Who wants to be stuck at the airport waiting for a connecting flight for 8 hours when you get can a brief taste of a city such as Amsterdam? I was asking the same thing when I was booking my plane ticket to Egypt. To save on cost, I decided to do a layover in another country.
As I was looking at the layover options, I saw Amsterdam which I was instantly excited about, but 8 hours? The first question I asked, “is 8 hours enough time to do some sightseeing and how easy is it?” Quite easy indeed.
The international airport you will fly into in the Netherlands is the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Upon arrival, you will clear customs and be on your way. Got luggage? No worries, there is a convenient luggage storage facility. There are many transportation options: direct trains, bus, and taxi service to the center of the city.
I decided to utilize the train from Schiphol International Airport to the Amsterdam Central Station as it was the fastest form of transportation to the city center as trains run every 10 minutes.
Amsterdam is a very walkable city as most sites are in or near the city center. You can rent a bicycle to get from place to place.
Before leaving the airport, be sure to stop over to the tourism desk, grab a couple of maps, buy a one day Amsterdam Card for unlimited travel on public transport and entry into Amsterdam museums and attractions.
It’s a good idea to have travel insurance in case something goes wrong. You can purchase travel insurance from World Nomads. World Nomads provides travel insurance to travelers from over 140 countries and is backed by reputable insurers and 24-hour assistance providers.
You can click here to get a quote. Read the policy details to ensure that it’s right for you.
Some say to truly experience Amsterdam like a true Dutchie is by bike, but I decided to give my legs a bit of a stretch and enjoy the sites on foot. My agenda consisted of a canal cruise, sampling some food, and visiting the Van Gogh Museum.
Upon arrival to the city center, looking at my map, I realized how many attractions were within walking distance. I readjusted my sightseeing plan. This is what I came up with.
5 Hours Of Fun
Understand that you will need to set aside 2-3 hours at the Schiphol International Airport going through customs before checking in and going through security. That leaves you 5 hours of fun which was plenty for me. I started with a 75-minute Amsterdam City Canal Cruise in which we toured iconic canals and learned about Amsterdam’s heritage.
Viator offers a city sightseeing Amsterdam hop-on-hop-off tour with boat option. I like city cruises. It is a great way to see the city, great value for the money and a wonderful way to experience the city. Socializing with locals and tourists is great also. While on the cruise, we passed some Amsterdam landmarks and boathouses.
The Anne Frank House
One of the landmarks we passed, I added to my list of places to see was the Anne Frank House. Growing up, I watched movies on Anne Frank and learned of the story of how she went into hiding during WWII with seven others in an annex for two years to avoid Nazis.
I didn’t fully understand the life of Anne Frank until I toured the Anne Frank Museum. It was a truly touching visit and brought to the surface a reminder to practice compassion for humanity.
After the Anne Frank tour, I decided it was time for some Belgian beers, Dutch pub snacks, and raw herring. You can easily eat hop and eat what you know, but I highly recommend going on an Amsterdam food tour and eat like a local.Due to time constraints, my sightseeing choices became limited to one more site to visit.
Nothing would be complete without visiting Amsterdam’s infamous Red Light District and see actual prostitutes in the windows. Out of respect and to avoid potentially having your camera flung in the canal, avoid taking photographs and filming.
I made it back just in time to check-in and walk around the airport and purchase some souvenirs without feeling rushed. While I got a brief taste of Amsterdam, I realized 8 hours was not enough.
I will definitely pick Amsterdam as a layover location but will stay for either a couple of days or just make an exclusive trip to Amsterdam and choose a layover somewhere else. Layover possibilities are endless.
My layover in Amsterdam ended up taking me to Alexandria, Egypt. Check out my blog post, Volunteer and See the World at the Same Time to learn how teaching English abroad can impact lives.
In this two-part, Off-Season Travel: Antigua, West Indies post, I will share what makes the island gem Antigua a must travel to destination.
If your that traveler that likes to play it safe, take a taxi, temporarily live in a fishbowl of false pretenses of white sandy beaches and resorts, typical American cuisine, overly priced tours, and not interested in the good, the bad, and the ugly of Antigua, then you should stop reading this right now.
If you are interested in being adventurous, mingling with the locals, eating local food, see the island for what it is on a budget, then keep reading.
I will be honest, before coming to Antigua, I knew about some of the Caribbean islands like the Virgin Islands, St. Kitts, Barbados but I had never heard of Antigua. I have heard of Antigua Guatemala city. So why did I come here?
How AVEDA Got Me To Antigua
A company called AVEDA sells all-natural beauty products and performs services. Heard of it? They have a program called Pure Privilege.
Here is how the pure privilege loyalty programs work. You purchase AVEDA products just like you normally would and earn points for accessories, products, salon services, and destination spa vacations.
Earn 50,000 points, enjoy a three-night stay for two people including breakfast and two complimentary 60-minute massages at Sugar Ridge Antigua Resort.
My fab room.
Sounds too good to be true? Well, it’s not. How long did it take me? It took 5 years.
