All 3 of us prefer to be at the airport earlier rather than later, so even though our flights weren’t until after midday, we set out at about 9am. We dropped our hire car at the correct place and then had a short walk to departures. The weather today was cold and drizzly, we remarked how lucky we have been with it all. Just before we came to Scotland, the UK experienced some very wild storms and lots of roads were closed. We managed to miss all of that, and were also fortunate that we didn’t encounter any black ice.

After dropping our bags we made our way through security and then found a place to order some food and drinks and wait for our respective flights. Scott’s plane boarded first so we said our goodbyes, thanking him for an awesome holiday together.

Teresa and Michele boarded the flight to Lisbon at 12:45 for a 1:15 take off. Once on the plane, after sitting for about a half hour, we were informed that there was an urgent repair required on the runway, which was holding all planes up. We did not take off until a quarter to 3. It was a hold up for whole airport and there was a long line of aeroplanes queued to take off, with many landing at the same time. It would have been quite the challenge to organise the backlog!

We landed into a very drizzly Lisbon just before 6pm. Despite a long bus ride from our disembark to the airport terminal, our experience from landing, collecting our bags and then locating our transfer was pretty quick and fuss free. The apartments we were staying at had been in touch with Teresa via WhatsApp and had organised our transfer with our driver Fernando, who also communicated through WhatsApp.

The drive from the airport to our apartment was about 30mins, and Fernando was very friendly and informative, recommending places to see and eat. Arriving at our very centralised accommodation, Rossio Apartments, we were amused to see that the entrance is right next door to a peep show!

Our room is clean & spacious, with two comfortable single beds side by side, and decent shower. Due to it being dark and wet outside we decided to stay close for dinner. We found a restaurant called Nicola and sat down for our first Portuguese meal. Fernando had told us that in Portugal the seafood is very good. Michele chose clams “Bulhão Pato” style, which was a sauce of olive oil, garlic, white wine, lemon & onion. Served with crusty bread…delicious! Teresa chose a prawn curry which looked lovely, however the prawns were a bit chewy and she found herself having food envy. We washed down our meals with glasses of green wine (vinho verde), a Portuguese wine from the Minho province and essentially means that the wine is made from young grapes…it was really good.

After dinner we walked just around the corner to the supermarket “Pingo Doce” to buy milk and for Michele to buy some Portuguese red wine and then headed back to our apartment. We had a quick FaceTime with Babcia & Barb and Michele was able to see her baby Basil. It was near 10pm by the time we said goodbye and we were ready for bed. Tomorrow we explore Lisbon. Boa noite!

Waking up in our new apartment in Edinburgh, we noticed that the structures we were looking at out of our windows were actually grave stones in an old cemetery. Once we got dressed and the daylight had arrived, we set out to explore this side of town.

The cemetery had many grave stones dating back to the 1700s. We walked further up the road and found some steps and a path that led to Calton Hill, a spectacular lookout with amazing views all the way to the mountains and over the whole of Edinburgh. Here there was also a structure built to honour those who died in the Napoleonic wars, as well as a mausoleum built for David Hume who proposed this area as the first public space for anyone to exercise and enjoy In Edinburgh.

The weather was cool and crisp, but perfect for walking around and sightseeing.

We chose a quirky little pub called Dirty Dick’s for lunch. Teresa had a tomato and lentil soup, Scott a steak and ale pie, and Michele chose a dish that we kept seeing on all of the menus…macaroni & cheese (with added jalapeños of course). This pub had a cosy atmosphere with many items used S ornaments aromatic the walls.

Teresa had arranged for us to have a drink with a friend from Oz at 4pm, so we did a bit of souvenir shopping and then went back to the hotel to await our appointment. Scott had a wee rest while Teresa & Michele went down to the bar for a wine and to play some cards. Prince Street Suites were an excellent choice for accommodation with location being a major plus.

Meeting up with Narelle and Andreas was lovely. Scott and Teresa had last met with them early last year in Reykjavik Iceland. Such a small world that we happen to be in the same place as them again.

After a couple of drinks we said our goodbyes and Scott, Teresa & Michele stayed on at the Kinelworth Inn for dinner. This one was another meal that wasn’t so memorable.

We finished up and walked back to our apartment. Tomorrow we say goodbye to Scott and fly to Lisbon in Portugal. Good nicht!

Residences by Marriot complimentary breakfast covered all options …. Eggs, bacon, sausages, fruits, yoghurts, cereals, pastries, coffee, etc. On checkout we discovered that they subsidised the parking in the actual parking station that we had found for the car so it cost £10 for our overnight spot.

