Monthly Archives: January 2015

Oh Venetia. After a misty walk across the tarmac in Paris, and a flight across the snow covered Alps we arrived at Marco Polo to more spectacular sunshine. Our water taxi to the very beautiful Hilton Molino Stucky, past speed boat George Clooney look alikes was an amazing way to arrive. A very quick five minute water taxi to Saint Marco and then a wander along the very gorgeous Venetian narrow lanes. Dinner was beautiful and after filling ourselves with so much pasta we had to walk for miles around the lovely neighborhoods. Another water taxi home, hot chocolate that you could stand a spoon in, and for me a lovely bathtub full of bubbles.

Our stay in Paris was lovely. In the daytime the sun was shining and in the evening the lights in the trees along the Champs Elysee meant that Paris twinkled. Of course, we walked miles and miles. The Hotel WO was tiny but very comfortable. We were located just off Rue Du Roma quite close to the Saint Lazare railway station. The walk to Boulevard Haussmann and the Galleries Lafayette was only a few minutes and it took about half an hour to walk to Musee Du Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. 2015 was welcomed with thousands of people watching a light show off the Arc De Triomphe and then fantastic fireworks. The girls were funny – exceptionally excited taking selfies in front of Mona. The Eiffel tower was so crowded. I far preferred the lovely view from the rooftop of Paris’s most elegant department store. Well to walk miles and miles ordinarily should make one fitter – I am not sure though whether the rather large mille feuille cancels out the exercise – surely not? 

In the home of James the 5^th they were setting up the millions of fireworks that would signal Hogmanay. It really was so damn bleak amongst the cold Scottish stone, the wind and cobblestones of Stirling castle. Our Scottish guide regaled us with stories of Mary Queen of Scots; Queen at 6 days old. The stories of regents, murdered husbands, married cousins, imprisonment at Loch Leven, abdications for one year old sons, and execution by one’s loving cousin was made all the more colourful by the winds and the darkness of a good Scottish winter.

Lang may yer lum reek!

http://www.grogandgruel.co.uk 

We arrived back into Fort William in the deepest dark and headed for the dubiously named Grog and Gruel. The great food at Huntingtower Lodge made us think that Chris’s recommendation should be OK. The cobbled streets of Fort William led us to the old pub. Upstairs there were lots of kids and heaps of noise from what seemed like locals so we thought our recommendation might be OK. In the tradition of cream with scotch I took the recommendation of the Scotsman behind the bar who told me that my cider should have the addition of a wee dram. I was slightly skeptical but it was fantastic. I think my cider in future will have the addition of a good slug of whisky although I did wonder about the alcohol content as I staggered down the stairs. The food was so good but the real highlight, my newly found favourite, curly chips washed down with a great Highland modified cider!

After a lovely breakfast in the gorgeous B&B owned by Chris and Jackie we headed the passat toward Skye. It was only just getting light at 9am as we drove toward Kyle of Locharsh and the Skye bridge. We stopped at the lovely Eilean Donan castle that looked very beautiful in the mist and justified its use as the quintessential Scottish castle on every box of shortbread.

Of course Scott was complaining about my driving so he took over as we headed to the Isle of the mist.

With the heirs to the lands of Dunvegan on board, we of course had to visit their ancestral home. Scott donned the clan tartan wrapped tightly around his neck as we drove across the top of the world. Whilst the Island might be named Skye, the sky does indeed feel very close and climbing on the tiny narrow roads up the side of wet and misty massive mountains made one feel very pleased to have solid german engineering beneath the bonnet. The millions of woolly sheep that are such a feature of the Hebridean island were obviously rugged up somewhere warm as very few hardy souls were out on the windswept hills. We stopped for a very welcome Scottish hot chocolate and cranberry scones and cream, all infused with warming good Scotch. I don’t think scones will ever taste the same again unless I tip a good dram of Whisky in as I whip the cream.

It was lovely to return to beautiful Huntingtower Lodge on the shores of Loch Linhe. We had great plans to head out to dinner but the dementor’s had destroyed our appetites and after a lovely pot of tea and gingerbread we fell into our beds. I have no idea how I would manage to live in the UK at this time of year. I would get nothing done, as by 6pm it feels like midnight cause it is so damn dark. By 7pm you fall into a cold and dark induced slumber. The fact that it doesn’t get light until 8.30am makes one feel slightly like a bear with plans to simply hibernate with a good book for the entire winter. The only problem is though that the good intentions of reading are destroyed the minute I pull the snuggly doona up and pass out in about 2 minutes flat.

Well my ballerina daughter has been inspired by the Scottish Highlands, not to do a Highland jig, but to thump around like Shrek doing ballet in our attic room. We had a lovely time in Edinburgh in the tartan carpeted, gorgeous Howard hotel with very nice butlers making pots of proper tea. Edinburgh was glistening with the sun shining brightly. The kids went underground to visit the Close’s of the plague era and I went to pick up the car. A lovely walk along the Royal Mile from the castle to Holyrood in the Scottish sunshine (yes really) was gorgeous.

I parked the car in the back of the Howard and when it came time to get it out I remembered the non forgiving Scottish stone and the nerve inducing maneuver’s that are needed when the car park fills up and blocks ones rather long car in amongst the Scottish stone.

The drive up over Glencoe was done in the moonlight (even if it was only 4pm), with the massive Scottish peaks covered in snow. We did wonder how the Highlanders managed to have such ferocious battles when it would be too damn cold to take your hands out of your pockets to yield your broadsword.

The drive through the great glen was lovely but a bit too winding for one occupant so a stop was in order. Snow covered fields, swirling mist, massive Scottish Highland mountains and a weird sort of moon made Lydia convinced that the dementor’s were coming to get us. She made us all think happy thoughts whilst she summoned up her best Expecto Patronum spell. Yes it is a laugh a minute travelling with a ballet dancing, wizard who can summon patronus spells with a wave of her mobile phone.