Soaring! – Minimalist Travel for the Over 60 Single Woman – Travel and Packing Tips for Solo Female Travelers

Stop 5 of 12 – Prague, Czech Republic

On September 12, 2020

Prague Castle on the hill from the Charles Bridge

In Spring 2019, I took a 7-week walkabout to 12 cities in Europe. My fifth stop was Prague in the Czech Republic. I had a pleasant bus ride from Dresden. While in Germany, we rode through the yellow rapeseed fields I had become accustomed to. As we neared the Czech border, we went through several long tunnels in quick succession. When we emerged on the other side, the countryside looked totally different, with significant hills and more trees. I enjoy driving over a border and seeing the different road signs and languages. This was more than that, with a definite change in environment as we rode along.

One of the first things I had to do when I got to Prague was find an ATM. The currency for the Czech Republic is the Czech koruna or kc. The exchange rate is approximately 25 kc for every US dollar. I had seen the warnings that many ATMs, especially those not affiliated with a local bank, only allow you to take out large amounts of kc, which you will likely never spend and/or use a conversion rate set by the company not by your card. Doing research ahead of time, I found a nearby ATM in a local bank that allowed me to take the small amount of kc I needed for tips and other small expenses. I used my spare debit card that I typically would only use if I had trouble with my main debit card and had no issues.

I stayed in Old Town, a couple of blocks from the Charles Bridge. The room was in the attic of an old building over a restaurant and bar. It was noisy, but it was clean, functional, and you couldn’t beat the location. I could walk in any direction and have plenty to see. Within a 5-minute walk were my two favorite food finds. The first was Alriso Risotteria Italiana. I have celiac disease and have to be extremely careful what I eat, or I get very sick. This was a 100% dedicated gluten free restaurant that had amazing, authentic Italian food. I ate there all 4 nights, working my way through its delicious menu, but had to go early to get a table. They were packed each night. The other find was the Choco Café on Lilova St. where they serve all kinds of chocolate treats. While I unfortunately could not eat the cakes or pastries, I did indulge in their delicious chocolates and the most amazing hot chocolate I’ve ever had. It was so thick that I used a spoon.

The famous Charles Bridge had a mysterious romantic feel to it. It was very crowded. It connects Old Town to Prague Castle and Little Quarter. As you cross the bridge, you can see the Prague Castle up on the hill. Musicians are placed strategically so that there is a constant sound of music as you stroll slowly across the bridge. One day, a group of musicians was playing American Dixieland, which made me smile.

Prague Castle sits majestically up on a hill on the other side of the Charles Bridge. The castle was the traditional seat of Czech rulers. The day I went was cold and rainy, but that didn’t stop the crowds. Touring the Castle is quite inexpensive. The most expensive ticket, which granted access to the Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, Golden Lane, St. Vitus Cathedral, The Story of Prague Castle exhibition, and the Rosenberg Palace, cost 175 KC or $7.66, for those over age 65. My first and most favorite stop was the St. Vitus Cathedral.

St. Vitus Cathedral – Gothic Style Architecture

St. Vitus Cathedral is the most important and largest church in the country. It is a wonderful example of Gothic architecture and contains the tombs of a number of Bohemian kings and Holy Roman emperors. Construction began in 1344, but was delayed due to multiple wars, and was heavily damaged by a great fire in 1541. In 1844, a major effort to finish the cathedral began and the construction was finished in 1929, almost 600 years after it began. In 1954, a government decree transferred all of Prague Castle, including the St. Vitus Cathedral to all the Czechoslovak people. The art inside is amazing and well worth the wait.

Near the Prague Castle, in a small, secluded area is the John Lennon Wall. Beginning in the 1960s, the wall had been decorated by love poems and political messages. Following the 1980 assassination of John Lennon, an image of Lennon was painted on the wall along with some lyrics. New images and graffiti were added regularly with a focus on freedom and love. After my visit, the government adopted the Lennon wall as an open-air gallery with an effort to protect some of the existing images and add images in different mediums to the existing white space. Note: My pictures show the wall before the change, as I saw it on my visit.

The day I visited the Astronomical Clock was very crowded because that weekend was the Prague Marathon which finished in the Old Town Square where the Astronomical Clock is located. I did get a better glimpse of the clock as I walked back to the train/bus station on my way out of town. The Astronomical Clock was first installed in 1410 and is the third oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest still operating. In 2018, the clock was reconstructed replacing an electric clock mechanism that was installed in 1948 with a traditional mechanism from the 1860s.

The background of the clock is stationary and represents the standing earth and the sky, and the current time. The four main moving components are the zodiacal ring, an outer rotating ring, a representation of the sun, and a representation of the moon. Together they represent the current state of the universe. There are also animated figures that represent Vanity, Greed, Death and Lust. Every hour a skeleton strikes the time and the figures shake their heads from side to side. In addition, the twelve statues of the Apostles appear in the doorways above the clock. Old Town Square itself is a great place to sit and people watch – and on the hour, crowd in to watch the activity at the clock.

