The Hairy Coo Tour

The Hairy Coo offers a FREE tour of the Scottish Highlands departing and returning to Edinburgh. I took the tour really enjoyed myself. There was so much to see in a 8 hour tour and we didn't even go to Loch Ness. I took the tour because the price was right and the guide gave a lot of information and history about Scotland and the Highlands. Make sure you book early because, as you can imagine, they fill up fast. Visit their website The Hairy Coo for more information and to book your tour.

Here is a Photo album of what I saw along the way:

Forth Bridge

The Forth Bridge is a cantilever railway bridge over the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland, 9 miles west of Edinburgh City Centre. It is considered an iconic structure and a symbol of Scotland, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Kelpies

Towering above the Forth & Clyde Canal, The Kelpies are a feat of engineering, each made with 300 tonnes of structural steel, and are a monumental tribute to the horse power heritage that was vital to the early industries of central Scotland.

The National Wallace Monument

The National Wallace Monument is a tower standing on the summit of Abbey Craig, a hilltop near Stirling in Scotland. It commemorates Sir William Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish hero.

Views from The National Wallace Monument

Stirling Castle

Stirling is one of Scotland’s greatest stone castles – an icon integral to how we understand the nation’s story. The castle peaked in importance in the 1500s, but its volcanic crag has been fortified since ancient times.

The tour does not visit the castle it's self, but gets a great view of it.

Loch of Menteinth

There are several islands in this loch, one of them served as refuge to Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1547. She was only four years old at the time and stayed for three weeks after the disastrous Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in September of that year.
The dinosaur does not live in the loch.

Little Fawn water fall

Little Fawn Waterfall is a magical waterfall situated close to Aberfoyle deep within the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park in the Trossachs National Park.
Again, the dinosaur is not live near the waterfall.

Queen Elizabeth National Forest

This 50,000 acre forest park stretches from the east shore of Loch Lomond to the rugged terrain of Strathyre and encompasses mountain and moorland, forest and woodland, rivers and lochs. For many visitors the attraction of the park lies in the peace and quiet and the magnificent views.

Photo Op with Hairy Coos

Highland Cattle are a Scottish cattle breed. They originated in the Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland. They are a hardy breed due to their native environment, the Highlands of Scotland. This results in long hair, giving the breed its ability to overwinter.

The Scottish call them hairy coos because of their accent. They are hairy cows to non Scottish accented peoples.
 

Hairy coo calfs.

Loch Katherine

Loch Katrine is a 13km-long fresh water loch in the heart of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. The beauty of the loch has long inspired literary figures, including Sir Walter Scott who was inspired to write his famed poem Lady of the Lake in 1810 after visiting Loch Katrine. It also inspired poets Samuel Coleridge and William Wordsworth.
The dinosaur does not live here either.

Monty Python's Doune Castle

Explore this 14th century courtyard castle in Doune, with a striking 100 ft high gatehouse and one of the best preserved great halls in Scotland.
As well as being heavily featured in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Doune Castle was also used for the castle known as Winterfell in the pilot of the award winning TV series Game of Thrones as well as Castle Leoch in Outlander.

The dinosaur lives here. :)



The Hairy Coo staff has this to say:
"We thrive on a simple concept, that everyone, no matter their budget, should be able to discover the beautiful Scottish Highlands. During this day-long tour, you'll get to see this beautiful wilderness, through the eyes of a passionate and knowledgeable, local tour guide. We're handing the power back to you, the customer, and this guarantees the highest quality of tour possible. We believe that if money is given; it should be in direct proportion to the quality of the tour, and the level of customer service you feel has been provided. No catch!"

6 Drinkable Edinburgh Pubs

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of pubs in Edinburgh and I just scratched the surface on my 3 week trip to this mid-evil city. Some of the pubs are historical and have that "pub" feel and others are themed, and they do this very well. 