A couple of times a year they offer double points which helped to get to 50,000 points faster which is great because I love their products.
I have no problems stocking up as I love every product I use. The distinct and beautiful aromas separate the brand from many others to include how the company gives back to communities.
For 20,000 points you can redeem a $300 gift certificate for spa services. Why not make one of the days a spa day?
Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island country lying between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The capital, largest port, and city are St. John’s, on Antigua.
My personal pool that included daily viewings of sunrises and sunsets.
This is where the cruise ships dock for the day and where you catch the 90-minute ferry to Barbuda via Barbuda Express.
Tourist season is usually from Nov-Apr with the rest being offseason. This doesn’t mean you will be limited to slim pickings. Personally, I like to travel in the off season. Ditch the crowds, see more, no lines.
It’s a good idea to have travel insurance in case something goes wrong. You can purchase travel insurance from World Nomads.
World Nomads provides travel insurance to travelers from over 140 countries and is backed by reputable insurers and 24-hour assistance providers. You can click here to get a quote. Read the policy details to ensure that it’s right for you.
Getting To Antigua
There are no non-stop flights to Antigua unless you are from Atlanta. To get there, you will have to connect to another airport. I flew from Minnesota and connected to Atlanta. From Atlanta, it is a 4-hour flight which for me went by fast.
During the flight, I was lucky to sit next to a local who lives in Georgia but frequently goes back to Antigua to visit her family. She gave me ideas of things to do there.
If you get lucky to sit next to a local, don’t be afraid to ask where to go and what to do. I recommend getting a window seat. Have your camera ready for some introductory views.
I was lucky enough to switch with my new friend and take some great photos. I didn’t know at the time, but that sight of pink, that was the seaweed that has taken over the east coast of Antigua coming from Africa.
Immigration/Customs
You will fly into V.C Bird International Airport. The airport is located 5 miles (8 km) northeast of St. John’s, the capital of Antigua and Barbuda.
The international airport is named in honor of Sir Vere Cornwall Bird, the first prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda. Prior to landing arriving passengers will fill out a customs declaration form.
It is a combined Immigration/Customs declaration form. Upon arrival, you go through customs. Depending on how many flights arrive at the same time, you could be in line for 30 minutes or more.
Once you get through customs, you go through another line in which you go through the declare goods line or the non-declare goods line.
Be sure to have your customs declaration form filled out correctly.
A line that should take less than 5 minutes, can take 15-30 minutes as there is one person that checks the forms per hundreds of passengers who may or may not have filled out the form correctly.
Upon going through customs keep the immigration declaration form. You will need to present this before travel back to your destination.
Get Cash Before Departing The Airport
The majority of taxis and small businesses accept only cash. There is an ATM at the airport where you can get the local currency. The local currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD). However, you can use USD there, but change will be given back in XCD. The current conversion is: 1USD = 2.70 XCD.
Upon exiting, cross the street and you will see taxis in the form of minivans and stands. You can book your taxi and tours. Taxi fares to hotels are fixed. Official taxi and bus fares can be found here.
If you are in the mood for adventure, you can take a bus for less than 1USD. I read that the bus system wasn’t reliable, and therefore played it safe and took a taxi.
When In Doubt, Ask A Local
However, if you do your homework prior to and map out what buses to take, it is quite easy to get around. Locals are VERY friendly and you can ask them as well. Upon exiting the airport, turn left, you will go past the old airport stay on the sidewalk.
You will pass a parking lot on your right, a cricket field on your left. Once you get to the main road, take a left. You will pass the gas station on your left and there will be a bus stop sign.
Take the #42 Coolridge. All buses go to the West Bus Station in St. John’s.
From there you can take another bus to your hotel destination. If you are staying at a hotel on the east coast you will need to transfer to the East Bus Station.
I am an admirer of architecture and the creative imagination of a person to put pen to paper and make a dream a reality.
Every since I learned about the discovery of the Titanic by Robert Ballard and the story of her tragic maiden voyage, I have been fascinated by how a ship that size could sink hitting an iceberg.
I was most excited about going to the Belfast Titanic Museum for a couple of reasons that I didn’t know prior to my visit. Belfast was once known as the shipbuilding city. It’s where the Titanic was built.
Day 5 – Belfast, Northern Ireland
Belfast Titanic Museum was constructed on the slipways where the ship itself was constructed. There was a great sense of pride in Belfast when Titanic was constructed. Upon hearing the news of the sinking of the Titanic, the people of Belfast fell silent.
Titanic was no longer something to be proud of. With technological advances, the story of what happened to the Titanic has turned a tragedy into a new strong sense of pride and celebrate the engineering and innovative architectural achievement of the Titanic.
As you tour the exhibition, you will go on a journey through nine distinct galleries that set the scene in industrial Belfast and the way to where the Titanic lies today. You will also learn about her sister ships, Britannic and Olympic.
Titanic Museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Take a break for some tea, sweets and a light meal in the café downstairs. Then head outside to the slipways where the ship itself was constructed. The slipways help you understand the magnitude of her size. You will walk away empowered to think big.
