or as my husband Tom would say "God's Country". I never thought this day would come. I think I've been planning it ever since my husband moved here (Cleveland) from Aberdeen, 3 long years ago. I myself have not been back since June 03.

Some of you know my parents are coming with us for the beginning of the trip (10 days worth, we are there for 18). We will see what they think!

It will be emotional seeing all Tom's family and friends finally.

But thanks to everyone on here that gave me tips and answered my numerous restaurant questions! I appreciate it.

Off to go spend 20 hours total time traveling... oi.

When exactly do you arrive, Amelie ? We leave for Italy at 6.20am (ouch) Saturday morning.

Hope you have a lovely time here !

Safe journey amelie!
Have a great time and let us know all about your trip when you return!

Have fun, amelie! We will want to hear ALL about it

We arrived this morning at 10am (1 hour late)! We are all finally able to take a break (shower, unpack etc), and everyone has been awake since yesterday US time and doing ok with the jet lag. We should sleep good tonight and be on normal time tomorrow morning.

My Mom is already loving everything.

More when I get home, and have a great trip to Italy Caroline!!

amelie, have a wonderful time! I look forward to a fantastic trip report.

Hi Amelie - hope you are having agood time as are we (currently in Venice). Regards, Caroline

We've been having a nice time! The sun has finally decided to show itself the past three days. Just when my parents went home, go figure. They loved it though.

We go home on Sunday.

Oh! And we really liked Monster Mash, I know you were the first one I saw mention it.....


more next week

Amelie,

Sorry to miss your original post as I was getting ready for my own hols. I hope your journey home isn't too badly affected by the increased security alert - first time in my life that anywhere in Scotland has been the target of a genuine terrorist attack, please God let it be the last.

Thank you.

We made it home safetly yesterday and our flight from Edinburgh left on time. We got to the airport 3 hours early to be safe (around 6:30 am) and Tom's parents could not park at the airport. We had to do a park and ride and they were able to come with us inside the airport to see us off.

It seems like it's hardly made the news here in the US.

Amelie:
Welcome home. I am glad that you are back safe and sound. I have been following the story very closely. I have been worried about people traveling in Scotland and our new friends there. I second Craigellachie's comment.

<It seems like it's hardly made the news here in the US.>

The attacks by Islamic supremacists in England and Scotland made the front page of The Philadelphia Inquirer yesterday and today. It's all over the TV news.

Thanks for your update and how things are working w/ the car ban.

However &quot;<i>It seems like it's hardly made the news here in the US.</i>&quot; ?

I have no idea where you are but for 3 days it was the <u>biggest</u>&quot; story in our N. Calif newspapers, on all the local TV stations, plus wall to wall on all the cable news networks.

Welcome home amelie - my husband and I are off tomorrow. A friend is picking us up in Edinburgh and is checking to see if her car will be allowed to come in to the airport - she thinks it will be okay. We are so looking forward to this trip - thanks to everyone who gave good advice in planning the itinerary. I hope that it stops raining long enough for us to get some good pictures!

I'm in Cleveland and it was such a small blurb on the front page Sunday of the major newspaper. It got a bigger mention on the front page of our local paper.

I'm slowly adding pictures, it's taking forever!!!! I have to say, my Glamis Castle garden ones came out pretty nice..

And Janis, you were right, Crathes Castle gardens were really amazing.

Julie,
Have a great time!

Glad you enjoyed Monster Mash, Amelie, &amp; look forward to hearing more. I gather it hasn't been the best weather while I've been away, so hope that didn't spoil things too much.

JulieAA : if you are at the airport before your friend, she will be allowed to stop for a couple of minutes just a couple of minutes walk from the terminal exit in the pick-up/drop-off zone. It's a bit hard to explain but you come out of the door, cross the roadway immediately outside (buses &amp; taxis only) then it's the next road parallel to that one, on your right. Otherwise, if she gets there first, she can park in the short-stay car park (short walk) or the long-stay car park (needs a bus to get to/from it but cheaper).

When we got in on Saturday we noticed no additional security at all, but the taxi driver told us concrete blocks had been installed outside the doors to ward off a repeat of the Glasgow incident.

Hi Caroline,
How was Italy????

No, the weather didn't spoil things! Just two really bad days really, and we did indoor things those days. The sun on the last week really did make up for it, for me.

Brilliant, thanks, Amelie... sigh. Oh well, already planning next year's trip !

So glad you still had a good time &amp; will look forward to your trip report.