52 Canoes Tiki Lounge

This colorful New Town tiki parlor isn't exactly subtle. 52 Canoes is a ray of Pacific sunshine: bold, bright, and lively. The cocktails are fruity and fun; many pack a punch and most are served in the obligatory novelty drinking vessels - there are mugs shaped like Polynesian statues and plenty of paper umbrella.

Banshee Labyrinth

The Banshee Labyrinth is made up of seven rooms, three bars, two jukeboxes, an underground dance floor and a huge helping of of scintillatingly sinister alt-music. Take the right path through the catacombs and you might be lucky enough to end up in the Labyrinth's very own (free!) cinema, in which they offer a regularly updated program of modern movies and classics. It also describes itself as Scotland’s most haunted pub. It is reportedly occupied by a banshee – a group of workmen once heard a bloodcurdling scream and a few hours later one of them received a call about the death of a family member.

The Dome

The Dome is a building on George Street in the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. It currently functions as a bar, restaurant and nightclub, although it was first built as the headquarters of the Commercial Bank of Scotland in 1847.

Blackwood’s Bar & Grill

Blackwood’s Bar & Grill is a stylish restaurant specializing in the best meat, game and seafood that Scotland’s splendid natural larder can provide. The hotel is part of an elegant Georgian terrace and that neo-classical style is reflected in the furnishings of the restaurant. Smart yet welcoming are the key features. Soft candlelight also means that Blackwood’s can be rather romantic.

The Royal Oak

The Royal Oak is a real Scottish pub that has made its name as a live music venue. Steeped in history and atmosphere it is only a few minutes walk from the Royal Mile. With a fine tradition of musical entertainment every single night of the week you can hear mainly folk songs with a mix of other acoustic styles. The Royal Oak not only gives visitors the chance to hear some great tunes, but it also acts as a focal point for many of Edinburgh’s traditional musicians.

Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar

Step in to discover a traditional pub of unique character, revered for its eclectic range of real ales and its quality pub food, which are served, as they should be, with a generous measure of famous British hospitality. The name of the bar is inspired by an Edinburgh legend of a scruffy Skye terrier called Bobby. When his owner died in 1858, Bobby faithfully watched over his grave and was buried alongside his master in the Greyfriars Kirkyard in 1872.

5 Super Cheap Eats in Paris

1. Jambon Fromage Sandwich

You can find this ham and cheese sandwich on a french baguette at just about any boulangerie (bakery) in Paris. It will only set you back about 2-5 Euros, add a drink with it for another euro. Its a great grab and go meal to enjoy in the many parks around Paris. I have enjoyed many of these!

2. Crêpes

Paris is known for their sweet and savory crepes. From ham, cheese and tomato to banana, chocolate and whipped cream. My favorite is a nutella crepe. Au P’tit Grec is an amazing place for a cheap and delicious crepe. Just around the corner from the Pantheon, their sweet and savory pockets of deliciousness will cost you between 3-8€. Metro stop: Place Monge

3. Falafels from L’As du Fallafel

 

It doesn't get much better than a shawarma (gyro) or a fallafel plate from L'As du Fallafel. Ok, its not the cheapest place on the list with a shawarma at 10.50€, but it's totally worth it. Either dine in or take away this will fill you up for the rest of the day. The tzatziki sauce is wonderful, the lamb was cooked perfectly and the vegetables were very fresh and you'll find the service to be efficient and very friendly. 5 stars from me, and so many others! Metro stop: Saint-Paul or Hotel de Ville

4. Baguette and lots of cheese

Especially in the summer, Parisians love to take their lunches to the park. Visit the nearest boulangerie (bakery) for their best baguettes and pick up local french cheeses from a fromagerie (cheese shop), located all around Paris. Don't forget your favorite bottle of wine, cider or champagne, because nothing goes better with cheese than some vino. Depending on the cheese, your lunch will cost around 3-5€ per person for a baguette to split and 3-5 cheese samples.

