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The end of our trip...

S: The last few days flew by in a blurr. First off, we would like to apologize for lacking on the writing part for the end of our trip. It is true though, that the end was rapid and the drives long. Let's start on Sunday and with that our departure from Edinburgh...

Initially the plan was to drive for a couple of hours and then sleep at a b&b half way from Edinburgh to Portsmouth. With that mindset we took our time when driving. Our first stop was in a mall, in which we stopped by the previous night to get some Thai take-away. A story in itself really, as, on the way there, we were stopped by the scottish police. I was driving and almost pooped my pants, when they hauled us over with their loud siren. At first I believed they were just making the noise to pass by. But when I halted at the side of the road and they followed suit, a billion thoughts and worries raced through my mind. Meanwhile, the officer came up to my window. I smiled and Alessio told me to get out my licence. Whilst searching, the officer spoke: "Your Licence" at least that's what I understood from his thick scottish accent. But when he saw me searching for it he shook his head and repeated "Your Lightcense". I looked at him in confusion and asked him to repeat. Amused he leaned into the window and turned on the car lights. Silly me, forgot to turn them on! He smiled, wished us a good night, turned around and walked back to his vehicle. I burst into a frantic laughter, turned on the engine and drove on. To our despair, the cops tailed us. Turning everywhere we turned. It took me quite an effort to not stop the car and ask them whether everything was alright. 9 blocks and 5 turns later they left and we arrived at the mall. We think they were bored. That was the night before. Alessio drove from then on, as I was shaken up.

Getting back to where we actually begun, Sunday morning lured us back to the mall. In the night it seemed quite exquisite, though by day it was simply a mall, no character and silly shops. So we got a coffee and ventured on.

A: Am mittag hemer euse ersti Stop gmacht imene chline herzige Dörfli. Det hemer zersch mal usschau nachemene Restaurant ghalte zum euse Hunger zbesänftige. Gfunde hemmer es herzigs Pub, wo au d ihheimische go esse gange sind. Natürlich het d sian müsse Fish and Chips neh wil sie gfunde het, dassmer nach de letste Fish and Chip panne uf de Fähri ned chönd so stah lah. Und die beste Fish and Chips sinds den schlussendlich au gsi. Vollgfresse simmer den vom Pub wieder is Auto grollt. Uf de Witerfahrt, hemmer gmerkt dassmer schowieder so spaat unterwegs sind, dassmer bimene bnb gar kei zit meh gha hettet zum öppis zunderneh und am nechste Tag nur wieder in Stress chömed zum witerfahre. Also hemmer eus entschide, halt die 3 Stund länger fahre zum schlussentlich no am gliche Abig bi de Tante vo de Sian ahzcho.

S: And so, after a quick phone call it was arranged. Excited, we continued driving and arrived there at 22:30. You wont believe how happy I was to see everyone again. All of my cousins have grown so much since I've last seen them! Reunited, we planned a feast for the next evening where I'd also get to see granny and granpa. The following day was mainly spent cooking and shopping and chatting with everyone. In the evening we had a mushroom soup, roast and veggies and a fruity layer cake in combo with setting up grannys whatsapp (thus, connecting her with the world again) and more chatting. At the end we wend to sleep tired and happy.

Now we are on the ferry back to France, about to arrive. The plan? Driving through the night back home! See you soon ❤.

[tothescottsbycar]

Edinburgh

S: Today was not very eventful, which in itself was perfect. For the first time, we slept in. At 10 am our AirBnB couple, Caroline and Jason had already prepared breakfast for us. So, all we had to do was get up, hop in the shower and enjoy a relaxed morning. (Not too relaxing though, as we spent the rest of it studying).   When we finally made it out of the house, we headed straight towards the Pickering’s Gin Distillery. The original plan was to join a tour, but we didn’t realize that those needed to be pre-booked. Instead, the bar next door welcomed us for lunch and some Pickering’s gin and tonic.  We spent the rest of the day strolling through the city, drinking coffee and were on the hunt for goodies. We saw a lot and ended up buying very little. Just like it should be. :) 

Now we are back in our BnB and looking forward to a quiet evening. 

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Trees oh trees all around!! I love them so so much!!

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On the road... 