After the exhibition, we decided it was time for a little retail therapy and to do something about my shoe situation. Victoria Square is a short drive from the museum with plenty of parking and is home to over 70 stores, cafes, and restaurants. I found a pair of brown riding boots from ZARA. Still have them to this day.
After 5 days, we decided to make the most of our traveling, split up and continued our travels throughout the United Kingdom and meet back up in Dublin before flying back to America.
Me the solo traveler who had been there done that and visited England and Wales suddenly became interested in visiting Scotland. I couldn’t let it go. So close yet, just a ferry ride from Northern Ireland away.
Ok, it was because of the movie Braveheart and then there was that actor in the movie 300, and can’t forget about Sean Connery. Enough said.
My friends would continue on to England and Wales and have a blast.
At the end of the day, we would check each other’s FB pages and see what adventures we all had undertaken.
To save on the cost of tour entrance fees, you can purchase one of two cards that either provide free admission or at a reduced cost at select sites.
Since there were three of us, it was cheaper to add two adults to my membership instead of us buying ours separately or paying entrance fees. The Heritage Card is valid throughout Ireland.
The National Trust Membership Card can be used in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Both websites have a listing of locations and sites where you can use the card.
Day 6 – Dublin, Ireland
Instead of taking the ferry back to Belfast, I decided to fly back to Dublin on Ryanair. It’s a cheap airline carrier and was actually cheaper and faster than taking a ferry back to Belfast and a bus to Dublin. Be sure to bring your passport. Within the EU, you can travel from country to country with no problems.
I didn’t go through customs and didn’t need to get my passport stamped. This could change when Brexit occurs. Upon arrival at the airport, I didn’t have to go through customs. However, when I went to board the airplane, there was a question if I could board the plane.
Irish church and cemetery.
I just explained my travel itinerary and was good to go. Upon arrival in Dublin, we bought roundtrip aircoach tickets to Dublin City Centre and back to the Dublin Airport that included a Hop on Hop Off tour.
From there, you guessed it, it was time to make up for that whiskey tour we had to cross off our lists in Bushmills, put that hop on hop off pass to use and visit the Jameson and Guinness factories.
In the evening we decided to take in some live music with a traditional Irish dance show, Celtic Nights at The Arlington Hotel in Dublin. You can purchase tickets ahead of time which includes dinner before the show starts. Here is a sneak peek that you may see on your visit.
We decided to stay at a hostel. Most hostels serve the traditional Irish breakfast. If you haven’t had it before you are in for a treat. Dublin, Ireland.
Day 7 – Dublin, Ireland
You can easily find plenty to see by looking at the route map and not have to take a taxi. We decided to wrap up our visit by visiting a couple of museums before heading to the Dublin airport to marvel in our two-week experiences and plan the next adventure.
A week in Ireland is not enough. Many times we found ourselves having our evening meetings over pint making tough decisions on what to cross off the list because there wasn’t enough time in the day to do it all and most of all enjoy it all. With so much to see, you could easily spend two weeks in Ireland.
Travel Movies That Inspire Wanderlust
If you are like me, before going to Ireland, there are only a couple of things I knew. The movie, The Quiet Man was filmed in, yup you guessed it, Ireland. Maureen O’Hara, John Wayne’s love interest in the movie, was born in Ireland.
Jameson and Guinness are loved and enjoyed all over the world. If I had my way, I would have an Irish coffee every day before, at lunch, and end with a Guinness after work.
I learned there is an art to pouring a glass of Guinness and enjoying it. Lastly, the only traditional Irish dance I was aware of was Riverdance and Lord of the Dance and a dancer named Michael Flatly. One of my favorite bands is U2.
Oh and don’t forget about the Titanic and her sisters Britannic and Olympic.
I could go on and on. And then there are those Gallagher brothers Liam and Noel. Oasis forever! Yes, I know the brothers are never, ever, ever getting back together. At least I got to see them in the 90s.
Reflections Of Ireland
I didn’t know Ireland’s rich history and numerous contributions to global citizens around the world.
I felt like I had already been to the Emerald Isle once before, yet it was my first time visiting this amazing place. Time to recheck that family tree.
Learned a little bit about my family history I didn’t know. I have British and Irish ancestry!
That was a bit of a surprise and quite lovely.
After hopping across the pond (I took a ferry from Belfast), I arrived in Scotland for a couple of fun-filled days of landscape photography and liquid gold.
As a kid growing up, I remember my mom watching nothing but Western movies and being forced to watch them with her. Her favorite actor was John Wayne. I neither had any interest in Western movies or John Wayne. However, as I grew older, that would change. One day she was watching her favorite movie, The Quiet Man.
A big departure from Westerns and other action-oriented films he was mostly known for. It stars John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara and takes place in Ireland.
If there is one John Wayne movie to watch, this is the one I recommend watching. I am sure the locations that were shot in the film, further helped Ireland to become a tourist attraction.
As I got older, my opinion of John Wayne and Western movies didn’t change. One day The Quiet Man was on again and my mom made the comment that she would someday like to visit. For her birthday, I decided to surprise her with a 4-day tour to Ireland.