5. Quiche 

Many boulangeries have this simple meal ready to go for around 2-5€. Quiches have many ingredients from cheese and spinach to tuna and tomato. Kozy Cafe, just around the corner from the Eiffel Tower serves up a simple brunch for under 8€. Metro stop: École Militaire

Keep on Travelin'

In the wake of the recent terror attacks it is important to me that travelers keep traveling and we do not live in fear. If we become scared or recluse and halt our travel plans it means the terrorism is successful. We must be smart about our travel plans, and understand that in this time of ISIS, Al Qaeda Al-Shabaab and other terrorist organizations, they will continue to “fight” for what they believe in. Like a car wreck or a robbery, a terrorist attack can happen anywhere in the world.

This past spring I was planning my summer 2016 trip and it included Turkey, Israel and Jordan. When Delta cancelled all of its flights to and from Istanbul I felt that was a sign to not visit this part of the world at this time. I WILL go to Turkey, Israel and Jordan to visit the wonderful people, beautiful places like Tel Aviv, Petra, and Cappadocia, and eat the delicious food these cultures pride themselves in. For me, now is not the time to solo travel to these places.

I did change my plans for my summer 2016 trip and visited five baseball parks, attended six games, visited many friends and family members and met quite a few new friends along the way. Currently, I am in my second week of a three week trip to Edinburgh and Scotland. Next week I am going to Versailles and Paris to visit my French family for a week then Stockholm, Sweden for my last week of my summer 2016 trip. I am continuing my travels and spread Aloha throughout the world.

I send my love to the people of Istanbul and Turkey, just as I did for Paris, Brussels, and Orlando, places that I have visited and lived in. I will come for you Turkey and I will love you, your food, culture and beauty. Just wait! I’ll be there!

Chicago... Round 2

I found a few more cool and fun things in Chicago!

Adler Planetarium - great place to take the kiddos, over the age of 8/9. There is a lot of history and in depth information about the planets, stars, our solar system and the thousands of other galaxies. Makes me feel really small, and a little insignificant. The views, on a clear day, of the city are fantastic. It's worth it just to take the bus out there to walk around and see the building and the Doane Observatory (free to enter). I would take advantage of the two shows, Cosmic Wonder and Skywatch Live, explaining the constellations and the galaxies by professional docents and take a "ride" in the Atwood Sphere. You'll experience the night sky over Chicago as it appeared in 1913 in Chicago's oldest planetarium. Beware of the school groups, however, they can overrun the exhibits and are unavoidable certain times of the year.

The Field Museum is another great place to take the kiddos. There are exhibits related to science, environment and culture can be explored. From ancient mummies to endangered plants to a complete T. rex, the Museum boasts a treasury of 30 million specimens. And for the younger kids there are six themed play areas throughout the museum. I stopped in to see Sue the T. rex that was discovered in South Dakota in 1990.

Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruise is a great way to see over 90 buildings that tower over the Chicago River. The docent guided 90 minute tour will keep the history and information coming as you cruise the river, rain, shine, fog or snow. Its rated the "top tour" of Chicago and for $44 per person, I think it's worth it. And you are giving your money to a non profit organization! They offer a twilight tour at 7:30 for $46 per person, if that's your jam. If it's your first time in Chicago or haven't been in awhile this is a must do! The skyline is ever changing and the city does a great job of making improvements to the river walk and the river.

I also walked though Grant Park on a foggy chill afternoon. As I strolled through the freshly cut grass it reminded me of walking down the Champs Elysee Park in Paris, except of course there are baseball diamonds and volleyball courts lining Columbus Dr. This was the first time I got to see the famous Buckingham Fountain, which is very reminiscent of the Palace of Versailles's Bassin de Laoton.

Versailles, France

Chicago, Illinois

Wrigley Field and a Cubs game is a must see and do. It was my first time in this stadium and it was amazing. For just $25 I purchased a seat in the nose bleeds, but got to watch batting practice and warmups from the fancy seats. If you even remotely like baseball, you can't miss this!

I discovered some great grocery and eateries too!

