Background With a population of around 150,000, Dundee is Scotland’s fourth-largest city. Lying on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, Dundee is around 56 miles north (and a
Dec 2021/Jan 2022: New Year in Budapest
Background Bruce and I had been scheduled to bring in New Year in Germany, but about a week before Christmas the German government announced that it would be joining neighbouring
December 2021: London: A Walk around Holborn
A few days after the USA trip, we arrived in London for a ‘Christmas Lights’ visit – any excuse! I had a few hours available on ‘arrival day’ while Bruce
California, Here We Come! (2021): Diary Epilogue
At this point, the sightseeing was over and all that remained was to get home. One of the reasons for choosing Paris as the end point of our intercontinental tickets
California, Here We Come! (2021): Days 16-18: And now, a long weekend in Paris!
Final Accommodation On Friday morning we relocated to central Paris for a three-night stay at the perfectly decent Holiday Inn Paris Montmartre. With just 54 rooms, it is one of
California, Here We Come! (2021): Days 14&15: Miami Interlude and Return to Europe
A few hours in downtown Miami I woke up after what felt like a short night, due to the combined effect of the 3hr time change the previous evening and
California, Here We Come! (2021): Day 13: Transcon in (Some) Style
St Andrew’s Day brought the first steps in our homeward journey, initially with a short hop back down the west coast to LA, then with a transcontinental flight to Miami,
California, Here We Come! (2021): Day 12: Gallery day
After breakfast this morning, there was some business to attend to: before embarking on our eastbound return journey to Europe the following day, it was essential to do more laundry.
California, Here We Come! (2021): Day 11: Sausalito, the Castro and North Beach revisited
Trip to Sausalito Today’s breakfast was at a nearby Blue Bottle Café, and this was followed by our usual shower routine before the day got underway in earnest. One notable
California, Here We Come! (2021): Day 10: San Francisco on Foot
Today began at a leisurely pace: we had a very light Starbucks breakfast and returned to base for showers. The first real event was our 1130 reservation for dim sum
California, Here We Come! (2021): Day 9: Arrival in San Francisco
Emeryville – San Francisco Today’s objective was delightfully simple: to relocate across the bay to San Francisco and get settled in for the longest and most luxurious hotel stay of
California, Here We Come! (2021): Day 8: An Amtrak Thanksgiving
Los Angeles – Emeryville It was Thanksgiving Day – and our big Amtrak day! It began with a little bit of early-morning stress, but we eventually succeeded in finding a
California, Here We Come! (2021): Day 7: From San Diego to Los Angeles
Morning walk in San Diego Once again, it was the same early-morning start for Bruce. After breakfast and showers, we took a morning walk in glorious sunshine, through downtown and
California, Here We Come! (2021): Day 6: Walking in San Diego
Gaslamp Quarter to Balboa Park Bruce again had his early-starting half-day at work. As previously, he popped out at 9am to pick up some breakfast for both of us, this
California, Here We Come! (2021): Day 5: Day Trip to Carlsbad
Downtown San Diego Bruce was working Boston-time half-days until Thanksgiving, which meant 0530-0900 Pacific – clearly an alarm was essential! At the end of his stint we had a Starbucks
California, Here We Come! (2021): Days 3&4: Our Outbound Flying-Fest
London-Helsinki on Finnair Once again, we followed the recently established pattern of no pre-departure breakfast, due to our proximity to the airport. Catching the Piccadilly Line to the airport, we
California, Here We Come! (2021): Day 2: And now, erm … back to the UK!
Schiphol-Heathrow Today started by following a similar approach to that used on Thursday: we left the hotel without eating, intending to have some form of breakfast in the lounge. In
California, Here We Come! (2021): Day 1: Quick Visit to Amsterdam
Heathrow-Schiphol The trip was now underway in earnest, and you join me as Bruce & I enter the so-called ‘First’ lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5, which in reality is for