Fast forward several years later, and my friend called and said she wanted to go to Ireland for her 35th birthday. Suddenly Ireland just became cool and I felt the need to go see what my mom saw those years ago.
It Took A Little Work To Get Across the Pond
Three American girls taking Ireland by storm. This could fun or a complete disaster. I didn’t know it was going to be a little work getting there first. 2 lost suitcases, 1 stolen phone charger, and 1 broken boot zipper. Glad I brought a carry-on and didn’t check it in. Check out my 12 Carry-on Bag Essentials for Air Travel to Any Destination blog post.
To my knowledge, there are no non-stop flights to Dublin, Ireland. We connected through Chicago’s O’Hare International airport and of course, our flight was canceled due to a snow storm going through the Midwest and stuck on the east coast. We wouldn’t fly out until the next day.
It’s a good idea to have travel insurance in case something goes wrong. You can purchase travel insurance from World Nomads.
World Nomads provides travel insurance to travelers from over 140 countries and is backed by reputable insurers and 24-hour assistance providers.
You can click here to get a quote. Read the policy details to ensure that it’s right for you.
All the kiosks and customer service desks were swamped with travelers trying to do the same thing we were trying to do, get out of the airport. Being the worldly traveler I was, there had to be another flight going to Ireland. While standing in line, my friend called the airline and explained the situation.
The first option we were given was to fly to Newark and then continue on to Dublin. That meant losing two days. Next option was to fly from Chicago to London. The only adjustment we would have had to make was to reverse our travel itinerary.
That might not be so bad. Since the cancellation was no fault of our own, the customer service rep put us on a different airline carrier departing that evening. Ireland, here we come!
Girl Power Mantra: The Wrong Side Of The Road, The Wrong Side Of The Road
We decided to rent a car to get around. We were all nervous but decided we would all take turns in this driving adventure.
In Ireland, they drive on the left side of the road. Oh and don’t forget about the many roundabouts. We had one minor snafu.
The GPS we were going to use, was in one of the girl’s suitcases which were still in Chicago waiting to depart for Dublin. Upon arrival, the airline is supposed to arrange delivery of the luggage to our accommodations.
There was only one challenge. We had an aggressive itinerary in which every day we are staying in a different town. Guess we are going to have to go old school and get a map.
Luckily in Ireland, it is quite easy to get around. We all had our assigned roles.
The driver would drive and nothing else except take smoke breaks as needed in order to “keep calm and drive on”.
The navigator aka backseat driver will read the map. Lastly, the driver’s right-hand girl in the passenger’s seat will help navigate, provide moral support, and not get us killed.
As the driver approached an intersection or roundabout the driver’s right-hand girl will say, “the wrong side of the road, the wrong side of the road.” This would eventually become our daily chant if you will.
Our trip was scheduled for two weeks, but not all of it would be spent in Ireland.
Day 1 – Waterford, Ireland
If you aren’t into spending New Year’s Eve in NYC standing outside in the cold all day wearing a diaper in Times Square and waiting for the ball to drop, I recommend adding a guided factory tour at the House of Waterford Crystal to the road trip itinerary.
Master Cutter practicing the ancient craft of mold making.
Getting up a close with a Master Cutter who practices the ancient craft of mold making will make you feel like a VIP as you will learn first hand how those lovely Times Square Ball panels are made in great detail.
With a pub down the street and overnight stay at the Glasha Farmhouse, I felt fantastic. We arrived too late for dinner but were offered slices of toast with Irish butter and a bottle of red wine.
Can we say the best late-night snack ever? Thank goodness Kerrygold Irish butter has invaded every supermarket in the United States.
Waking up to the sound of cows is something I have never experienced before. Kind of therapeutic, yet not a normal occurrence for a city girl. I loved my stay so much that when the time comes to walk down the aisle, it will be in Ireland and hopefully on this property.
The Glasha farmhouse.
Day 2 – Cashel Ireland
On day 2, we toured the iconic Rock of Cashel with an overnight stay at the Spanish Arch Hotel in Galway. If you are looking to be the center of it all and soak up the Irish atmosphere with lots of live music, pubs, shopping, and nearby historic tourist attractions, the Spanish Arch Hotel is for you.
Observing the Irish countryside from the Rock of Cashel.
Situated in the center of Galway’s ‘Latin Quarter’ on Quay Street, the hotel bar serves great food and live music. It’s easy to hop from one pub to another and soak up the Irish atmosphere. Just a word of caution.
It gets a little noisy at night especially around 2 a.m. If you are a person who is a light sleeper, either request a room away from noise or bring your earplugs.
Day 3 – County Clare, Ireland, and Bushmills, Northern Ireland
Cliffs of Moher is a great site to visit and easily can spend a couple of hours there as we did. The view of the Atlantic Ocean is breathtaking. You can do some hiking, for a small fee, you can climb O’Brien’s tower. There is a small café to get food. Beware of birds. This is what happens when you feed the birds. It totally looked like something out of Alfred Hitchcock’s, Birds movie.