Eataly - Chef Mario Batali's sprawling, modern outpost featuring a range of Italian eateries & food markets. This place is pretty amazing with a small cafe and shop on the 1st floor with a nutella and coffee stand, but the good stuff is on the 2nd floor. So many types of cheeses, meats, pastas, and booze! It's a great place to stop by to pick up picnic fixin's for the Architecture Foundation river cruise. Located 43 E Ohio St, cafe opens at 8am store opens at 10am.

Chicago French Market - This is my new favorite place to eat at in Chicago! It reminds me of an American version of an Asian hawker center. The Chicago French Market has over 30 local food and artisan vendors under one roof. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4:30-6:30 and a concert series Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5-7pm.

Do-Rite Donuts and Chicken - Chef-owned stop for artisanal donuts in unusual flavors plus gluten-free & vegan options & coffee. I mean... the best breakfast sandwich and donut I have ever eaten. Even Thrillist loves them!

Timothy O’Toole’s Pub - Another Irish Pub, but this time its full of character, a great bar and chicken wings! I recommend sitting at the bar, so you don't have to wait for a table and you have a great view of one of the very many TV's with all the games on. There are 48 beers on tap and many more in the bottle with a great local craft beer selection. Like many pubs, the events set them apart like Monday 'Burger night' and Wednesday 'Comedians you should know' night. Located 622 N Fairbanks Ct.

If you want to read more about my visit to Chicago, visit my previous blog post.

St. Pete, Florida

Getting to St. Petersburg, St. Pete, The Burg:

You can fly into either Tampa Bay Airport (TPA) or Saint Pete/Clearwater Airport, both 30 minute drive away. I recommend renting a car for your adventure to the Burg. An Uber will cost you about $30 one way to take you downtown, and its 3 hours using public transportation. Rent a car.

What to do:
St. Pete is known for their murals and street art all around town, hundreds of them. Every Saturday at 10am Florida CraftArt does a street art tour. Visitors will hear the inside stories of the making of over 30 murals found in the four block tour. Who is Woo? Why Frida and Twiggy? Photo opps as a bird, a fish, a bug! The cost for the tour is $19 for adults, $11 for children ages 6-18, under 5 is free. Visit Florida CraftArt to reserve your spot.

Take a half day to visit The Dali Museum to view most comprehensive collection of Dalí's paintings outside of Europe. The building is surreal and has great views of the bay. You can even get a picture with a giant Dali mustache! The museum offers a free audio tour with admission and has docent guided tours on the hour throughout the day. Check out The Dali website for upcoming special exhibitions, they do not disappoint. 

The Morean Arts Center has a stunning collection of Dale Chihuly glasswork. The Collection includes Chihuly’s spectacular large-scale installations such as Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier created specifically for the Collection along with several popular series works including Macchia, Ikebana, Niijima Floats, Persians and Tumbleweeds which have thrilled audiences around the globe. Each space has been designed individually to complement each installation producing unique visual experiences. Visit their website for details on pricing, location and hours.

The Grand Central District - 1600-3100 Central Ave., is a great place to shop, eat, get a tattoo, or ride a bike. This area of town has some of the best eats in town and unusual shops to stroll in and out of. They have different types of events weekly for everyone. Check out their calendar of events, list of restaurants, and where to shop on this hip street.

Tampa Bay Rays Baseball Game at Tropicana Field. Rain or shine the Rays will play in their domed stadium. A small and nondescript stadium is a great place to get out of the rain and into the A/C for a game. Except for maybe opening day or playoff games this place is pretty empty, but a good time for baseball lovers. Check their schedule for game days.

My favorite eats in St. Pete:

Taco Bus

The Burg Bar & Grill

Old Key West

Urban Brew & BBQ

The Mill

Stillwater

The Cider Press

The Avenue

Specialty Grocery Shopping

Downtown St. Pete Saturday morning market - Every Saturday from October to May from 9am-2pm in the Rowdies (Soccer) Stadium parking lot you can pick up fresh fruits and veggies, hand made soaps, jewelry and artwork. The summer market takes place in Williams Park from June to August from 9am -1pm. 

