Glasgow, Scotland - risk it!

Up until recently (4 years or so), I never understood why some people always spent their vacations in the same location. I'm beginning to get it. My choice is still not to go to the same hotel, in the same city, in the same state. However, we do return to Mackinac each year with friends for a long weekend and any chance we get to return to Scotland, we take it.

Yes, we visit Edinburgh; every single time. There are some things we will repeat, however, we will also spend time visiting new locations in this beautiful country.

On our first trip to Scotland, we drove through Glasgow but didn't spend any time there because we'd heard it was a modern city full of just hustle and bustle and higher crime. Thinking it wasn't really a place we would enjoy, we passed it by. Since that first trip, we've read more, watched travel documentaries, and heard from others that Glasgow is an old city with a young-ness feel to it. Hence, we decided to see a little bit of it and decide for ourselves.

Come to May, 2019 and here we are, in the City Centre of Glasgow and sad that we only have one full day to visit here. Throughout the entire day, we both kept saying to the other, "we will be back", "we have to return here", "when we come back, I want to..." and we will return.

The University of Glasgow is outstanding in architecture and location. Kelvingrove Park is stunning. Doulton Fountain is lovely. The Clydeside Distillery tour is fun and educational, and Tim looks forward to tasting their whisky when it's ready. The People's Palace grounds are beautiful and the museum is a nice walk through with some fun hands-on activities for children. These are just the things we got to see/do in one afternoon!

There are so many other things to see and more to do and pubs to have a nosh in!

So, when hearing things from others about a place you might be interested in visiting, stop. Research it for yourself. Talk to more people who've been there. Watch travel docs about it. Reach out to us! But, don't, please allow one or two negative things said by one or two people determine your choice. Gather more information than that. I'm glad we finally did. I'm glad we finally got to experience a little bit of Glasgow. And I'm glad we both want to return. Until next time, enjoy this little view of Glasgow from our lens.

Our hotel for 2 nights

Clydeside Distillery

Clydeside Distillery

Clydeside Distillery

Riverside Museum

and the Tall Ship

SEC (Scottish Event Campus) Armadillo Auditorium

 

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

St. George Square

Doulton Fountain

Templeton on the Green

People's Palace

People's Palace

People's Palace

The Green

Scotland 2019 - Getting started!

Let's pretend that this is our first trip to Scotland; that we haven't ever driven here, seen the sights or tasted the food. Let's pretend that we've never crossed the Skye bridge or walked the Royal Mile. Let's pretend that we've never experienced the warmth and kindness of the Scottish people.

Even if we'd never experienced any of these things, it wouldn't change how we feel about them: grateful. We have driven here, and it's no easy task, but it is doable and affords views the likes you can't get from a tour bus or train. We have seen some of the sights and tasted some of the foods and they are both on our list of favorite things. We have crossed the Skye bridge and walked the Royal Mile, more than once, and look forward to doing so again, and again. We have experienced the warmth and kindness of the Scottish People, and feel fortunate to have the opportunity to do so again.

Even though we've experienced all of these things, each time is almost like the first time. Each visit is fresh and new and we fall in love with Scotland over again. This visit is no exception.

On arrival, we were tired yet excited.
Driving the first leg of our journey was filled with nerves, but we could still appreciate the beauty of our surroundings.

Sleeping almost 12 hours our first night was necessary and our bodies wouldn't have allowed any less, but our bodies were ready to get moving the next morning and we walked and hiked between 3 and 4 miles over what was often hilly, rocky terrain.

Driving the second day was much easier, and full of laughter and teasing one another.

Reveling in the new sights, and relaxing into being on vacation is rewarding.

Spending time together after so many weeks apart is priceless.

Here's a little glimpse into our first few days:

Eilean Donan Castle

Flowers at Eilean Donan Castle

Skye Photo Centre B&B - view from deck

Sligachan Falls (another set of fairy pools)

Sligachan Falls

Sligachan Falls

Near Sligachan Falls

Seumas' Bar

Fish and Chips at Seumas' Bar

Steak and Ale Pie at Seumas' Bar

Seumas' Bar - lovely lunch!