We decided to take a stroll to the coastline. Teresa’s fever had broken and she was feeling a little better today. The beach here is very different from what we have in Australia. The North Sea sent constant waves crashing to the shore and the beach was covered with black wooden structures for as far as we could see. They are called Groynes and have been installed on Aberdeen Beach since 2006 to manage the shore erosion. It was still very cold, about 2 degrees, but lots of people out and about, including a couple of hundred people participating in Parkrun!

The sun came out and the wet drizzle of the previous days was replaced by the glare of a bright star. The drive to Dundee on the A90 was very scenic, lots of farms, some glimpses of snow capped mountains but no more roundabouts. Whenever we were driving with the sun in front, the glare on the road made it very difficult to see any lane markings, or really much at all. We have been lucky to not encounter any black ice on our car journeys but found some in an outside car park in Dundee and had to walk carefully.

Ready for lunch, we relocated to an undercover car space and walked to a cosy pub called the Trade Bar. Michele and Teresa chose lentil soup, bread and fries whereas Scott enjoyed a serving of fish and chips. All was delicious. Being a Saturday, the pub was already busy with people watching football games on the tvs. It’s not unusual to go into a bar here in Scotland and have a sign on the door that states “no football colours”, which is indicative of the sort of issues that that crowd brings.

Now it was time to explore. We walked down to the RRS Discovery, which is the ship that took Scott and Shackleton to Antarctica in 1901. We also took a short stroll along the river Tay. We went into the Premier Inn on the water to see if they could put us up for the night. It was about 2:30pm and the front desk attendant told us that we could only book online or wait until check in at 3pm for someone else to book. We tried to book online but couldn’t even find the hotel. We walked around and explored some other options and had a wee dram at a bar called Groucho’s. Dundee seems to be a large shopping mall, and a lot of roads. There was no lovely old town like the other places we had stayed in. We realised that Edinburgh was only another hour and a bit away, and we made the decision to just head back there for our last 2 nights.

Driving into Edinburgh we all felt we had made the correct decision. We found a lovely 2 bedroom apartment on Princes Street right near the old town. The front desk attendants were very friendly and informed us that the bar was open 24 hours! Teresa and Michele had a wine while waiting for Scott to park the car.

It was tricky to find somewhere last minute for dinner due to it being Saturday night and still very busy. We were able to get a table at the Brasserie Prince in the Balmoral Hotel. We received 5 star service and enjoyed ravioli with burnt butter and crispy sage, French onion soup, and hazelnut crusted lamb. Our waiter grew up around Dundee and he confirmed that we had made the right choice to just spend the day there and then drive to Edinburgh.

Walking back to hotel, we settled in to the place that we will spend our last nights together as a family for this trip. Good nicht!

Inverness is a compact city on the River Ness. We had an Airbnb apartment in the heart of the city which was warm and comfortable. It was cold outside but we were determined to find somewhere for Michele and Teresa to have a much needed wash and blow dry. We contacted a lovely salon called Head Gardeners and they were able to get us salon ready from 10am, before we were moving on to the next city of Aberdeen.

The weather was quite wet and miserable so being in the car was a warm refuge (although the many roundabouts interfered with Scott’s cruise control!). However Teresa didn’t feel any warmth as her fever sent chills through her bones.

Aberdeen is much larger than Inverness and has some amazing architecture and sights. There were many road closures in the city centre so it was a challenge to locate some undercover parking but we finally found the BonAccord car park as part of a large shopping complex.

It was time for a very late lunch or early dinner, it was dark and wet and felt more like 7pm than the actual 4pm. Bar Plus One looked inviting and warm meals were ordered and enjoyed by Michele and Scott.

We had not prebooked accommodation so we found a lovely hotel next to our dinner venue called Residences by Marriot. They were so accommodating, Teresa and Michele’s room was an enormous suite with a requested trundle bed and Scott was directly opposite in a very comfortable room. The rooms cost approximately £82 each and also included complimentary breakfast. The beds were like clouds and we could only praise the facilities and services provided.

We bunkered down for the night, Teresa having a much needed lie down. Tomorrow we drive to Dundee. Good nicht!

An early start this morning, we were on the road by about 9:30am. One of the top recommendations when searching things to do in Glasgow is the Necropolis, which is an old Victorian cemetery . It is on a low but very prominent hill to the east of the Cathedral. We got there but found all of the street parking around it was paid, and you could not pay the machines with card. None of us had any cash (or had even had the need for cash up until now), and there were no ATMs around. So we admired the view from the street and then got on our way.