Birds taking over.
We stayed overnight at the Ballylinny Holiday Cottages. We went into town to a local grocery store and bought some food. It’s fun visiting a grocery store in another country and trying new things. Since we had a kitchen, we made a wonderful dinner and new discoveries. I have a new love for mushy peas and Irish butter.
Day 4 – Bushmills and Ballymoney, Northern Ireland
On the way to the Dark Hedges, you pass through multiple towns and it’s hard not to pull over and explore. Along the way we stopped and visited a church and cemetery. There was something about the drive that was romantically eerie, beautiful and haunting at the same time.
The Dark Hedges.
The Giants Causeway had some weird looking man-made structures. To find out 40,000 interlocking basalt columns were created as a result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. What wonderful creations Mother Nature makes.
Giants Causeway
It was starting to get dark and so we didn’t get a chance to see the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, but in talking with the locals, I recommend you try to squeeze it in if you can along with a tour of the Old Bushmills Distillery. I will have to save my whiskey tour for Dublin.
We stayed overnight at Kilronan Castle Estate & Spa. It was a long day of travel and exploring. By the time we arrived, it was dark and the spa was closed. We made the most of it by going for a swim and enjoyed the sauna. The bar was comfortable in which you could lounge on couches enjoy a pint and some boar stew.
I am sure you are wondering what happened to our luggage. My friend kept calling the airline daily and that morning it had arrived in Dublin. We called our accommodation to let them know it was on its way and around what time we would be arriving.
Luggage Arrived Just In Time
No sooner than an hour after arrival, the bags arrived. That was cutting it close. The next day we were continuing on to Northern Ireland and then going our separate ways to Scotland, England and Wales. I am grateful for my carry-on.
I attempted to see if I could salvage my boot with the broken zipper and get it repaired. The staff was so professional in trying to find someone in town, but unfortunately, we had arrived after all the shops had closed.
Running shoes it remains. Not only were my friends sick of my shoes, but I was sick of them poking fun. Next time I fly internationally, I will wear more comfortable shoes to accommodate my swollen feet so that they can come off and slip back on. In the morning, you can see the great landscape. I could have used one more overnight to explore.
If it wasn’t for a couple of pints, some Irish stew, and a movie, I would have never ventured out of my comfort zone. A movie showing my tv in my hotel room brought me to the Scottish Highlands and more.
Yes, the movie, Braveheart has a few historical inaccuracies, but that got cleared up during the 3-day tour. Movies and folklore have a way of luring curious travelers to places they otherwise would have forgotten about.
Day 3
I spent the day learning about Scotland’s capital and explore. Doing a bus tour in which I could hop on and off, go sightseeing, get a bite to eat allowed me to see Edinburgh in a day. Tours depart from Waverley Bridge and last approximately an hour.
The good thing about hopping on and off the bus is that you can join the bus tour at any of the bus stops along the route and make a full day of sightseeing.
Since I had arrived late evening the night before, I had time to fully take in the Christmas festival, enjoy the food and engage with the locals.
Travel foodie on the prowl for new discoveries at the Edinburgh Christmas festival.
The first stop started with visiting Edinburgh’s famous castle on top of a steep slope. After that, it was to visit two distinct areas: the Old Town, dominated by a medieval fortress; and the neoclassical New Town.
Waverley Bridge tour stop was the perfect spot to get off and walk two minutes back to my accommodation and plan my next tour. England, I will have to catch up with you again for a second round another time. This is my first time in Scotland and I am going to enjoy it.
View of the city center from Edinburgh Castle
Day 4-6
My second tour consisted of a 3-day tour to the Isle of Skye. Highlights of this tour included visiting Glencoe, Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle and the romantic island of Skye. We spent 2 nights in the harbor town of Portree on the Isle of Skye.
We had a choice of accommodations that fit within our budget dispersed around various towns and villages, but not more than a 10-15 minute walk from the center.
Eilean Donan Castle in the Scottish Highlands
The tour guide was very clear on drop off and pick up times. Be sure to pack layers as it got chilly at night. I chose to stay at a B&B and enjoyed, you guessed it, a full Scottish Breakfast. Along the way, we stopped at Kilmuir cemetery on the Isle of Skye which had a spectacular view of the ocean
While walking around looking at headstones I came across a memorial headstone marking the final resting place of legendary fashion designer Alexander McQueen.
Throughout the tour, there was plenty of time to take pictures, go for a group hike, explore independently and take in the Scottish countryside and the endless sheep running around free without restrictions.
Enjoying a sample of Dewar’s whiskey
After researching transportation options back to Ireland, I decided that I didn’t want to be rushed or miss out on the Dublin nightlife. Instead of going back to Edinburgh, I found a cheap flight through Ryanair from Glasgow back to Dublin for less than $20.
There were other coach buses conducting similar tours picking up and dropping off passengers. We made a stop in Glasgow to drop off a couple back to their hotel and I decided to get off in Glasgow and stay overnight. One last adventure in Scotland.
