thatdamnken

No sooner had our ‘pod’ left the ground than a young British child began to howl. His parents decided the best way to deal with this was to first, ignore it. Then to sympathize with it. Then to pretend like none of the rest of us where even there. 30 minutes of non-stop crying of ‘dooooooowwwwwnnnnnn’, ‘no want to go up’ and ‘take me hoooooooooome’.

The second our pod landed, my very Scottish wife went straight over to the administration and asked for another ride and was given a full refund.

The Eye is very expensive. Forget the psudo-military security and ask (no, demand) to be in a pod with people who can control themselves and their children.

Country side that is beautiful.

It sort of smacked ‘tourist-y’ but we still wanted to go. There really is nothing like the sound of a pipe band at full volume. You either love it or not, I love it.

We lined up along the Royal Mile about an hour before the show began. It became apparent that this even attracts an’older’ crowd. We were surrounded by 5’ tall elderly women in seconds (I hear they hunt in packs…). No sooner had the policeman said the doors were opening that these women sprung to life, pushing and shoving their way to the front, all the while laughing and saying ‘Excuse me’ in lovely Scottish accents.

The show was good, but it wasn’t what I expected. There was the opening pipe band, and then the Taiwanese All Girl High School Marching Band (no, i’m not kidding) came out to entertain us. They were followed by a precision motorcycle troop (no, I’m not kidding). We thankfully finished up with more pipe bands and some decent fireworks.

I understand that it can change from night to night. Our night was good, but tended towards a ‘circus’ like feel.

Even if you don’t go to the shows, just walking the Royal Mile during the day is entertaining!

“You are crazy” That’s the reaction when we got from people when we said we were taking the kids to Paris…for the day.

We were staying in London near the Waterloo Station, home of (at least for the next few months) Eurostar, the Chunnel train. We hopped on the train at a bleary eyed 5:30 am and were deposited comfortably in Paris early in the morning.

From the Gare d’Nord we hopped on the 42 bus and swept through the beautiful streets of Paris. The 42 dropped us off 1 block from the Eiffel tower and our Paris day began.

We spent a full day walking and enjoying a taste of the city. It was during the last 2 weeks of August, so the place was nearly deserted by Parisians who take their vacations during that time.

We weren’t crazy by just spending a day, it only made us want to go back even more.

I spent a great day with a friend and colleague roaming the streets of Barcelona. We wanted to go to the Picasso museum but when we saw ‘Museum of Chocolate’ we nearly killed one another running to find it.

Its a small museum with the history of chocolate and Spain. There are also some tacky chocolate sculptures but they’re made of chocolate and that’s takes away the tacky.

The gift store and cafe and nice. They serve the thick drinking chocolate (think chocolate motor oil…and just as hot) which still makes my mouth water 6 months later. Delightful.
Well worth an hour or so to visit.

I got to spend 2 days walking around after a business trip.
A wonderful place that is beautiful to look at and easy to get around.

I wish I had another day or two.

Bring good, comfortable shoes and walk everywhere!

I went at night and that has got to be the best time to see it.

The rooftop at night was just magical. The organic shapes and lights and sounds of the city….amazing.

If you need t-shirts you can read through and pants that are good for 4 wears tops, this is the place for you!

It’s sort of like the Sizzler of fashion.
None of its very good but you get allot of it for your money.

OH.
My.
God.

Plum gellato is from heaven.

This place is dangerous. So many pretty colors that taste so good. It’s evil I tell you! (go..Go now!)