a Polish grocery store, with E. Wedel chocolate and lots of other familar food from our stay in Poland a few years ago.  Everyone grabs something and we keep on walking toward our B and B.

After helping push a stuck car out of the slippery slush and walking for a half mile, we make it with no mishaps. We are greeted warmly by our hostess Anjana, who lets us stow our bags and change into warmer clothes so we can go exploring.

One of our rooms

View out our window of the back yard.  When we arrived, the little garden gnome was buried up to his neck in snow.  When we left he was snow free again.

Our hostess made the greatest 'traditional Scottish breakfast'!  Eggs, toast, stewed tomatoes, sausage, bacon, beans - the works.

We took the bus into the center of the city to reach the conference and the historic sites.  Needless to say, we walked the full route on the first day when the bus service was shut down.