Day 7
My time was short and I wanted to take a quick look at Glasgow before flying out in the afternoon. I enjoyed a city sightseeing hop on and off bus tour. The accommodation I was staying at, arranged for a taxi to take me to the airport. In less than an hour, I was in Dublin, Ireland.
Scotland has a lot to offer for all budgets and interests. Sometimes just showing up without a plan, in return, one can experience the country as a whole and not just what is popular.
If left to my original plan, I would have just kept my visit short to only Edinburgh Castle. My next visit will be all about island hopping around the British Isles and sampling tasty single malt beverages.
After spending an adventurous week traveling around Ireland, I was at my accommodation reflecting on my recent visit to the Titanic museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland. As I was flipping through my pictures, I decided to watch some television. You wouldn’t guess what movie came on.
I will give you a hint. The movie stars Mel Gibson and he runs around in a kilt kicking butt. At the end of the movie someone in the crowd screams, “I’m debt freeeeee!” You know what happens next.
Having watched the movie Braveheart many times, since I was in the area, I took the hint that I should make a brief detour and go visit Scotland on the way to England. With Scotland being a hop, skip and a less than one hour flight away, I would be crazy to not go.
The plan was to spend two days in Edinburgh, Scotland, see some castles and then off to England to visit the beautiful city of Bath, the home of one of England’s most famous writers Beatrix Potter in the Lake District, and finally Hadrian’s Wall. That was the plan…so I thought.
Since going to Edinburgh was a spur of the moment decision, taking a ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan seemed the best option. It would give me a couple of hours to book my accommodation and figure out how I was going to get to Edinburgh. Of course, if you are short on time, you could simply book a non-stop flight on from Belfast to Edinburgh for under $100.
It’s a good idea to have travel insurance in case something goes wrong. You can purchase travel insurance from World Nomads. World Nomads provides travel insurance to travelers from over 140 countries and is backed by reputable insurers and 24-hour assistance providers. You can click here to get a quote. Read the policy details to ensure that it’s right for you.
Day 1
Upon arrival at the Cairnryan ferry port, I took a taxi to the Stranraer railway station. From there I would enjoy hours of scenery on ScotRail until I arrived at my final destination, Edinburgh.
Upon exiting Edinburgh Waverly train station, I was surprised to find myself in the heart of Edinburgh city center and a Christmas festival.
Edinburgh’s Christmas Festival is a six-week season of festive entertainment in the heart of the city. It’s like being at the State Fair. There is music, food, markets, and rides to include a Big Wheel and 60-metre Star Flyer, with breathtaking views over the city.
Christmas festival in the city center.
To save some money for sightseeing, I decided to stay at the Edinburgh Backpackers. Given I was going to spend more time sightseeing and coming back to sleep, staying at a hostel seemed like a good option.
Edinburgh Backpackers is in the best location in town and the cheapest as the other hotels are quite expensive.
The hostel is located within easy walking distance to all major tourist attractions, restaurants and bars, and wild nightlife. $25 will get you a small, very clean twin private.
My lovely room.
For an additional $5, you can get a voucher and experience a fantastic full Scottish Breakfast at the café next door with an endless selection of bars and restaurants a few steps away.
This Scottish breakfast will keep me full for the rest of the day.
In the main lobby, there are a plethora of brochures of things to do. The staff at the front desk is very knowledgeable and can tell you the best places to visit to include arranging and booking tours for you.
This is a very cost effective option if you want to get out of the city, see and experience the highlands and islands of Scotland without a worry in the world about how you are going to get from one destination to another.
The tour company I went with was Rabbie’s. Tours consist of small groups of no more than 16 passengers.
Day 2
After enjoying my full Scottish Breakfast, I was off for my first tour to the Scottish highlands, lochs, and glens and taste Scotland’s national drink at a whiskey distillery. Pick up spot was a short 5-minute walk to a café.
We began the journey through the central highlands, a group walk through the Hermitage forest, a stop at the Queen’s view, lunch and shopping in Pitlochry and experience the stunning splendor of Loch Tay.
Taking a stroll through the Hermitage forest and River Braan.
Our tour guide was a history teacher and was very knowledgeable who did a good job of balancing the amount of time talking facts, stories and letting us to our own thoughts with Scottish music. The tour wrapped up with a visit to a whiskey distillery for a tour and tasting.
I learned I am a single malt kind of girl. The older the whiskey, the better and quite expensive. I will stick to just sampling thank you until I win the lottery to buy that expensive bottle of liquid gold.
The four of you were successful with that brief four-day road trip to Chicago. Everyone got along and walked away with fond memories.
Now the four of you are talking about traveling to Europe for up to a month backpacking. Everyone is excited and can’t wait.
For one of the friends, it will be the first time traveling somewhere other than her cabin. The second friend has traveled to China every year with her family ever since she was a kid, but nowhere else.
The third friend has a list of countries longer than her job resume. She has been a solo traveler and loves it.
The fourth friend has traveled the United States going on road trips with her family every summer.
With the diverse mix of traveling experiences, is this adventure a warning of disaster?
No, it doesn’t have to be. The journey of getting there will make the trip memorable.