Kilt Rock

The Storr

The wait is over

The anticipation was worth it!

The excitement hasn’t dwindled.

The reality was even better than anticipated.

Upon arrival and clearance through customs/immigration at Heathrow, I met my man (Tim) and we were (reluctantly) greeted by our hired ride into the city. The sourness of the driver did not put me off all the fabulousness to come. He may have been rude, but I opted to stay positive and think about the good things we were going to see and do and eat. We spent the first evening recuperating from travel.

I slept well.

Then the following day, we toured the Cotswalds. They were exactly what I pictured, which is beautiful. We had a warm, sunny day to enjoy the trip which included stops in Burford, Biford, Bourton on Water, and Stow on the Wold. There were so many homes with thatched roofs, row hedges in the fields of multiple shades of green, and the villages that look as though they were plucked right out of story books.

I slept well that evening.

The next morning, we walked around an area of London we hadn’t really visited before. The financial district and some of the West End, crossing the Millennium Bridge and Tower Bridge on foot, touring The Globe Theater and the grounds of St Paul’s Cathedral - we were unwilling to pay 20 pounds per person to see the interior. Imho, a church should not charge a person to enter, even for sightseeing. Dinner was yummy and I don’t regret the dessert as we had another mile+ walk to return to the hotel.

I slept well that evening too.

The next day, we packed up and enjoyed our ride back to Heathrow for our flight to Ireland. Please understand that we are both quite excited for this leg of our trip: neither of us had been to Ireland before. And, our friends Steve and Bunny would be joining us the following morning for 4 days!
Upon arrival, clearing customs/immigration, we made our way to the shuttle that would deliver us to our hotel for the night. After a nice supper and some facebook and text time, we knew we had to get some sleep as the next morning was the real start to this Ireland adventure.

I slept: that excited, “I can’t wait for tomorrow”, giddy, childlike “night before Christmas” sleep.

Anticipation

Sing it with me:
“Anticipation. Anticipation is making me wait, is keeping me waiting”

Here we are again, getting prepped for an extended trip to the UK and Europe. Tim left on Sunday and arrived in Budapest on Monday. I’m leaving in just a couple of days and we’ll be meeting up in London for a few days before flying to Ireland for 10 days. We’ve been wanting to visit Ireland, but until now just hadn’t had the opportunity to do so.

Ireland. Can you believe it? We get to go to Ireland! As if that weren’t cool enough, two great friends are going to join us for a few days of the Ireland adventure. We get to spend a night in a castle, see Giant’s Causeway, visit Belfast, see Cliffs of Moher, tour Tullemore D.E.W. Distillery, walk Dublin, drive the Dingle Peninsula and more. Wow. Anticipation, making me wait.

You may be thinking, “that’s gonna be a sweet vacation” and you’re right, but guess what? It doesn’t stop there for me! After our Ireland adventure, we return to London for a couple days then aTim has to return to work, but I get to stick around a while longer and show off some of my favorites places to my mom who will be joining me for 10 days. On the agenda:
     Tower of London
     Windsor Castle
     Buckingham Palace Changing of Guard
     Thames River Cruise
     Oxford and a meal at Eagle & Child
     Stonehenge
     Day trip to Paris
     3 day trip to Edinburgh
     and of course, more!

When she returns home, I still get to stick around because another friend and her eldest will be joining me for 6 days for more UK adventure!

Patience is fairly easy for me, specially at this time in life. But this time, this trip, this adventure has created more excitement than before. We get to experience new places, sights and foods and this time, we get to share it with some of the people we love.

Anticipation has taken hold deep this time and you know what? I don’t mind. I like this feeling. Hope you do too. Watch for updates over the next few weeks, we’ll definitely be posting stories and pics. And maybe you will be encouraged to find an opportunity to visit somewhere new and the anticipation for you will be as exciting as it is for me.

Catch you later...from London!

Breadsticks, oh my!

On Saturday, I made breadsticks for a birthday party dinner for one of my friends. I hadn't made them in a long time, but knew it wouldn't be a problem.