On my last day in Prague, I visited the Jewish Museum, which is housed in several synagogues which were shut down in World War II because all the congregants were part of the almost 80,000 Czech and Moravian Jews imprisoned and killed during the Holocaust. Collectively, the separate parts of the museum document the history and customs of the Jewish Czech people and preserve important artifacts. One of the most striking parts of the museum is located in the Pinkas Synagogue. The names 77,000 Czech area Jews are written on the walls of the museum as a memorial to those who suffered and died. The volume of space that those names take up is staggering and heartbreaking.

All in all, my time in Prague was very thought provoking – the tragedy of the Jewish Museum, the romanticism of the Charles Bridge, the opulence of Prague Castle, the science of the Astronomical Clock, the love and peace of the John Lennon Wall, and the current runners in the Prague Marathon running a route that connects it all in this now modern city.

Next stop – Salzburg.

Stop 4 of 12 – Dresden, Germany

By Pam Q.

On July 10, 2019

In Destinations

Recently I took a 7-week walkabout to 12 cities in Europe. My fourth stop was Dresden, Germany. Dresden was the place where there was a blip in my planning. I decided to stay just two nights in Dresden and my main day of sightseeing was May 1, which I discovered after my plans were in place was a national holiday. Most places were closed and many cities, including Dresden, had protests regarding labor issues. Fortunately for me, I was able to see some interesting things, walk around the city, and keep a respectful distance from the protests, which were all, from what I could see, non-violent.

Residenzschloss (Royal Palace)

I stayed at the Ibis Budget located in the Altmarket Gallerie in the old part of town. My 20-minute walk from the train station took me through a series of large outdoor malls on Prager Strasse that were built in the 1960’s to help the city recover from the devastating bombing and fires the city sustained during WWII. The buildings were originally plain, block style, colorless buildings built for functionality in post-war Eastern Germany. More recently, store owners have been allowed to add color and individual branding to the stores. At the end of the outdoor mall area was the Altmarket Gallerie, which may be one of the largest indoor malls I’ve been in, right in the center of the city. I’m not a shopper, but even I was in awe of the variety of shops, which evidently draw visitors from many cities.

After I checked in, I walked through Old Town, across the Augustus Bridge to New Town and back. I discovered a great street market a block from my hotel. Unlike street markets at home with their temporary tents, each business occupied a small cottage like wooden structure. As I reached the bridge over the River Elbe, there were views of some amazing older buildings such as the Katholiche Hofkirche (Dresden Cathedral).

Katholiche Hofkirche
Palace of Culture Mural
Parade of Nobles
Open Market

Fortunately, Zwinger Palace (Wetton Dynasty) was open on the holiday. The palace is an amazing reconstruction of the destroyed Baroque Style buildings. The site is comprised of the Crown Gate with its gold top; the palace grounds; a museum for the dynasty’s porcelain collection; the Masters’ Museum; the Glockenspiel Pavilion; and more. Visitors can also walk up three stories to the walkway that goes around the tops of the buildings, giving a great view of other amazing structures in the city such as the Residenzschloss (Royal Palace).

Glockenspiel Pavilion
Crown Gate

Much of the artwork and porcelain was protected during the war by storing it in mines and cellars in the countryside, but the Russian government seized a large amount of it for retribution after the war. After Stalin’s death in 1953, many items were returned to Dresden in an effort to win over the Eastern German citizens.

The Frauenkirsch Church (Church of Our Lady) in Neumarkt Square is considered to be ‘the soul of the city’. It was built in 1743. A portion of the church was bombed during WWII and reconstruction began after the reunification of Germany in 1994 and was completed in 2005. The gold cross on the top of the church was funded by the British people and the House of Windsor. In the same area is a statue of Martin Luther.

I spent the late afternoon on the Bruhische Terasse, which is promenade overlooking the Elbe River. It was once a defense rampart, but now it’s a lovely place to stroll or sit and watch the riverboats on the water.

Although my visit was brief, I saw some beautiful things in Dresden, and got a sense of the amazing resilience of the people there who have rebuilt their city from a pile of rubble; who have gone to great lengths to reconstruct historical buildings as they were before the war; and in the process have created a beautiful city that seems to be thriving in today’s Germany.

Next stop – Prague!

Stop 3 of 12 – Berlin, Germany

By Pam Q.

On June 20, 2019

In Destinations

Recently I took a 7-week walkabout to 12 cities in Europe. My third stop was Berlin, Germany. The trip from Hamburg to Berlin was an easy one, with nothing but beautiful countryside until about an hour away. I stayed in a private room at the Generator Hostel in Mitte, so I was within easy walking distance of everything I wanted to see.

I decided to start my exploration of Berlin with a four hour Discover Berlin walking tour with Original Berlin Walks (www.berlinwalks.de). Our English-speaking tour guide, Sam Z, really knew the history of the city and had interesting stories wherever we went. Of the twenty or so people on the tour, I was the only American and we represented about seven different countries. It was interesting to hear all the different perspectives about what we were seeing. Our tour covered about two dozen places including Bradenburg Gate, Museum Island, the TV tower, Unter den Linden, the location of Hitler’s Bunker, and the Berlin Cathedral.