Our car has a great navigation system built in, and we typed Fort William in as a first stop. This route took us past Loch Lomond and then through the magnificent highlands. We had to stop quite a few times to get photos, but they really don’t do the actual experience any justice. The enormous rocky mountains were sprinkled with snow, little waterfalls trickling down the side. Standing and looking up at them makes you feel so small. They were breathtaking.

We stopped at a little bistro called The Gathering at Glencoe. It was not our favourite meal of the trip. The waiter reminded us a little of Basil Fawlty and the food was pretty bland. All good, another memory for the trips !

Driving around the winding roads, we marvelled at how large Loch Ness really was. We drove around it for at least an hour on our way to Inverness. We finally made it to our destination. Our apartment is a lovely little 2 bedroom 2 bathroom in the heart of the city. We walked to find a place for dinner and found the Blackfriars Inn. More pies and fish & chips, as seems to be the trip tradition.

After dinner we walked around the dark and damp streets for a while and found the River Ness. It was running very fast. We let Scott take the photos because it was very cold and neither of us wanted to take off our gloves.

We walked back to our apartment via a little supermarket, which turned out to be a Polish shop! We purchased milk and some good vodka before tucking in for the night. Tomorrow we drive to Aberdeen. Good nicht!

The weather in Glasgow was consistently cloudy and wet. We walked into the main part of town, Buchanan Street, which was a bit like Martin Place with the mall going up hill and shops spanning either side of it. We did a little bit of shopping, walked through some dismal looking Christmas markets and then found a little pub called the Piper Whisky Bar to eat lunch at. Teresa had fish & chips, Michele had tomato soup and Scott had a steak & ale pot pie.

Michele had read that a local recommendation was a whisky tasting at a place called the Pot Still, so after we ate we walked a little way and found it on the corner of a laneway. Inside was a bar boasting at least 750 types of whisky! We found out that we should have booked ahead to get the full experience (which would be somebody to sit with you and explain each whisky), but we just chose a flight each, which was six 20ml pours and came with a sheet explaining each type.

We settled in to a table upstairs and began our tasting journey. None of us are really whisky connoisseurs, but it was interesting to taste the different ones from around the country. There was a young couple sitting on the next table who were from NSW and we ended up talking with them for quite a while.

Dinner was at a restaurant called Turtle Bay, where we enjoyed espresso martinis and yummy dishes. Then off to bed ready for our drive to Inverness tomorrow. Good nicht!

Check out was 11am so we left our bags in storage at our apartment and then began the walk across town to Sixt to pick up our car which was booked for collection at 12:30. On the way Michele was able to take advantage of the sales and purchased a new pair of winter boots.

The car that we were assigned is a red Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, nice and spacious with enough room for our luggage in the boot.

Scott had booked us in to do a tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia, so after picking up our luggage we drove a short way to Leith to view it. The whole experience is very well organised. After looking at a brief exhibition we were given personal speakers that would allow us to go on a self-led tour by pressing numbers and playing audio that corresponds with the different areas of the boat. We were able to see all areas of the yacht, including the sleeping quarters, grand dining hall and front deck. It was easy to imagine the royal family enjoying many a holiday aboard.

It was well after 2:30pm and due to the events of the morning we realised that we had not eaten, so we were rather hungry! Teresa had been recommended a restaurant called The Ship on the Shore, so we drove about 500 metres and found it. We were not disappointed. Teresa and Scott had an amazing hot shellfish platter and Michele had a delicious steak sandwich. We washed this down with some Pinot Grigio (Scott just with sparkling water). On our way out Teresa and Michele noticed that they were advertising “mulled wine to go”…..well if you insist! We ordered and received a takeaway cup with lid. Perfect for our journey to Glasgow.

The journey was rainy but pretty fuss-free. Before it got too dark we were able to see some of the outer skirts of Edinburgh. Our apartment in Glasgow was fairly easy to find. Teresa had chosen one in the city with parking underneath, so we wouldn’t have to stress about finding a spot. It is a two bedroom apartment with two bathrooms. This will be our home for the next two days.

A quick (and drizzly) walk to the nearest Sainsburys to get supplies and then we bunkered down for the night. Tomorrow we explore. Good nicht!

We awoke on New Years Day after a decent night’s sleep. Only Scott was awoken at midnight by fireworks (thank goodness for ear plugs!).

After a lazy start we made our way back into town to find somewhere to eat. We approached the Royal mile from Bread street and the Old town. There were quite a few people about, and still a fair amount of shops open.