Anyway, I remembered that breadsticks use a slightly different recipe than my normal bread recipe. So, I went to Pinterest. And boy am I glad I did! This recipe is so easy and incredibly delicious and I highly recommend you try it.

A few things I did:

1. I doubled the recipe because it was for a party. It still worked perfectly!
2. I made a couple rolls out of it and they were great for sandwiches.
3. I made a seasoned butter to brush over them. I did use a brush instead of dipping. Easier cleanup and with brushing, I was able to go ahead and brush them, then when completely cooled, packaged them up for transport to the party. They did not get soggy!
      I used garlic powder, a little Parmesan cheese and an Italian salad seasoning blend.

These will definitely be in a regular rotation of bread making for me.

Something Old, Something New

Do you like to try new foods?
We do!

Do you like to try your hand at cooking new foods?
I do!

Tonight's Menu:

Curried Masala Chicken
Saffron Rice
Onion Bhaji
Roasted Asparagus

Now, I've made Chicken Curry many times, and a few different ways. We love curry here. I've also made Saffron rice, but tried a different method tonight...think I'll stick with my own way.

I've roasted Asparagus many, many times. Roasted vegetables are probably my favorite way to eat them. Roasting just brings out the natural sweetness without removing any of the natural flavors or dispensing with the flavors all-together (depending on how you cook them). With the exception of potatoes for a mash, I don't "boil" vegetables.

Onion Bhaji is something I've eaten, but never cooked before. Tonight, we had a real treat. I cooked something new and we all reaped the benefit. And what a yummy benefit it was! Take a look and give it a try - it's super easy.

The recipe I used is found at A Saucy Kitchen.  I made slight changes, by doubling the amount of Cumin, Turmeric, Chili (even added some crushed Red Chilis) and Salt. We like our food to be full of flavor and thought these would do well to punch it up a bit.

Ingredients out and ready to get started. (Oops Cilantro isn't out)

Onions, sliced thin and separated.

Mixed the batter (it is thick) 

First round of frying (original recipe) 

All done, after adding more of the spices and salt. 

Dinner, ready to serve! 

Curry Chicken, Roasted Asparagus

Saffron Rice, Onion Bhaji

Getting more for less...

Was thinking about blogging today on my food blog and realized, I don't have to have separate blogs for travel and cooking. This blog's title is Vistas, Vittles and Venues. It can handle all of it. So, hold on to your hats, it's about to get food-y in here!

In a renewed effort to increase our savings and cut back on our spending, I've been purposefully cooking more at home and we're eating out less. It's no surprise that this definitely saves money. And with only a little practice, what you cook at home is just as good if not better than what you can get in a restaurant. Don't get me wrong, I understand the desire to be treated out with no worries of the cleanup. But, we've chosen to allow those moments to become more special by having fewer of them.

So, here is my most recent:

Flank Steak Taco Dinner
Salsa
Guacamole
Rice
Beans
Corn Salad
Cascades Sour Cream

How we did the Steak~
Allow it to sit on the counter (in packaging or on a plate) to come to room temperature (30 min.)
Season generously with Salt and Pepper, both sides
Squeeze Lime juice over steak
Heat an Iron Skillet (or other skillet) on Medium High. Allow it to get hot before adding a Tablespoon or 2 of oil. Then lay the steak into the pan and sear for 3-4 minutes. Turn the steak over and sear on the other side another 3-4 minutes. Depending on thickness of your steak, and the doneness you prefer, it may need a few more minutes on each side. When done, remove to cutting board and allow to rest 5-10 minutes before slicing. This made enough for 3 people plus 1 more meal.

We reheat our tortillas over open flame on our gas stove.

The next day, I seared and cooked a chicken breast (same seasoning, same method but covered the pan and reduced the heat to med-low to allow the chicken plenty of cooking time without burning) and we fed 3 again. The next day we had just enough left over to make quesadillas (6 of them) for lunch. All I had to do was add one more can of beans. We still have salsa left to have as a snack tonight or tomorrow and some beans to add to our soup beans for tomorrow night.