Berlin Cathedral
Bradenburg Gate
TV Tower
Unter den Linden

Two places really stood out for me. The first was Bebelplatz which was the scene of the Nazi book burning in 1933. The German Student Union burned 20,000 books which were considered subversive or represented ideologies that were opposed to Nazism. Examples included books by Jewish authors, pacifists, religious leaders, liberals, socialists, and communists. The memorial includes a view into an underground room that has empty shelves. On the day we were there, the Berlin Outdoor Library was set up on the site, providing floor cushions, seating, umbrellas, and books for readers of all ages.

The second place was the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (aka Holocaust Memorial). From the street, the memorial designed by architect Peter Eisenman and engineer Buro Happold, looks like a non-descript grid of over 2,700 dark gray slabs. We were instructed to walk through the memorial for 15 -20 minutes and then gather on the other side for a discussion of our experience. As you enter, you quickly realize that the path between the slabs undulates and significantly slopes downward as you head towards the center. Soon the slabs are soaring 10 feet over your head and you only get glimpses of other people as they cross the grid or briefly share the path. The space between the slabs is narrow and the path is uneven and flowing, giving the feeling of being off balance. I found myself feeling trapped, isolated, and confused. The others in the tour had similar feelings and some speculated that the memorial was designed to let the visitor interpret the memorial in their own way.

I couldn’t help but notice the unique symbols on the walk lights. Our guide told us about the Amplemann. These symbols were developed in East Germany in an effort to increase compliance by using symbols that were more understandable by young and old alike. When Germany unified, there was a movement to save these important symbols because they were effective, and also were a positive artifact from East German life. The duo is so popular they have cult status and their own souvenir stores throughout the city.

Source: Wikipedia

Berlin has some amazing museums and many to choose from. The German History Museum was an excellent study of the history of Germany. Each exhibit was in a free-standing glass container that were arranged chronologically, and moveable partitions created a serpentine path through the various sections. Throughout the exhibit, there was a lot of information presented in both German and English. When I was done, I felt like I had read an entire history book.

The DDR museum is an interactive museum about everyday life in East Germany. Visitors get to see what an apartment looked like, see what people did for recreation, what food they ate, what they wore, and many other aspects of daily life. It’s a relatively small museum, but extremely well done and satisfied my curiosity about life in Eastern Germany.

The Berlin Wall Memorial extends for almost a mile along the actual location of the wall on Bernauer Strasse. There is a visitor center with some excellent historical information and an attached viewing platform so you can see from above what a section of the wall looked like on both sides. Certain parts of the actual wall are preserved, and a series of metal slats denote where other parts of the wall were located. Along the open-air exhibit that runs along the wall path, there are photos, written accounts, and recordings telling details of the area. In the early days of the wall construction, the houses along Bernauer Strasse offered a unique opportunity for escape because people could enter the houses on the Eastern side and jump out the windows on the Western side. The police quickly destroyed the houses, but the area later became the location of several tunnels, and to me an epicenter of the desperation the people on both sides faced.

Modern day Berlin is a very pleasant city to visit. People are friendly and it has a very international vibe. I was also impressed with how open the citizens and institutions are about the city’s unfortunate place in world history and the efforts made to learn from the past and move forward. There are so many more things I would like to experience in Berlin and I hope to return on future travels.

Stop 2 of 12 – Hamburg, Germany

By Pam Q.

On June 17, 2019

In Destinations

Recently I took a 7-week walkabout to 12 cities in Europe. I decided to stop in Hamburg, Germany for a few days on my way to Berlin. It’s not that Hamburg has an amazing general tourist draw, but some of its history intrigued me. I took the Flixbus from Amsterdam and loved seeing the countryside. Hundreds of wind turbines dotted the agricultural fields and along the roadways were brilliant yellow fields of rapeseed.

Hamburg is a large city, so I took the Die Roten Doppeldecker Stadtrund Farht (Hop on and Hop Off) bus tour, which was excellent. Although the guide spoke German, headsets for English (and other) translations were available. Some of the things I learned on the tour were:

Source: https://www.die-roten-doppeldecker.de/en/

Water plays an important role in the city. The city is located on the River Elbe where it joins the River Alster and River Bille. The River Alster was dammed in several places to create two lakes within the city center called the Inner Alster and the Outer Alster. There are beautiful walking paths around the ‘lakes’. Hamburg is Europe’s third largest port and there are more than 2,500 bridges over the various canals and waterways within the city – more than Amsterdam, Venice, and London combined.

The beautiful diplomatic area has a number of large mansions and meeting sites along the outer Alster. The area is known for hosting significant international conferences and summits such as the G20. The current German Chancellor, Angela Merkel is from Hamburg as was the former chancellor Helmut Schmidt.