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Arriving in Edinburgh (and touching the infamous potter bridge)

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Arriving in Edinburgh

A: Früeh ufgsande hemmer eus witer gmacht nach Edinburgh. Mir hend zwar ufem Weg no es paar zwüscheziel gha, aber Leider hemmers immer verpasst oder wommer det gsi sind simmer zwenig motiviert gsi zum det anelaufe. Mir isches au ned so guet gange und hend au öffters müsse en churze Stop mache. Aber nachemene Neozitran hemmers den doch irgendwen nach Edinburgh gschafft. Det ahcho hemmer eus imene Airbnb ihgfunde mitemene mega coole Pärli wo eus herzlich empfage het. Mir sind ganz schnell ih es gspräch gfalle und hend ganz viel Tipps becho mit verschidene Ort wommer sötted gseh ha. Als mer den hend welle ufbreche zum d Stadt go unsicher mache hend sie eus sogar no mitgnoh und im Zentrum abglade. Edinburgh hett unglaublich schöni archidectischi Gebäude und isch im allgemeine eh wunderschöni Stadt, bis jezt. Zum Znacht hemmer gad de Tipp vom Airbnb Pärli gnutzt und das guete Restaurant ussprbiert zum ihheimichi Gricht uszprobiere. Mir hend s ganze Programm gha, Haggies und Steak Pie für d sian und Lobster Ravioli und Partrige für mich. Es isch unglaublich fein gsi und mega schön ahgrichtet. Nach de Vorspis hemmer uf eimal usegfunde, dass de Koch en Michlinstern het und mir gad immene Michlinstern Restaurant hocked. Mir sind mega überrascht gsi und hends nur no um so meh gnosse. Jezt simmer wieder zrugg im Airbnb und ich schrib de Blog, während d Sian fürs Airbnb Päärli en Chueche bached. Typisch Sian.

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Isle of Skye - Part 2

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Isle of Skye - Part 1

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The Isle of Skye

A: Gester simmer leider viel zmüed und zbesäftigt gsi zum no en Blog schribe, defür aber schrib ich hüt über beidi Täg zemmegfasst.

De Tag Gester het ahgfage mitem ufstah (oder besser gseit ufsitze) nach eusere zweite Nacht im Auto. Es isch erstundlicherwis warmer gsi als erwartet und sälbst wommer Türe ufgmacht hend isch eus ned sofort d Chelti entgegecho. So hemmer dusse eusi zeh putzt und mit Evian Wasser gspüelt. Wassmer aber beidi extrem vermisst hend, ischs dusche gsi. So hemmer eus gseit, dass mer gnueg im Auto gschlafe hend und eus ab jezt bemüehed es B&B zsueche. Nachem simmer go zmorge esse und so hemmer eusses erste richtige schottische Zmorge gha so wie mer sichs vorstellt. D sian het eh risigi Portion schottische Rauchlachs gha mit zwei pochierte Eier, und ich en Grill Teller mit Speck, Würstli, Scones, Spiegeleier, Bohne, Tomate und Pilz. Gsättigt simmer losgfahre zum The Isle of Sye zentdecke. Isle of Skye het mega schöni Landschaft und mir sind eifach nümme uem stun echo. Mir pesönlich het Küstelandschaft am beste gfalle mit grosse Kliffene, Stei und em Meer. So simmer den au bi einere abegloffe zum sie vo nächerem ahzluege, aber eigentlich meh dassich entlich Drone chan richtig usprobiere. Es isch unglaublich schön gsi und ich han chöne mit de Drone en Wasserfall filme, wommer so ned het chöne ahluege. Nach de Isle of Skye simmer witer über eh Fähri und ned würklich gueti Fish and Chips zu de Brugg vo Harry Potter (de wo de Zug nach Hogwarts fahrt) cho, wommer umbedingt hend welle ahluege. Jezt chömer sege mir sind ned nur det gsi, sondern hend sie sogar berüert. Somit hemmer abgschlosse mit dem Teil vo Schottland und als nechstes Ziel Edinburgh ahgstürt. Eigentlich hemmer welle ufem Weg imene herzige B&B übernachte aber irgendwie hets plötzlich ufghört und niergens meh wit und breit isch öppis umegsi. Als letsti Hoffnig hemmer im Navi nach umliegende Hotels gsuecht und snechst Beste ahwisiert. Mit de Hoffnig, eifach en Schlafplatz mit flüssendem Wasser zfinde, simmer meh als positiv überrasscht gsi als mer es mega herzigs und charmant ihgrichtetes chlises B&B vorgfunde hend. Det simmer vo de zwei Gastgeber Herzlich empfande worde und nachemene feine Znacht hemmer em Whiskey nomal eh Chance geh. Leider isches eifach immernonig euses Lieblingsgetränk. Nachdem ich nach Eis für d sian gfrägt han und sie mich alli im Ruum ganz entsetzt ahgluegt hend und mir klar gmacht hend dass sich so alli Arome verschlüsed, hemmer, zu eusem Glück, usegfunde, dass Schottland au sehr viel gueti Gins im Ahgebot hend. Mit lüchtende Auge hemmer natürlich ned chöne wiederstah eine uszprobiere. Nach langem Gspräch mitem Barkeeper/Choch/Gasstgeber und de anderne Gest, hemmers schlussentlich is weiche warme Bettli gschafft.