We had read that the traditional Scottish food to eat on NY Day was steak pie. Michele wanted fish and chips as she had serious food envy of Scott and Teresa’s meals the day before. A traditional little tavern on a street corner on the Royal Mile called Deacon Brodies advertised both of these meals so we headed inside! It was very busy and got even busier after we were seated, but the staff were lovely and in good spirits (as had been our experience so far), even accommodating to our request to move to a window table after a couple left.

After lunch we walked around and looked in some shops. Scott found a lovely cashmere scarf (happy birthday from Irene!). Walking back along Princes street, it is still so amazing to be in the main shopping district and then just look up across the road and there is Edinburgh Castle sitting majestically on the hill (volcano actually).

A stroll through the Christmas markets, some hot gin (of course), and then a bit of culture walking through the Art Gallery of Scotland. Lots of paintings in here by famous artists such as Rubens and Rembrandt. You could easily spend a few hours admiring the amazing works.

On our way back to our apartment we stopped at Tescos to get some supplies for a light snack for dinner. Tomorrow we pick up our car and drive to Glasgow. Good Nicht!

The trip to Brandenburg Airport was in a comfortable Sharenow car, taking about 20 minutes from Scott’s place. Our flight To Edinburgh was with Easyjet and the checking and bag drop process was fuss free.

It was a 2 hour flight but we gained an hour flying back in time. Michele and Teresa were lucky again in a full plane with a spare seat between them.

The tram system from the airport is easy to navigate but was busy with lots of people going to a stadium on the way to Haymarket, our stop.

It was a short walk to our accommodation, Premier Suites on Grove Street where we settled into our 2 bedroom apartment.

We were keen for some food so we walked along and tried to find a pub that had local offerings. We were informed that Edinburgh was hosting 3 sporting events and that most pubs have their kitchens closed and were only catering to the drinking crowd. Such a contrast to Australian licensing laws. Eventually we found a nice warm place with food and enjoyed the warmth, hot meals and a wee dram.

Time to explore so we made our way to Princes street. It was dark, cold, windy & wet with lots of people out and about for the festivities. There was also much activity surrounding the preparations for Hogmanay – portable toilets, barriers and cordoned off streets. A short walk back to our apartment helped with familiarising ourselves with the area. Haymarket seems to be the university sector of Edinburgh and a handy Tescos ( food mart) is just down the road.

We welcomed sleep in the comfortable beds.

Good nicht!

We decided to head over to do a bit of sightseeing, shopping and have lunch in a Bavarian restaurant. A short ride on the U-Bahn and we were in heart of the tourist area of Berlin.

Scott and Teresa took Michele to Checkpoint Charlie, which was the American occupied Berlin Wall crossing point between the East and West. These days it is just a place for lots of tourists to gather and other dodgy characters.

Lunch was at a Bavarian restaurant – Augustiner am Gendarmenmarkt. Michele chose the goulash, Scott had schnitzel and Teresa attempted pork knuckle. We chose beers to enjoy with our lunch and then finished with a schnapps.

We did a little shopping at the Mall of Berlin and then walked further around towards the Brandenburg gate. We stumbled upon an area that was filled with tour groups standing around. It just looked like a car park so we wondered what was so interesting about it. Then Teresa realised that this was the area where Hitler spent the final days of his life in his bunker. Now it is just a car park surrounded by apartment buildings that were built in the 1980s by the East German government as luxury apartment houses for important members of East German society.

A little further on we discovered the expansive memorial dedicated to the many Jewish people who were murdered during the war.

The area around the Brandenburg gate was covered in construction while a stage was being set up for the New Year celebrations. We ambled down the Unter den Linden wide boulevard and found some beautiful Christmas markets. The first one we decided to visit charged €2 for entry and was filled with stalls, food carts and restaurants. We purchased a hot fruit punch spiked with rum each and walked around enjoying the sights. Upon returning our fruit punch glasses, we received our deposit back and then left the markets.

On our way back to the Hauptbahnhof we walked through a couple more beautiful Christmas markets. Purchasing some hot gluhwein to walk around with, we remarked how differently we would be looked upon if we were doing the same back home.

Scott had booked Teresa and Michele in for a blowdry at 5pm so when we got back to Scott’s apartment Teresa and Michele walked a few blocks but found that the salon had closed for the night! Our hair would have to wait, there must have been a mix up. Instead we bought dry shampoo and went back to the apartment.

Dinner was going to be at the Ukrainian restaurant around the corner, but that was closed as well, so we opted for a little Turkish restaurant. This was a great choice! Hummus and bread was entree and then delicious lamb dishes for main.!

We were extremely satisfied and rolled back home ready for a cocktail and then bed. We fly to Scotland tomorrow. Guten Nacht!