Hamburg was almost totally destroyed by the bombing in WWII, but by 1960 had rebuilt substantially and become an economic center. The rebuilding continues and the latest major project is the Hafen City which will house 10,000 residents and 15,000 workers.

MonckebergstraBe – Main Shopping Street
MonckebergstraBe – Main Shopping Street

Admittedly the connection of the Beatles was one of the things I was interested in learning about. In 1960 when the Beatles were still developing, Hamburg was much more financially secure than Liverpool, and offered fledgling bands an opportunity to intern in the Reeperbahn, which was the large red-light district of Hamburg near the seaport. The living conditions were awful, but the bands got experience performing in front of live audiences for hours at a time, as well as exposure to others in the music industry. The Reeperbahn area hasn’t changed much, but tourists not interested in the nighttime pleasures and entertainment are welcome to wander through during the day and the hop on, hop off buses do a tour of the area.

The city has a large park in the city center called Planten un Blomen, which is open to the public and has walking paths and gardens of various styles surrounding a waterway.

Art at Planten un Blomen
Planten un Blomen

I also had the opportunity to visit the Museum for Kunst and Gewerbe (arts and crafts/industry), which focuses on understanding people by the tangible things they use in their life. For example, there is an exhibit of story telling on Greek vases used in symposium, which is a drinking party where people discussed certain issues or learned about a topic. The pictures on the vases gave a good glimpse into what these symposia looked like and how they fit into the society.

Another exhibit I found fascinating was an exhibit on the items used in Jewish rituals and how many of them were obtained by the museum. During WWII, the Nazis ordered all Jews to turn over silver and other valuables. Various museum curators negotiated to save some of these items for historical exhibits and at the end of the war, were able to acquire others to preserve this important part of Jewish history.

MonckebergstraBe Fountain

I stayed at Boutique 020 Hamburg in the St. Georg area which is a hip, modern hotel, with small well-appointed rooms. When I tried to leave the hotel the morning after arrival, I discovered that the small lobby and the sidewalk outside the entrance had been turned into a movie set. I had to wait off to the side until a break in the action to leave, but it was fun to watch. Outside, the hotel signs were all renamed and there were extras who were walking in the background, plus a ton of trucks, equipment, and people. I never found out what the movie was, but everything was back to normal at the end of the day.

Hamburg offers a different look at Germany. It’s doesn’t have the charm of Bavaria and isn’t infused with Medieval architecture, but is nice glimpse of a modern German City that has a great combination of beautiful waterways, lush parks, fun entertainment, and a strong sense of history.

Next stop: Berlin, Germany

Stop 1 of 12 – Haarlem and Amsterdam, The Netherlands

By Pam Q.

On June 13, 2019

In Destinations

Recently I took a 7-week walkabout to 12 cities in Europe. The first stop on my journey was the Haarlem and Amsterdam area of The Netherlands. I chose to stay in Haarlem because it is a beautiful town that is much lower key, and only a 15-minute train ride to Amsterdam. The tourist area of Haarlem – the older part of town – is about a 1.25 x 1.25 mile square so you can easily walk to all areas. From Schiphol airport, I picked up the #300 bus, which dropped me off at the Harlem Central Train Station, about a 10-minute walk to my hotel.

Haarlem, NL, not to be confused with Harlem, NY (originally Nieuw Haarlem, a Dutch outpost founded in 1658), is a medieval era town with historic buildings, cobblestone streets, canals, and few cars. Simple bicycles (no need for multiple gears due to the flat terrain) and walking are the favored mode of transportation. Subtle pattern differences in the cobblestone sidewalks denote the bike lanes, so be careful not to stop in the middle of one as I did when trying to get my bearings when I arrived. The kind person who almost hit me patiently pointed out the not so obvious bike lane. After 10 am, there are very few cars, so the streets are filled with walkers strolling along.

In the central area, shops and restaurants with outdoor dining occupy the first floor of the buildings, with apartments, hotels, and offices above. The whole vibe is to relax, eat, stroll around, and enjoy your time there. My hotel (Ambassador City Centre Hotel) was right around the corner from Grote Markt – the big market square with the old town hall – and I could see the Grote Kerk Cathedral from my hotel window.

The highlight of my trip was a visit to Keukenhof Gardens, which is the famous tulip garden. The tourist information office in Haarlem sells tickets and the local bus to Lisse stops at the gardens. The bus travels through other towns and the countryside, making the gardens an easy place to visit and giving me a glimpse of local life along the way.

The garden exhibit only runs for 7-8 weeks each spring when the tulips and daffodils are in bloom. I was there on a sparkling day and the colors were brilliant! The area is huge, with all different styles of plantings and plenty of paths and places to sit to enjoy the view. I spent about three hours walking about – just in awe at the beauty.

The next two days I took the train into Amsterdam. On the first day, I walked all over, getting a flavor for the city with it’s canals, museum park, Vondel park, red light district, trams, street markets, and amazing architecture. On the second day, I went to the Rijksmuseum taking one of the crazy trams from the train station. The trams twist and turn as they move down the streets like a snake, making the ride an adventure in itself.