Scheduling a pre-trip travel meeting over happy hour ensures everyone knows they can freely voice their opinions.
Pre-Trip Questions to Ask
1. What does each person expect to get from this trip together?
2. Is this trip going to be a regimented schedule or a fly by the seat of your pants plan?
3. What are the places that are a MUST see for each person?
4. How will we divide up travel expenses, lodging, and food?
5. Do we want to leave the transportation up to someone else or take turns driving a rental car?
6. Are we ok with splitting up for the day to explore on our own and meet up again?
7. Is there flexibility to make changes to the plan?
8. If there is a disagreement, how is the group going to deal with it?
9. Do we even need to have a conversation about this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vsJm-Hm50k
Learning how to travel with friends by understanding everyone’s expectations can avoid unnecessary arguments.
The focus of creating new vacation memories will flourish, guaranteeing there will be many trips to come and stay friends.
Once travel planning has occurred, next challenge is deciding what to pack.
Stress and a lack of fiber and changes in gut bacteria from prescription medication are contributing factors in developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder that includes abdominal pain, bloating, gas and periods of diarrhea and constipation.
Gut flora helps to break down food, absorb nutrients, and remove toxins from the body.
When the intestinal bacteria in the gut is disrupted, inflammation throughout the body can occur.
Prescription medication can disrupt the flora, microorganisms that exist in the gastrointestinal tract affecting our gut health.
One of the conditions fibromyalgia sufferers experience is IBS.
Natural Remedies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Two herbal supplements that can help to reduce symptoms and provide relief of abdominal pain, cramping and sluggishness are acacia senegal and slippery elm.
Acacia senegal is rich in soluble fiber. Slippery elm is a mucilage-like consistency. Both can soothe digestive systems and reduce IBS symptoms.
Slippery elm creates bulk in the stool for more comfortable bowel movements. Both are available in powder form.
After trying other over the counter powders that had additives included, I have found using both of these with a strong probiotic to be the most effective.
The acacia senegal brand I like is Heather’s Tummy Fiber Pouch. Dissolve one tablespoon into a glass of water.
Keeping travel packets in your purse or carryon can be a lifesaver when IBS symptoms occur.
Both can be found on Amazon.
I found a recipe on a health holistic YouTube channel, Yoga Lifestyle with Melissa that incorporates acacia senegal into a healthy drink and natural remedy for irritable bowel syndrome.
First thing in the morning, I make a slippery elm latte.
Initially, I drank this latte every day for a couple of months and found adding a strong probiotic helped to manage my IBS symptoms significantly.
When looking for a probiotic, make sure it is acid and bile resistant.
I tweaked the recipe for travel. If you don’t have access to a kitchen when traveling, bring a small Magic bullet blender and foldable electric kettle in your carry.
3. Add 1 tablespoon of organic elm bark slipper powder.
4. Add 1 tablespoon of molasses (good source of iron for iron deficiency anemia sufferers).
5. Grate 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg and cinnamon.
6. Blend all the ingredients.
7. Transfer to your favorite mug.
8. Heat in the microwave for a minute.
Optional: If you are traveling and don’t have access to a microwave, blend the plant-based milk, elm bark powder, nutmeg, and cinnamon together.
Put 1 tablespoon of molasses in your favorite mug. Add 1 cup of hot water from the foldable electric kettle and stir in the blended liquid.
Drink the slippery elm latte every day until your symptoms improve. Once your symptoms improve, switch to once a week.
Don’t be afraid to mix it up by rotating IBS elixir creations. Adding one tablespoon of slippery elm and molasses to a smoothie allows you to receive the same IBS relief.
I learned about matcha green tea when I was in Japan for a training exercise. We were given a couple of days off to explore this wonderful place.
Two places I visited were Osaka and Kyoto. It is here I was introduced to matcha green tea. I became a fan.
I would switch between eating and drinking matcha green tea ice cream, mochi, and a hot latte.
There are vending machines around Osaka where you can buy cans of matcha green tea latte.
The vending machines fueled my daily matcha green tea obsession.
I would switch back and forth between matcha green tea latte and matcha green tea with just a little sweetener.
So wish we had a similar set up in the States. Luckily, there is a Starbucks on every corner for me to get my occasional fix.
Matcha Green Tea
If you have ever had green tea, matcha tea is similar to a more earthy taste that may not be appealing.
Matcha green tea in Japan is traditionally made putting powder a bowl, adding a little hot water, whisking it with a bamboo whisk to create a paste and then adding more hot water.
Some say matcha green tastes like grass. Regardless of the taste, matcha green tea is an antioxidant powerhouse. The drink can reduce stress, and can aid in weight loss.
Years later, Starbucks has all things matcha on its menu. One beverage that became my favorite was the matcha green tea lemonade.
Its a beautiful and refreshing summer drink.
In the winter when Minnesota has gotten a lot of snow and roads haven’t been cleared, this an excellent time to stay inside and enjoy two versions of the drink.
Matcha Green Tea Two Ways
Enjoy two matcha green tea drink versions for a midday pickup. The first drink version is made using coconut water. The second version is made using homemade or store bought lemonade.
