SFO and, Scotland here we come

So we made it to San Francisco and as it turned out we had a show in Sacramento on Sunday so there was no reason to return to Reno for 2 days. The show ended at 10pm on Sunday and then we drive, getting to the hotel down by Fisherman’s Warf. The hotel was no frill’s place but it had free parking, others were charging about $60 a day just to park your car.

The grandson and his mom were there and did a lot of walking around while we got things set up for the flights, he had not seen so many hills before. We found a nice place to sit and have dinner and drinks and once Dawn was done with work she joined us. We also found an old-time arcade and spent way too much playing old games.

The Warf

So the next day our real trip started, we were going from SFO to London on one flight. If you get the chance to make it all in-flight do it. From there we only had about a 3 hr layover to Glasgow, Scotland. Now this is someplace we have not been yet and I’m glad I didn’t have to drive after the flight.

Glasgow

The city was not as small as I thought it would be, some of the restaurants are a little pricy and we weren’t there long enough to find a place to eat that wasn’t expensive. We did find a pub around the corner for breakfast and good drink prices. The place Dawn rented for the 3 days was on the top floor and in the center of town, what a good view.

Edinburgh Scotland

The train ride from Glasgow to Edinburgh was quiet and relaxing not anything like air flight travel these days. You could look out the window at the sites and you mostly had cell service. Getting into town Damein was so excited, he and I had been there before and he wanted to show Mom and Joyce everything. The house we had rented was a little out of the center of town but the walk was not that bad.

Edinburgh Castle

This was going to be the bulk of the trip and this city is big enough you need about 4 days or more to see it. The rain seems to be avoiding us for most of the trip. So much walking and even a night Ghoust Bust Tour made it a great time for all.

Aberdeen

The next city was Aberdeen,Scotland and the “hotel” we booked was just across the street from the train station but soon as we left the station the rain found us. It’s called The Station Hotel and I would not recommend it. Mold on the walls and slanted floors and so hot inside the building. As for the town it self it was small not much to see and we were not there that long. Don’t think I would go back to it.

Inverness,Scotland

So we get back on the train and head to Inverness, Scotland. Also somewhere we had never been, the size of the town was small and getting around was not going to be a problem.

The view from our house

My wife and son just loved this place, it was small enough to get around and there were shops and pubs all over the place. We took a day trip on the bus up to Loch Ness and it was chilly but so beautiful Dawn said she didn’t want to go home. We did not see Nessy.

In town

The people in Inverness were so wonderful and welcoming we wish we had more time in this town, Dawn was so hoping that the flight would have been delayed or canceled when we had to go, the airport was so small and so easy to get throw we had to start home. We will have to go back.

London

On the way home, we had an 18-hour layover so we got a room and did some exploring. We had all been there before so we didn’t need to see too much. And yes we did get lost on the tube. I think this is going to be the last trip of the year. Let’s see what next year brings.

Its almost time to…

After a hell of a time with Delta Airlines about them stranding us in Amsterdam for 2 days and not being able to leave the airport, they canceled my tickets with no notice. We rebooked on American and saved $1000 , oh wait I forgot to say.

Damein Berry

We are going back to Scotland in about a week, with a short stop in San Francisco. More to come next week.

Vegas for the weekend

So after just getting back from Fiji I had a show to go to in fabulous Las Vegas. The Mike O Meara Show live.Its a radio show from Washington DC gone to podcast 10 years ago. It’s just a hour flight I thought,and the wife was to be joining me.She like Vegas a lot more then I do,that did not work out like we planned. She had to go to the Philippians from Fiji for work,that kinda pissed me off.

So my son came up from Arizona for the show and when him and I go to Las Vegas nothing good happens. I didn’t know the hotel that my wife booked Downtown Grand was one of the the hotels a lot of the fan’s use. I met some of the people I seen online and even got a chance to meet some of the friends of the show.That would be Jimmy in a dress.

Jimmy

The show was good and by 7 pm local time I was a tad ginned up shall we say. So Damein and I didn’t stay for the whole show he needed to get to the other side of town to his hotel.

Damein
Shots

We had a good time and didn’t get into to much trouble,till we saw the food tuck selling chilly cheese dogs. I will regret that in the morning I thought and I did. But for Vegas that’s nothing to regret to much.

Mike
Flush

Nonchalant About Roma

So my wife tells me we can’t come to Rome anymore because I’m not a excited about it as I used to be. We are here for 2 weeks and this is my 5th trip to Rome and I have been a tour guide so many times I hope its just a tired of running around thing.

Damein and Emma

This time we are here with my son and his girlfriend Emma and I think they are enjoying themselves. He got a chance to have his birthday in another country, so both the kids have been here now. We told Alex and Damein one trip each the next time its on you to come back.

One of the things we did different this time was rent an apartment for the 2nd week very near the Pantheon and it has no lift.Bad idea, 45 steps to my room and 65 steps to my sister-in-law’s room.Now that is after 20K steps a day looking around at everything else.

As I write this i’m at one of our favorite place’s the Di Rienzo in the plaza with the Pantheon,we have coming here every night after walking and the stall seems to have adopted us. One of the waiters I remembered from when my daughter was here and I found out he has been working here for 14 years.

Yesterday we were off for a fast tour of Florence another city I love and today they are off to Tivoli,Italy. I felt a little bad this morning like I was catching a cold so it was nap day for me.You need nap days when you are here.

A new year of trips

Well, the end of the year has come and gone and the next 2 vacations are already set up. This year is about the kids the first part of the year, Disney World is the first trip ( have I told you how I feel about Florida ). The grandson was impressed with air flight on his first flight until he found the in-flight entertainment.

The next trip will be back to Rome with my son Damein Berry, this will be his first time to Rome and he is bringing the girlfriend Emma Christmas. Her first time to Europe and Italy. She has been hinting that a ring would be so romantic in Italy. It’s a trap.

My hope for this trip is after showing them around a bit taking some time in a cafe to sit and relax. Damein picked up the tube in London so fast the subway in Rome will be no problem.