Bicycles are everywhere! Most of the bikes are a standard simple design, but what people attach to those bikes is fascinating. There are deep wheelbarrow type containers that attach and extend beyond the front wheel for carrying supplies or kids. Many bikes have little seats on the bikes themselves for young children and I saw a couple of newborn style car seats attached to the fronts of bikes. People use all sorts of bags, baskets, and panniers, both affixed and not. Finally, you see every sort of trailer imaginable. Notably missing are bike helmets and special biking clothes. When they get to their destination, people just leave their bike in the sea of bikes, mostly unlocked, at every destination. Biking is as laid back as everything else in this area.

Bikes Parked Outside Amsterdam Central Train Station

The Rijksmuseum has an amazing collection dedicated to Dutch art and history from the middle ages to the present day. The highlight was the special exhibit called All the Rembrandts. It started with Rembrandt’s early attempts at drawing, which were a series of hundreds of very small sketches of his self portraits with different hats and expressions. These early drawings were rough and frankly not very good. But he persisted and began to draw small sketches of people and animals, which began to improve over time and gives an interesting glimpse into Dutch life in the 17^th century. As he matured, Rembrandt evolved into the master of faces and emotion that he is famous for. For me the exhibit was a reminder that behind those masterful works of art we see in the museum, are years and years of practice, trial and error, and hard work.

Rembrandt Van Rijn – 1662 – Syndics of the Draper’s Guild (Rijksmuseum)

A word about the museums in Amsterdam. I was lucky to have purchased a ticket online well before my visit at the urging of one of my sons who had been to the museum. When I later tried to get tickets to the Van Gogh and Anne Frank museums, the tickets were sold out. So, if you are visiting Amsterdam, go online and order your tickets early.

Each day after the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam, I returned to bucolic Haarlem to enjoy long walks, picnics in the park, and watching people from all cultures enjoying this beautiful area. I would go back there in a heartbeat!

Next stop – Hamburg, Germany!

Three Days in Edinburgh After Hiking the West Highland Way

By Pam Q.

On December 1, 2018

In Destinations

This summer I hiked the West Highland Way with a friend. One of the bonuses of that hike was visiting Glasgow a couple of days before the hike (see previous post) and Edinburgh for a few days after the hike.

The day after finishing the hike, we took the long slow train ride from Ft. William back through Glasgow to Edinburgh (see earlier blog post). The UK was in the midst of a huge heat wave, and the train was significantly delayed because of issues with the track due to the heat. As we exited Waverly Station and I looked around through the warm haze, I knew I would love this city. We stayed in a private room in the HI Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel, which is outside the central area, but an easy walk to old town and other areas.

Outside Waverly Station

Our first stop was the Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. The castle offers a glimpse into the history of the area, and is a great vantage point to view the city. The walk up to the castle is quite steep, but definitely worth it. But beware, this area is very crowded.

Edinburgh Castle on the Hill

View from Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle Cannon

Right outside the castle area, on the Royal Mile, is the Tartan Weaving Mill, which has floors of tartan woolen goods from many mills. It’s fun to walk through and appreciate all the beautiful items. Down in the basement is a weaving display which is interesting. People debate whether the prices are higher in this store than at other areas in the city, but I didn’t see much of a difference in price, and the variety was much greater than the smaller individual stores. I bought a scarf for myself and for a friend who was helping me hold down the fort at home. The Royal Mile was fun to walk down, but for me, once was enough. (Although I would have happily returned to the fudge shop). However, it’s fun to wander down the side streets and the old town area in general.

Not too far from the Royal Mile is the Writer’s Museum. Tucked away in Lady Stairs Close (alleyway), off the Haymarket, this museum has a collection of manuscripts, portraits, rare books, and personal objects to highlight the lives of three Scottish writers: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Lewis Stevenson. The museum is housed in a townhouse originally built in 1622 for Sir William Gray and Lady Gray. It is a tall narrow house with a great small circular staircase.

Writers Museum

For an interesting experience and a nice lunch, visit the National Museum of Scotland. This is a fascinating museum with lots of exhibits that are different from what I’ve seen in other museums. I especially appreciated the four story “Window on the World” exhibit in the Grand Gallery, which covers four stories open to the main floor. On one of the upper levels is a nice café with tables that overlook the exhibits.

National Museum of Scotland

Dovecot Studios (Infirmary Street) is an amazing tapestry and creative arts studio that operates in what was originally the Infirmary Street Baths, which were the first public baths in Edinburgh, dating back to 1885. The Dovecot Tapestry Studio occupies what used to be the old swimming pool. From the balcony cat walk around the studio, you can watch artists at work and tapestry classes in progress. There are also various exhibits throughout the facility.

Dovecot Studios

If you enjoy modern art, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art One and Two, is a fun place to visit. It is actually two separate buildings set in a sculpture park. There is a circular bus that runs between this museum, the National Portrait Gallery and the Scottish National Gallery if you want to see all three in one day.