This meal (which made 3 meals for 3 people) total cost was less than $15.00! That's 2 suppers and 1 lunch people!

Hmmm, wonder what Vista or Venue we're going to get to visit with all the money we'll be saving?

Friends Forever

There are days that it strikes me just how unpredictable life can be. Saturday/Sunday would mark some of those.

We met Scott and Susan in Indianapolis, after they transferred from Minneapolis, MN. And we attended the same church for about 6 years. We moved away in Nov. 2005 to Antioch, IL (Scott had transferred to Phoenix earlier that year, I think May) and Susan and their two children joined Scott in Phoenix the following Spring.

I had visited a few times with them in Phoenix: once with a mutual friend, Margaret, once with Evangeline and once with Tim. I miss Susan.

Last year, Scott transferred to Abu Dhabi! With that move, I seriously thought it likely I'd not see them again unless they moved back to the States.

When planning this trip with Tim, Susan contacted me about the possibility of she and Scott meeting up with us. How cool is that!? We'd hoped for a meetup in Edinburgh, but it couldn't happen, so they joined us here in Oxford. We were able to visit for a little over an hour on Saturday night and then enjoyed fellowship, some self-walking tour, a short visit to the Ashmolean Museum and lunch at Eagle & Child.

One of the many things I love about these two is that it truly doesn't matter how long it's been since we've seen one another. Our conversation picks right up, we update each other on our families and where we are in life, we joke and laugh, and it seems as though we haven't been apart. Time is always too short when we do get to see them, but that's ok too. There are few expectations because we're all aware and accepting of it.

Until next time, perhaps in Abu Dhabi? Here are a few pics from our day together.

 

Memorials

Memorials are necessary. They are unique.

Many people look at some memorials as beautiful works of art. Many look at some memorials and wonder why they were even created. And many look at memorials and cry.

These can be tears of joy, remembering the good things invoked by the one being remembered. These can be tears of sorrow for the atrocities others had to endure.

When I say that memorials are necessary, it is to remind us that if we don't look to the past, how can we look to the future? If we don't think on the atrocities others have had to endure, then how can we possibly grasp the significance or desire to help end suffering for those around us now?

And when I say that memorials are unique, it's to say that I believe each one (even if similar in design or construction) has a unique relationship transaction that has caused someone or some group to commission it's creation.

We can look at memorials when we travel or in our own home towns and simply admire (or not) the artfulness of it. But, there are those that you will come across that in some way move you, intellectually, emotionally, religiously, etc. And you might not be prepared for that moment. This latter was my experience on our last morning in Budapest this past Saturday.

Last year, I had hoped to locate and view and take pictures of The Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial. With the tour bus, and with the walking trips I took, I never found it only to realize on our return this year that on two different occasions last year, I was only about 5 minutes away from it.

This year, I was determined to see it. But, I didn't see it until our last day there. This was not an emotional decision, rather purely a physical one. The full day we had to tour together, I was too tired and achy by the time we would have walked to it. And Tim didn't have any more free day time until our last morning, so I waited to go when he could go too.

Along our walk to it, we were talking and laughing, enjoying our time together. As we arrived upon the memorial the crowd along it was large and a bit claustrophobic and all I could think of was sitting for a couple of minutes to gather my energy to "deal" with the large crowd of strangers, all just wanting their chance to get close enough for a tourist picture. Then a small gap opened in front of me and what I saw was nothing spectacular in it's physical form, but something that attacked my emotions in a tangible way. There, just 8 feet away from me where 5 bronze shoes, part of the memorial that lines a 20 foot section of the Danube bank on the Pest side near the Parliament building, with 60 pairs of shoes in total.

Two men shoes, two women shoes and 1 baby shoe. As I stood to join the throng of tourists, I was thinking, "surely not the babies too", but yes, the babies too. As my mind struggles to grasp this, my eyes are telling me it must be true. As I search on my phone to find out, I dread what will show up for me to read and to my dismay, I find that this memorial is just a small representation of the atrocities that occurred in Hungary during World War II.