In 2009, we deployed to Iraq. Our office received care packages weekly. These packages contained letters from children thanking us for our service. Cards from non-profit organizations I never heard of offered words of encouragement from non-profit organizations.
I didn’t realize the number of non-profit organizations. They were working behind the scenes to give support to our families back at home. Working long hours, late nights, or had a hard time sleeping, books and magazines were a morale booster.
Many acts of kindness were shown during my deployment. Upon my return home, it was my goal to do the same for another deployed soldier.
I wanted to learn a creative way to support non-profit organizations.Some of the household items we have can be recycled and be put to better use. Recycling and reusing can reduce social injustice, improves the quality of life for others and creates jobs.
Giving and promoting social well-being has no borders. Knowing someone is thinking about you is a reminder you are human and valued. Here are five non-profit organizations I have supported over the years.
Non-Profit Organizations
1. Magazines
I stopped paying out of pocket for magazine and newspaper subscriptions and started using airline miles. I donate the remaining points after award travel to the Fisher House. Points are used to buy airline tickets for military families.
I fill a pre-paid medium flat rate box with magazines. Then, I schedule a pickup. They are shipped to Soldiers’ for Angels. The organization is in San Antonio, TX. It was one of the organizations that would send our office a care package full of magazines.
In the last 15 years, more than 851,000 care packages have been sent overseas to service members.
2. Rescue A Girl From Sex Trafficking
Instead of tossing used bras away in the trash, consider donating them to Free the Girls. Host a drive to collect bras at your local church. You can also schedule a girls’ night out and turn unused bras into currency.
Women part of the program on the receiving end are getting the chance to become entrepreneurs. They sell bras and contribute to their communities. A woman’s earnings lift the family out of poverty and increase gender equality.
3. End Hunger By Packing Meals
Have a brand new team and looking for a way to build trust and cohesion at work? Host a Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) MobilePack event.
The organization is headquartered in my hometown of Minnesota. It has extra locations in Arizona and Illinois. I go to see first hand how these life-saving meals are helping children around the world.
One bag holds six meals of rice and soy. In two hours, over 3,000 meals were packed.
It’s a great way to introduce children to volunteering. FMSC partners with Pelican Missions to bring volunteers across the country. They visit FMSC food distribution partners to learn and join in the distribution process of ManaPacks meals.
I went on a Food in Action trip to the Dominican Republic through Pelican Missions.
Volunteers from Illinois were looking at the pallets of meals in the distribution warehouse. The pallet they packed was there. That was a pretty fantastic moment for the group.
FMSC purchases handmade items from artisans in communities that get FMSC meals. The pieces are available on their online MarketPlace.
Each item sold goes provides a child with a meal. A $12 magazine short necklace offers 27 meals.
4. Lend $25
Kiva was started in 2005. Its footprint is in 85 countries working to alleviate poverty. For as little as $25, you choose a borrower. Sounds easy right? There are hundreds of profiles of borrowers around the world with amazing stories asking for help.
Loans support the selling of used clothing, buying livestock, cereals or opening a beauty salon. The loan repayment is 97%. You will get periodic updates on repayment. Upon repayment of a loan, you can donate the money or lend again.
5. Protect Human Rights
I remember as a kid, my mom would get these letters in the mail from other countries. I would say to myself, “she has a lot of pen pals.” In her spare time, she would write letters to leaders of countries. These countries were accused of human right abuses. She wrote for Amnesty International.
Some of the leaders would write her back to her in shock that the international community knew.
6. Help End Homelessness
Do you get excited about receiving free travel-sized toiletries from hotel stays? I do! I saw homeless men, young women, and children sleeping on streets, benches, and under bridges. I realized that I hoard those travel-sized personal items. They pile up in the corner of my bathroom and needed a new home.
Sarah’s Circle is a non-profit organization based in Chicago, Illinois. It helps homeless women rebuild their lives. It provides services necessary for finding employment and a permanent home. These services allow them to become safe off the streets.
The organization accepts unopened travel-size toiletry items: soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, and deodorant to name a few.
I buy a three-pack of pre-paid flat rate medium boxes. They come from the USPS online store. My location is pre-printed on the boxes. Box and envelope sizes come in small, large, padded, and legal. I use them as a recycling container to collect my bras and magazines.
All I have to do is open up the box. Then, I start a collection of toiletries. Once full, I write the location down. Finally, I call or go online to schedule a pickup.
Volunteering to serve a meal to a person in need is very humbling. Sitting down and listening to someone tell their story and express concerns for the future is very moving.
By showing empathy, we are practicing servant leadership, building deep relationships, and solving problems through acts of kindness. It empowers those we are helping. We make sure we meet the basic human needs: food, water, and shelter at every humanitarian meeting.
Knowing someone is thinking about you is a reminder you are human and valued.
Want to extend your servant leadership further by volunteering in another country? Check out my blog post, Volunteer and See the World at the Same Time. Learn how you can explore Egypt while obtaining a TEFL (Teach English as a foreign language) certification.