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

We spent an entire afternoon wandering around New Town which houses many of the city’s restaurants and hotels, and retains much of its neo-classical and Georgian period architecture. There are a lot of fun shops on Princes Street and George Street. Rose Street runs parallel to Princes and George Street and has a number of eateries and pubs. Friends recommended Hendersons Salad Table Vegetarian Restaurant on Hanover Street and it was excellent.

Rose Street – New Town

After three days of sightseeing, we returned back to Waverly Station for the train to London. I really enjoyed my time in Edinburgh and can’t wait to return in the future.

See future blog posts on the sights of London.

Three Days in Glasgow Before Hiking the West Highland Way

By Pam Q.

On November 28, 2018

In Destinations

This summer I hiked the West Highland Way with a friend. One of the bonuses of that hike was visiting Glasgow a couple of days before the hike and Edinburgh for a few days after the hike.

The West Highland Way starts out near Glasgow. I’m fortunate that I can pick up one of the reasonable Aer Lingus flights that go through Dublin and then on to various locations in Europe – including Glasgow. At the Dublin airport, you take a bus out to the smaller planes on the tarmac. I must say some of us were amused to pull up to this plane that was possibly older than many of us. But we had a smooth hour or so trip into Glasgow.

My friend and I opted to take a private room at the HI Glasgow Youth Hostel, located in a beautiful residential area with 4 -5 story row type houses at the edge of Kelvingrove Park. Directly across the park was the University of Glasgow. The hostel was also about a 30-minute walk from the city center and train stations. One thing I had lost track of in Scotland was the latitude. On the first night, after traveling all night and arriving in the morning, the plan was to stay awake until the sun went down (9-ish) and head to bed. We were there right before the summer solstice and at 10:30 pm (23:30) the sun was still up, and even when the sun set, there was still lots of light. So out came the sleep masks, but I did enjoy looking out the window late at night with plenty of light to see.

View Out Our Window

The huge park, bordering the Kelvin River, and with a number of beautiful walkways, was our gateway to the University of Glasgow campus and the wonderful museums in the west end of the city. The weekend we were there (in late June), there was a huge festival in the park with music and other live events. From our perch at the hostel on the hill at the edge of the park, we were able to enjoy the music in the evening without dealing with the crowds.

Our first stop was the University of Glasgow campus with its medieval structures up on the hill.

University of Glasgow

University of Glasgow

One of the highlights of the park area is the Kelvingrove Museum. Among other features, this museum highlights the works of Charles Rennie MackIntosh, whose style is similar to Frank Lloyd Wright from the U.S. Mackintosh is both an amazing architect and artist. Born in Glasgow, he continued to call Glasgow home for most of his life. His influence is evident throughout the city, including at the famous Glasgow School of Art (which unfortunately suffered a major fire while we were there).

Kelvingrove Museum

The Kelvingrove Museum also houses the Salvador Dali painting “Christ of St. John of the Cross’, which had just returned to the museum when we were there. It’s really a remarkable painting and we were fortunate that the museum had an expert on hand the day we visited to discuss the painting and its history.

Dali – Christ of St. John of the Cross

Among the many things that Charles Rennie Mackintosh is known for is the design of the interior and furniture of the Willow Tea Rooms. Not only is this a great ‘proper’ tea experience (plus other offerings), but you are dining in what is essentially a museum. It was terrific and I highly recommend it.

Willow Tea Rooms

Mackintosh Chairs at the Willow Tea Rooms

The Lighthouse Museum in the city center was designed by Mackintosh and is a design center and exhibition space open to the public. It’s worth a visit to wander through and enjoy the views of the city from the upper floors.

View from the Lighthouse Museum

View from the Lighthouse Museum

We visited the Gothic style Glasgow Cathedral on a dark rainy day, which added to the mystique. It is the oldest building in Glasgow and in my opinion has a bit of an earie feel, with a deep sense of history. In the back are some of the graves and memorials, all surrounded by massive Gothic Architecture.

Gothic Cathedral

Grounds at Gothic Cathedral

We also visited Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), the Hunterian (University of Glasgow), Byer Lane area, and walked the city center in our three days there before we took the train to Mulgavie to begin our hike.

Staying Green While Traveling

By Pam Q.

On November 18, 2018

In Lifestyle, Travel Tips

Over the years at home, I’ve been working on living ‘greener’ especially when it comes to plastics. But when I’d travel, I’d revert back to bottled water and too many plastic bags. Not anymore! To my surprise, the transition to greener options was easier than I thought. I already had all of the items in my kitchen, with my hiking gear, or in my bag of reusable shopping bags. Here are some of the changes I’ve made:

Water Filter and Bottle – I rarely drink anything except water, so the taste of it and what’s in it matters to me. I filter water at home and although most of the places I travel have had safe drinking water, I would use bottled water when I traveled. This meant I had to find a place to buy bottled water, make sure I had enough until I could get back to the store, and accumulate a mountain of empty plastic bottles.