They estimate 3500 were killed along the Danube, forced to strip naked and remove their shoes before being shot in the back at close range so that their bodies would fall into the river and be washed away so that the soldiers wouldn't have to dig to bury them. They had to strip and especially remove their shoes because they could sell the clothes and shoes and make extra money.

As everyone else, we did take our pictures, but unlike most as we walked away we found the nearest bench (but not the one that is part of the memorial) to sit and reflect. We needed to. I couldn't have continued walking at that moment. Not because of being tired or achy, but rather because my mind couldn't communicate to my feet to carry me any further until it had processed what I'd just seen and read. I think Tim may have been feeling similarly.

In my just-under-50 years, I've experience loss and some of it tragic. But, I've experience nothing like these people just 70 years ago experienced. Mothers and Fathers removing their children's clothing and shoes, then their own, knowing all the while that they and their children and going to be killed for no other reason than their heritage.

This memorial is a reminder to me to be grateful for each day, each freedom I have, my children, my husband, my family and friends whom I have many opportunities to fellowship with, laugh with, cry with and share memories with. This memorial is sobering and thought-provoking. But as I think back on it, I realize it is also a reminder of the promise that the atrocities of this world do not have the final say. This memorial reminds me that we have hope and grace and nothing in this fallen world can take those away.

Better Together

Tim and I arrived in Budapest yesterday (Sunday) afternoon. Our month of travel is more than half finished. And I'm so glad that part of it is here. This city is so beautiful, not full of newer buildings or much of anything newer, but it is beautiful in it's architecture and scenery.

We walked a lot today. It's Tim's only full day to sightsee here, so we made the most of it and still allow him some prep time for work.

I'll try to take you along on our journey:

Step out of the hotel and turn right onto the stone road/walk-ways and stroll to the corner, past the Inner City Parish Church, founded in 1046. Cross the street and turn right to stroll along the Promenade along the Danube. Along the way, we pass the Girl with Dog statue, the Fairy Boy statue, the Sidewalk Painter statue to arrive at the Chain Bridge. 

Turn left and walk across the bridge, being sure to glance (if you're not afraid of bridges) out at the river views (scared or not, they are beautiful) and to the other side to see the Budapest Castle. 

Once across the bridge, we walked to a little food stand and bought a Chimney Cake and sat at the base of the Palace to enjoy it. We then waited in line for about 5 minutes for the opportunity ride the Funicular up to the top level of the Budapest Castle grounds. About 5 minutes after arriving at the top, to our surprise we were witness to Changing of the Guards for the Sandor Palace (next to the Castle). I did capture it on video. 

After taking in the sights of the Castle, it's gardens and gate, we strolled along the rear of the Palace to see the ruins of something behind the Palace. There was a Magpie in the ruins that was squawking up quite a racket because a cat was invading his space. 

We then walked along through Castle Hill, making our way to St. Matthias Church by way of the Statue of Independence War and next to the Holy Trinity Statue. St. Matthias Church is stunning architecture and add to that has a mosaic tiled roof. 

Behind St. Matthias lies Fisherman's Bastion, a fort-like terrace with seven towers providing panoramic views of the Pest side of the city and especially the Parliament building.

After spending some time here, we began our trek back to our hotel. We opted to descend the stairs at the river side of Fisherman's Bastion. Yeah. We descended in total over 100 steps as well as walking down hills to make it to the river. Then continued our journey along the river back to the Chain Bridge to walk back to the Pest side and to the Budapest Marriott and take a break in the Executive lounge there. 

There are perks to being a Marriott Platinum member. Snacks, beverages a nice lounge area with incredible views. After a nice respite, we returned to our hotel (we are staying in a different Marriott, but have use of the Executive lounge of the others). 

I looked it up and our straight path was 4.26 miles. This does not count the walking around at each point of interest. My legs were like jelly a couple of times during our journey, but I made it. 

Throughout our little jaunt today, the one thing that stayed for-front in my mind was this, "I'm so glad that we're together. It seems more beautiful and is more fun because Tim is with me." We are definitely better together. Well, at least I'm better when he's with me.