FOOD in EUROPE

As a self proclaimed foodie, I reveled in some delectable meals and treats while on our trip that left my palate tingling. It's no secret that I frequent some cheap establishments for a dollar caesar side salad or bag of onion rings with fry sauce....but every now and then one needs to stretch their tasting abilities and venture out to new horizons.....yes, that means trying things as mysterious as black pudding and haggis, and yes I did, really. Too bad I didn't take pictures, you'll have to leave those visions to your imagination.

SCOTLAND

Wednesday-
Coach driver Alan and guide Bill (both whom we adored) give us a tour through Edinburgh, dinner at Le Cafe St. Honore for pea and pancetta soup and salmon with potatoes
Thursday-
More of Edinburgh, walked up the royal mile to Edinburgh Castle, lunch at An Lochan Tourmakin- Ploughmans plate with blue cheese, smoked apple cheddar, chutney and highland beef with horseradish and root vegetable (best meal ever), pick up historian specializing on Dundee- Veronica, drive to Perth and Dundee, cemetery one, cemetery two (find a Boyack), Check into Angus Hotel in Blairgowrie, grocery shopping for treats, dinner at The Pizza Place
Friday-
Drive through farm lands to Glamis Castle, stop at a cemetery and church, lunch of Fish and Chips (second best meal) in Forfar at the ruins of 12th century old Restenneth Priory, meet Fiona and look around Angus Archives, visit Dunnottar (Keith) Castle, Check into Marriot hotel, dinner of salad at hotel, take cabs to a late showing of the Batman movie
Saturday-
fly home
Highlights-
Searching through headstones and Caleb finding a Boyack . Grandpa sharing the gospel and Books of Mormon . Eating Fish and Chips in the magical ruins . To die for lunch in Perthshire . walking and singing lullabies to Tade in the alley in Edinburgh . Kindness and humor of Scottish people . Talking about the economy over pizza . Silence in the Batman movie . Bill, Alan, Veronica . Listening to bagpipe music . Reading life sketches . Mystery cry in the middle of the night . Watching Braveheart and John Adams on the plane . Medieval woman silencer device . talks in mom and dads room . trying Black pudding and Haggis . more moss, ivy, cows, and wild raspberries . Burping and the ghosts at Keith Castle . lions and crowns . Doing cartwheels on the lawn . Jessie getting in trouble . Vision of faces- "We will find where you are"

ENGLAND

Tuesday-
Board the "rock star bus" with Mick as the driver and Garrith as the guide and drive out to Stonehenge and Bath, See Bath Abbey, Roman Bath's, Fudge Shop, Marks and Spencer, Poets pub for fish and chips, Took the underground metro and cute cabs to see Les Miserables in London, Chris and Tade see Kung Fu Panda, Planet Hollywood for cobb salad and hamburgers.
Wednesday-
Tour London, watch the changing of the guard, Westminster Abbey, lunch of sandwiches and gespacho, Fly to Scotland and check into Marriot Dalmahoy
Highlights-
Grandpa lighting a candle in Bath Abbey- me lighting one in Westminster Abbey . Loyalty and tradition of English people . Flowers and topiaries on porches . Les Mis in London- Jean Valjean and Eponines voice . Breakfast of croissants, cheese and potatoes . Metro and cab rides . Search for caramel McVities . the ridiculous rock star bus . turning off the mic . Rachel's picture posing tips . the awe of Stonehenge . teddy bear gift . missing our kids . jet lag . aged stones and fabulous storefronts . eleborate tombs and monuments . reading the graves in the chapels . seeing Sylvester Stalone . Passing around Tade . Balsamic vinegar chips and diet coke .

HOLLAND

Sunday-
Arrive in Amsterdam and check into Schiphol A4 Hotel, walk around downtown Amsterdam, Anne Frank House, Indonesian food, swimming, desserts in the hotel, Burger King for the boys
Monday-
Drive to Best, visit with Tons family, VanderSloot tour, sandwiches, fruit and drinks, Wooden Shoe Workshop, Willy's Store, Petronella's site, quick Dinner of Camembert and Peanut Butter Skewers at hotel, fly to London, check into Runnymede Hotel
Highlights-
Backpacks filled with goodies . Brick and Thatch houses- my dream!! Graciousness of Dutch people . Clean and immaculate yards and houses . Family style Indonesian food and building fire . Touring Authentic Wooden Shoe Workshop. Hearing dad speak Dutch and tell us stories . Ton's tour and cute wife with her basket of food and umbrellas. Swimming, being pulled into the pool, boys racing . Communicating through walkie talkies . Watching the hundreds of bikers downtown . Waiting in the rain with warm drinks . Walking through the Anne Frank house . Hot chocolate with Grandpa and Caleb on cafe sidewalk . Canals and windmills . Following dad driving, last second turns, running red lights, tickets . Passing around desserts . Stone roads and old buildings . Dutch Childrens Shops . Graffiti . Beautiful tall people . Creme Brulee .