In my hiking gear I have a perfectly good Grayl bottle that is an amazing water filter. Because I mostly day hike, the Grayl bottle was gathering dust in the closet. Now it’s one of the first things to go in my travel bag. Previously I always made room for my Kleen Kanteen stainless bottle (that I use daily). The Grayl bottle is only slightly larger. I can drink directly from the Grayl bottle or if I have the room, I can decant the water into one of my collapsible water bottles. Three I use are Nomader (rolls up, but is very sturdy when in use), Vapur (rolls up) and Hydrapak (collapses). Now instead of worrying about purchasing all that bottled water and generating all that plastic waste, I simply fill up my Grayl bottle from the bathroom sink and seconds later I have clean and tasteless water.

Shopping Bags – For years I have used reusable grocery shopping bags and now use reusable vegetable and bulk bags as well. I also have several lightweight bags that stuff down to little packets and are easy to keep in my purse for smaller purchases. I take one of these with me when I travel. They’re great to use when doing light shopping while traveling.

Reusable Utensils – As an alternative to eating at restaurants, I often grab something at the grocery store or take out place that requires a fork or spoon. Instead of picking up a plastic fork or spoon, I use the reusable combination fork/spoon that I keep in my purse. Other options are reusable bamboo silverware sets or regular silverware from home. Some people also carry reusable straws.

Small Containers – When I’m sightseeing I like to have small snacks like nuts, trail mix, or peanut M&Ms with me to keep my energy up. I used to travel with a handful of snack-size plastic bags to fill each day from the stash I’d keep in my hostel or hotel room. Instead now I use a small ½ cup plastic container with a screw on lid. I fill it every morning and wash it out at the end of the day.

Wax Wraps – I’ve started using Abeego cloth wax wraps at home instead of plastic wrap and they work great for travel too. They take up little room and are great for a handful of nuts, fruit, a sandwich, cookies and similar items. You just rinse them out after use and they’re ready to reuse. Eventually the wax wears out, but they are recyclable, and last a while before this happens.

I’ll admit that carrying these extra items seems to work against the concept of traveling light, but for me the extra bulk and weight is worth it. By carrying my own filtered water and small amounts of food with me when I’m roaming around, I don’t have to stop and find a restaurant every time I’m hungry or thirsty. Plus, I feel like a more responsible tourist by not contributing to the plastic trash pile in the places I visit.

Train Travel – Through the Scottish Highlands and Then to London

By Pam Q.

On September 22, 2018

In Destinations, Lifestyle, Travel Tips

On my recent trip to Scotland and England, I took two longer train trips. The first was from Ft. William (end of the West Highland Way) in Scotland back to Edinburgh and the second was Edinburgh to London.

I fell in love with train travel when I was a kid. We didn’t have a car, and to visit relatives, we had to take the train. Traveling off the beaten path and watching the landscape go by gave me a glimpse into a world that wasn’t visible from the highway. To recapture that feeling, I try to include trains in my travel plans when it makes sense.

On the first journey, I had finished hiking the West Highland Way and was in Ft. William. The bus back to Glasgow or Edinburgh was a shorter and efficient option, but the train chugged through the very areas I had just hiked through. Throughout the hike, the trains were our frequent companion. Hikers go over the train tracks, under the train tracks, and along them in numerous locations on the trail. In other locations, you can see the train traversing the mountainside in the distance. To sit back and see the beautiful highlands and valleys through a different perspective made the decision to choose the train an easy one.

The train ride didn’t disappoint. The route meanders north for a bit and then slowly works its way through the highlands. There’s a day on the hike where for several hours you are walking along an old military road, high in the hills, above the tree line and you can’t see a living thing (except for a few other hikers) or any evidence of civilization for as far as the eye can see in all directions. When we went back through that area, imagine my surprise when the train slowed to a stop at a small station with absolutely nothing visible but a small building and a narrow vacant country road leading off from the station. A man got on the train. Where did he come from? How did he get there? What is like to live here? I would have liked to ask him those questions.

Coming out of the hills, we rode along beautiful Loch Lomond, where we had walked just days before and finally to the more populated areas. It was so nice to re-live this beautiful hike from a comfortable chair, without worrying about my footing. This was the first time I had taken a train through an area I had just hiked. To experience a beautiful area ‘up close’ for days and then to see it as a big picture was really amazing.

The second journey was from Edinburg to London. This was my first trip to England and if I had just flown to London, I would have missed the beautiful countryside and the small towns that lie outside the major cities. The train was crowded that day because an earlier train was cancelled, but it was still nice to sit back, eat my packed lunch (or you could have purchased lunch on the train), and see the sights.

There are a couple of tricks to traveling by train. First there often isn’t a lot of room for large luggage. In most cases, there’s a small luggage rack at one end of the car, but it is limited, and you might have to lift your luggage onto the shelf to get a space. There is a luggage storage area over the seats, but a bag that is U.S. carryon size is probably the largest bag that would fit. For many seats, there is a small amount of space under the seat for a small backpack or purse. If you have a large bag, and I did for both these train rides, try to get in line early so there’s a better chance you’ll find a place for your luggage if the train is crowded.