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On our way to the Isle of Skye

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From the middle of no-where to the Isle of Skye

S: We are writing, coffee in hand, from a small B&B on the Isle of Skye. This post is all about yesterday. Our very first experience sleeping in the BMW was a cold one. We woke up, a little frosty and stiff, and looked around us. We were astonished by our surrounding. Trees everywhere and in all colours. Nothing else for miles. We got up and ready to drive on.

A: Euse ersti Stop isch eh typischi Schottischi Tanktell gsi. Eigentlich hemmer nur welle tanke und Feisterputzmittel uffülle, aber schlussentlich hemmer müsse die ‘Rolls’ probiere wo jede kauft het wo ah dere Tankstell verbi gfahre isch. Die Rolls het mer chöne fülle nach Wahl mit Häggis, Pork sausage, Hash Brown, Beans, Eggss, Bacon oder das wo mir gwählt hend: Beef Steak. Mer bechunt die typische Brot Rolls, es sückli burger fleisch und den chamer sich selber am Heinz-saucen-buffet bediene. Denn staht im ecke en Vollautomatische Lavazza Caffiautomat. Mir hend eus zwei Caffilatte uselah, später aber hemmer das bereut.

S: We arrived in a little fishing village shortly after, poured away our disgusting coffee and sat down in a cute little café, called Roxy’s. There, we tasted our first real Scottish scones. Spinach and cheese for Alessio and jam for me. Happy and with full bellies we started heading up north, towards the Isle of Skye.

A: Ufem weg simmer am Berg, Ben Nevis angeblich chamer det guet wandere. Zerschmal aber fahrt mer mitere Gondle (minere meinig nah chli ztür) ufe. Euse Plan alles wieder abelaufe, het sich bi de Bergsstation wieder in Luft ufglöst. So stömer uf dem Berg obe mit fragende Gsichtsussdrück. Was es git kein Weg zum abelaufe? Was mer chan nur ah zwei Ussichtspünkt laufe (insgesamt 40 min)? Naja denhalt machemer wohl das. Mir hends beste drus gmacht und defür alles geh zum mega viel gueti fötteli zmache.

S: Moving on from that, the rest of our day was filled with seeing a castle, flying the drone and driving to Dunvegan, a tiny village (I doubt you could even call it that) on the Isle of Skye. When we arrived there, we thought, why not take a little detour to check out a lighthouse? Only we didn’t realize how far away it actually was, how quickly it would become dark and how narrow the road ahead would be. We ended up almost driving over a couple of sheep and crashing into other cars. Between all that and the potholes, I really don’t know how we made it out alive. Lucky for us, and unlucky for some other tourists, we didn’t drive into potholes and did not get a flat tire. The other tourists were stuck with a flat tire at the very end of the road, 30 minutes away from the next possible village. Good Samaritans as we are, knocked at every house we found until someone came back with us and helped them out. When we got back to Dunvegan, it was too late for a B&B, so we bought some very Smoky whiskey at a pub and got cozy for another night in the car.