Mazzaro's Italian Market - From fresh roasted coffee to delicious deli selections, gourmet baked goods to handmade pastas and specialty cheeses, Mazzaro’s is more than a one-of-a-kind Italian gourmet market – it’s one of Tampa Bay's favorite culinary destinations. For more information on this amazing culinary hot spot, visit their website.

Shep's Food Mart - It's more of a beer mecca. Located in the Historic Old Northeast, this place has an amazing selection of over 1200 beers and beverages. 2001 4th St NSaint Petersburg, FL 33704.

City Produce Fruit and Veggie Market - A simple fruit and vegetable stand located on 4th St. across from Trader Joes is a fantastic place to stop for fresh local goods. They also have some goods like olive oil and spices, as well as freshly made hummus, baklava, spinach pies and a selection of olives. They only take cash, but you won't need much because they keep their prices low. 2701 4th St N #101, St. Petersburg, FL 33704.

Where to Stay:

No hostels in St. Pete, so my suggestion is to look on AirBnb for an inexpensive place to rest your head. Take a look in the area near Central or Beach Ave.

The Venoy Renissance is the fancy place to stay in town. With beautiful views of Tampa Bay this historic hotel is located less than 1 mile from St. Pete Pier and The Dali Museum. Prices start at $209/night.

Bed and Breakfasts around town:

Beach Drive Inn

Watergarden Inn at the Bay

Larelle House Bed and Breakfast

Sea Shell Motel & Hostel, Key West, Florida Review

Located about a 5 minute walk to the Southernmost Point, The Sea Shell Motel & Hostel is one of two Hostels in town. I was very disappointed with the cleanliness, room set up, bunk types, security, street noise and price. If I had gotten bed bugs, this would have been the worst hostel I have stayed in yet.

I booked two nights by calling the hostel, the reservation was non refundable unless you call a week in advance to cancel. One bunk was $56 per night, in a room with 9 other bunks, sharing one dirty bathroom. This was more than I spent in San Francisco, New York and Chicago per night.

Check in was through a window, I was given two keys on a key chain with my room and bunk number and the WiFi passcode, a set of sheets, a towel and pointed to my room. They didn't explain what the 2nd key was for or tell me where anything else was. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on premises, the hot water was lacking and the bunks felt like they would collapse at any moment.

The Motel and Hostel does have standard motel rooms, that run around $150 per night. I got to see a room and it was in the same condition as the dorms, dirty and dark.

If you can avoid it, don't stay at the Sea Shell Motel and Hostel. However, it is a cheap place in town to rest your head.

So Many Options!

Panning a trip with so many options can be stressful! Do I go to beautiful Iceland and swim between the tectonic plates? Or do I take a trip to Tokyo to see the cherry blossoms? Having flight benefits on Delta totally has its perks, but deciding where to go for a weekend or a few month trip takes a lot of thought.

I am currently in a toss up between two trips. Either flying to Tel Aviv, spending a week there and taking a side trip to visit Petra, Jordan then off to Cappadocia, Turkey for some hot air balloon adventures and cave exploring. After getting high, head to Izmir on the west coast of Turkey for a week, and explore the beautiful architecture and delicious Turkish food, then ending up in Istanbul for a week to get lost in the Grand Bazaar Market and visit Europe and Asia in one day.

Or, I could make my way around Ireland. Starting in Dublin making sure to visit all of the pubs and having a pint or seven of some Irish cider. I would make my way to Cork to volunteer at a bake shop for two weeks, learning all I can about baking and of course visiting a few pubs there too. I'd also like to stop at a hostel for a few nights in Limerick and Galway to get a taste of the Irish culture and love. I would then make my way up to Belfast in Northern Ireland to visit Giant's Causeway, have a pint in Crown Bar (dubbed "the most beautiful bar in the world"), and go underground in the Marble Arch Caves.

