Vacation Thread

Devil Doc

Devil Doc

Teufel Doc
5-Year Member
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Apr 25, 2018
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I thought about doing this before my wife and I went to Scotland a month ago but never got around to it. Just checking to see if members here are interested in sharing vacation/holiday experiences, ask questions about upcoming destinations, and give answers about places you've been. Providing unsolicited advice and tips would also be beneficial to those/me who are thinking of where to go next.

I have a ton of info on Scotland and will do a separate entry but will say this: Scotland is all you might have heard and much more. Words and even pictures could never do it justice. The people, the land, the million sheep, and the roads are all magnificent. Just joking about the roads. They are a challenge to say the least.

P.S. - I looked and didn't see nor do I remember a similar thread. If there's one then I blame it on other people's teenagers.
 
Headed to the Baltics later this week.

Scoping out towns close to the Russian border, stocking up on SIM cards, pricing utilities, testing out disguises...

Just kidding about the last part.
 
cb7893 said:
Headed to the Baltics later this week.

Scoping out towns close to the Russian border, stocking up on SIM cards, pricing utilities, testing out disguises...

Just kidding about the last part.
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I'd pack a parachute but that's just me.
 
Stealth_81 said:
Mrs. Stealth has us booked on an upcoming cruise from Southampton, England to Boston. One of the stops is Greenock, Scotland. We have from 0700 to 1600 in port. What’s the best use of our limited time there?
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If the ship is offering shore excursions, check those out. Cruise ship will wait for late arrivals for shore excursions they offer. If you book independently or are out on your own, they do not wait. We have watched our share of peoole runnng down the pier.

That said, Greenock is close to Glasgow. Take the frequent train or bus from Greenock to Glasgow. Pre-book a hop-on-hop-off bus. You can see the major sights, get off f you want to check out ones of interest, hop back on next bus. Allow plenty of time to be back at ship. Google can help you here, as can tourist info sites sponsored by city tourism office.

We have a transoceanic booked NYC-Boston-Canada-Ireland-Cornwall-Brittany-Guernsey-Southampton. We mix in the transoceanics every few years. Finally going to climb up the steps at Mont St. Michel.
 
My $.02 on Scotland, for what its worth --

1) DON'T GO IN NOVEMBER ! It's cold and wet, and get's dark early. We visited for Thanksgiving about 10 year ago, DD was on overseas study at Edinburgh. It was a great visit, and I really learned why the Barbour jacket was developed and popular there, but we made the mistake of doing a 12 hour bus tour of the country side. Great concept, covered much of the country ,,,but the last 4 hours were in a dark bus with the tour guide telling us what is out in the darkness !

2) TRY THE WHISKY! Right before I left, a client told me to search out and order the whisky with the oddest looking/sounding name. I took that challenge up and tried a wide variety of whisky.
 
Points awarded for the proper spelling of the heavenly product of Scotland. :)

Old Navy BGO said:
...TRY THE WHISKY! Right before I left, a client told me to search out and order the whisky with the oddest looking/sounding name. I took that challenge up and tried a wide variety of whisky...
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Devil Doc said:
...Find a nearby pub for a dram of whisky...
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@Devil Doc

Scotland. Love every land-based trip and cruise stop there. I admit I don’t recall much of the bus ride through the rolling countryside back to the ship after the visit to the Glenmorangie distillery. I particularly liked stops in Shetland, the Hebrides and Orkney Islands. And the not-to-miss-go-just-once annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo in August. That’s Edinburgh Castle. The massed pipes and drums bring max goosebumps. A highlight every year:

 
Stealth_81 said:
Mrs. Stealth has us booked on an upcoming cruise from Southampton, England to Boston. One of the stops is Greenock, Scotland. We have from 0700 to 1600 in port. What’s the best use of our limited time there?
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Devil Doc said:
Find a nearby pub for a dram of whisky.
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Old Navy BGO said:
2) TRY THE WHISKY! Right before I left, a client told me to search out and order the whisky with the oddest looking/sounding name. I took that challenge up and tried a wide variety of whisky.
Click to expand...

Nothing like daytime drinking. Make sure to have some food in your belly beforehand. Something like haggis.
 
cb7893 said:
Headed to the Baltics later this week.

Scoping out towns close to the Russian border, stocking up on SIM cards, pricing utilities, testing out disguises...

Just kidding about the last part.
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DH and I did a Baltic cruise a few years ago, Stockholm to Copenhagen, 13 days. The most humorless customs and immigration people - St. Petersburg. Right out of a movie set.
 
I'd never get that pronunciation right. I learnt that Irish "Gaelic" and Scottish "Gaelic" are pronounced differently.
 
Capt MJ said:
DH and I did a Baltic cruise a few years ago, Stockholm to Copenhagen, 13 days. The most humorless customs and immigration people - St. Petersburg. Right out of a movie set.
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Our TSA at Dulles was less than humorless if that's possible. Plus I got searched. Security leaving Edinburgh was very pleasant. They made jokes even. I asked one officer if I should take my shoes off. "I'm wearing no socks," I told him. He laughed and said, "No especially you, keep them on."
 
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