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Liverpool - Glasgow - Sleeping in the Car

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Liverpool - Glasgow - in the middle of nowhere way north

S: After a lovely morning stoll through Liverpool, we set our direction north. Initially we were tempted to detour to Dublin, Ireland. However the spontaneous decision when driving passed the docks, did not consider that the next ferry would only leave at around noon. Way too late to make it all the way up and by ferry over to Scotland. Thus, for us, driving passed the looming buildings and humengous cargo cranes, and feeling proud of our spontenaiety was enough to get us excited for the day ahead: a drive taking us all the way up to Scotland.

A: Nachdem mer ufem weg gspannt amene hörbuech zueglost hend, simmer ih eusere erste destination ahcho, glasgow. Glasgow het für eus zwei site vo ihdrück gha. De einti teil het mich mega ah es chlises london erinneret, mit de gliche näme vo de grosse läde und de schöne gebäude. De anderi teil eher abkomner mit vile baustelle, dreckige hüser und lüt wo bätlet. Darum au simmer nach de ahkunft au eher schnäller wieder ufbroche, nachdem mer genau ih eim lade au würklich dinne gsi sind (en mega übertürte kaschmir-lade).

S: Glasgow did indeed pass us faster than expected. At 6pm we left the large city and ventured north. On our way, we set our direction to a random little town in the middle of no where, with the idea to stop somewhere at random and sleep in the car. So, now we are here, in a little carpark just pass the 《loch lake》, with the back seat row folded down and our "bed" made. Good night, don't let the bedbugs bite. ❤

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Entering the Train in Calais

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Reims - Liverpool

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Reims - Liverpool

A: Vo champagne uf liverpool, 800 km. De hütig tag het für eus sehr früeh ahgfange, zwar scho am 5i ufstah (also bis ich ufgstande bin isches öppe 15ab gsi). Den isches berseits losgange richtig eurotunnel in calais. Zum glück isch d sian gfahre, wil so wach bini det nonig gsi. Mitem zug durs meer, mega crazzy. De zug isch risig und de ihgang gseht wie eh garageihfahrt us. Es het ned nur ei etage, sonder mer chan sogar no es stockwerk ufe. D fahrt selber mitem zug isch ned würkli so spektagulär gsi, mer sind im auto inne ghockt und wend bim zug usem feister gluegthesch gsehsch lgischerwis eifach ah scharzi wand wie immene normale zug au. Darum hemer eh anderi beschäftigung brucht und hend ahgfange philip maloney zlose. Schnell aber wo de erzähler eh frau beschribe het und eh ussag über ihri schöne brustwarze gmacht het, hemmer müsse abschalte und eus mit eusere musig müesse zfride geh. Aber trozdem isches eh cooli zugfahrt gsi. Und zack, es gaht so schnell und den simmer scho in england. Mer fahred usem zug use und plözlich simmer scho uf de strass. Komischerwis sind d schilder uf de falsche strassesite und alli fahred darum au flasch ume. Mir hend zersch welle es guets vorbild si und sind rechts gfahre aber wo den alli autos, wo entgegecho sind ahgfange hend zhupe, hemmer halt nahgeh und sind uf de linke site witergfahre.

S: Well then... that is not quite how it all went down... where Alessio is right though, is that the British are seriously scary drivers. On a 4 lane highway, Lorries overtake one another. It would be one thing if they’d stick to the two left lanes, but sheesh they go all the way. At one point I was stuck between one in the front, back and both sides. I felt like in a steven king book. Imagine the front guy pulling an emergency brake, and we’d just be squashed like a can of soda between the two giants.  Anywho, we survived. As a leftie, I must say, tots no biggie. #damachtmermitlinks ;)  - My personal two highlights of today were, however: the most gorgeous «Alee» and personally visiting the GIGANTIC Open University Campus. The latter I did not expect. It was like a little city. Absolutely absurd, especially since it does not host any students, but only lecturers, other humans of function and books. So so many gorgeous books. Regarding the primarily listed highlight. My love for trees was ultimately satisfied, when we raced down a tiny road, where the crowns of my beloved autumn coloured trees caressed each other above our heads.  Now after a long day driving, we are about to go to sleep in a cute little BnB in Liverpool. Tomorrow we’ll be moving on, much farther up north...

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Oeps landed on the wrong blog

Zurich - Reims Part 2