I have always had "happy feet" and loved to move around and explore new areas, see new things and meet new people. And having flight benefits really enables me to keep my feet dancing. I can book last minute and if one plan doesn't work out, and off to another place because maybe thats where I was meant to be anyways.

Where do you think I should go? My plans are to travel in May and June, returning to Hawaii first week of July. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Falmouth, Jamaica

6 things I learned from staying with locals in Jamaica:

1. Jamaicans are really friendly, pushy, but friendly. In Falmouth, the cruise port, if you remotely resemble someone that got off the ship they will ask you a ton of questions. Including if you want weed. It is legal and the smell can sometimes be overwhelming. I found that if you tell them you are local, even if you are not, they are more likely to leave you alone. If you ask someone where something is, they will walk you there and expect a tip. They hustle for their money.

2. If you would like to smoke a joint, don't pay more than $.50 or 500 Jamaican dollars for it. The stuff grows on trees here!

3. The market is a great experience on Saturdays. Falmouth market is open on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and the best day to go for the best prices and selection is Saturday. You can expect to find bananas, potatoes, onions, cauliflower, broccoli, eggs, eggplant, lettuce, bok choy, okra, oranges, coconut, pineapple, mangos,  and many other local goodies. Most items are 100JMB per lb. I was unable to find any meats, but locals told me that if you track down a fisherman he will bring you any local fish you want the next day.

Hole in the wall Jerk Chicken place

4. The jerk chicken and rice is very tasty. At a hole in the wall place I got 2 pieces of chicken with rice and slaw for $3. Give it a try, it's likely you'll go back for another helping. I did...

5. It's likely you may not understand the Jamaicans when they speak. In the hills they speak Potio, Jamaican broken English. Many of the workers in the tourist areas you will be able to understand. And if you speak it, you'll get the local prices at the market.

Jamaican Beach Bar

6. Red Stripe is called 'beer' here. It's one of 3 beers I found here and red stripe is obviously the beer of choice here (It's the Jamaican beer, if you didn't know). Other choices are Heineken and Guinness, but I did not find them to be served at restaurants. Don't pay more than $4 or 400 JD for a beer.

Fun at Everglades Hostel

The Everglades Hostel is a great place for a couple of days to relax and see the sites around Florida City and Everglades National Park. I have reviewed the hostel, but also wanted to include some of the things to do while you are staying in the Everglades.

The Everglades Hostel also offers Everglades day tours and night walks, $129 for guests and $150 for non guests. The full day tour you will kayak in the Everglades! It's great for those who want to see all 9 Eco-Systems of the Everglades National Park. Enjoy a relaxing pace spending 8 Hours in the Everglades. A relaxing evening is spent on the Night Walk and is easy introduction to the park. Stroll on paved trails and boardwalks under the Stars and Feel the Everglades Come Alive!

Check the Tour Board in the reception area to see the tours and sign up.

Around the corner from Everglades Hostel, about two miles down the road, is a great fruit stand called Robert Is Here. Their fruits and veggies are delicious and diverse, such as dragon fruit, apple bananas, mangos, coconuts, several different kinds of tomatoes (green and red), and all kinds of citrus, yes including the world famous key lime. And, on top of all that they make killer fruit milkshakes with several different blends of fruit. I had strawberry key lime, my mom had pineapple key lime, they were so delicious! It's a great stop any time of day to cool down and pick up road snacks.

Of course you are in the middle of The Everglades and about 20 minute drive from the National Park. Cost of entry to the park is $20 per car. Just a warning the mosquitos are the size of small birds and will still eat you even if you have bathed in deet for hours. Unless you are prepared with mosquito repellent clothing or don't mind being eaten alive, I don't suggest going to the park during mid to high mosquito season, which is disappointing because there are some really good hikes and walks around the park. Instead book an Airboat ride to see the maximum amount of gators and wildlife.

image credit: www.evergladestours.org

Other than the The Everglades Hostel, the National Park and Homestead Air Force Base there isn't much to do in Florida City. The Hostel is great and a wonderful place to meet other travelers and a perfect stop on your way to or from the Keys.