Although many trains have snacks or sometimes more for sale on the longer train rides, you might have to walk through several cars to get food and the selection is somewhat limited. I try to pick up lunch and snacks before I get on the train to avoid the hassle. Finally, just like on a plane, the temperature in the cabin is unpredictable. Dress in layers so you can remove a layer if it’s warm and carry a sweater or sweatshirt in case it’s cold.

A lot of times when we are traveling, we want to get to our destination as quickly as possible. But sometimes the journey itself can be an important part of the trip. If you want to see parts of a country outside of the tourist areas or the airports or the highways, consider taking the train and watching the scenery out the window.

Hiking the West Highland Way in Scotland

By Pam Q.

On September 3, 2018

In Destinations, Other

Top of Devil’s Staircase, Glencoe, Scotland

I’m a day hiker. Yes, I have all the backpacking gear and can occasionally be persuaded to use it, but nothing makes me happier after a good hike than a hot shower and a comfortable bed. However, day hiking for consecutive days on major trails requires long rides and complicated car spotting to make it happen.

A hybrid becoming increasingly popular (particularly in Europe) is hiking from B&B/Inn to B&B/Inn without a car. Although you can make these arrangements yourself, in some areas you can use services to find your lodging and/or transport your luggage, so you only hike with your day bag. Typically, the B&B/Inn will provide a full breakfast with other meals available in the area.

Anchorage Cottage – East Loch Lomondside, Rowardennen, Scotland

In late June I hiked the West Highland Way in Scotland over 9 consecutive days for a total of 96 miles. I used MacAdventures to find my lodging and transport my larger luggage. The lodging varied from 50-room Inns to small B & Bs to a self-contained cottage in a campground. Most were within a half mile of the trail and for the two that weren’t, the B & B owners picked me up at a local business. After a shower in my private bathroom, I was free to explore the small town, eat dinner, socialize with other guests, or simply read a book. The next morning, I woke up refreshed and ready for another day. My kind of hiking!

Bench at the start of the West Highland Way, Milngavie, Scotland

The West Highland Way starts out in Milngavie (near Glasgow) and ends in Ft. William. The trail winds through pastures and rolling hills, dense woods, along Loch Lomond, up into the magnificent highlands, and down to the valleys. Dotted along the trail are small towns with a handful of lodging and dining options. Some areas have small stores to replenish snack and lunch options, as well as ATMs and post offices. Several of the towns are on the bus or train line, which allows hikers to skip sections if they prefer not to hike the whole trail.

Bridge of Orchy, Scotland

Even though some days I was hiking with a friend or other people on the trail, much of the time I was alone with my thoughts and just soaking up the beautiful surroundings and amazing sense of peace. The second half of the hike takes you up into the highlands where I felt on top of the world and with the exception of a handful of other hikers, there were no houses, animals, people or roads for as far as the eye could see in any direction. The path in front of you and behind you just disappeared into the distance.

In the middle of the hike, we were joined on the trail by the ultramarathoners of the West Highland Way Race – a group of over 200 trail runners who were expected to complete all 96 miles in under 35 hours. They started at 1 am and the quickest finished just under 17 hours later. They were great fun to have on the trail, would occasional stop and talk for a few minutes, and seemed to appreciate our encouragement along the way. I marveled at how they could race up and down the areas I had so carefully and slowly picked my way through.

Cow Pasture Near Drymen, Scotland

Packing for a hike on the West Highland Way, with the variety of trail conditions and potential for cold and rainy weather, required me to pack more than I would normally pack. I needed full rain gear, extra socks, and clothing that would carry me from temperatures in the low 50s with frequent rain and blustery wind, to the high 80s with no escape from the bright sunshine.

View of Loch Lomond from Conic Hill, Stirling, Scotland

Multiple layers were the key. My Icebreaker 200 base layers, EMS Techwick long and short sleeve shirts, Bass fleece, and EMS Compass pants that roll up, provided me with plenty of options. Because the large bag was transported from lodging to lodging, I didn’t have to worry about the extra bulk and weight of the additional clothing.

My day pack, the Osprey Tempest 20L worked perfectly. It had enough room to carry my hiking essentials, along with water, food, and layers that were shed during the day. The inner zipped pocket worked well for carrying my passport and other valuables that had to stay with me at all times. The outer stretch pocket was perfect for keeping my raingear handy. I used the rain cover (even when it wasn’t raining) to keep everything contained and dry.

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Scotland

Long distance hiking offers the amazing opportunity to hike varied terrain, experience a number of spectacular views, and have the time to truly escape from the real world. But for the inexperienced hiker or the true day hiker at heart, hiking from B&B to B&B can bridge the gap between the multi-day backpacking trip and single-day hike with all the comforts of home.

Sculpture in Kinlochleven, Scotland