Scotland 6.17

As per usual my friend Chrissy called me back in December advising there is a cheap nonstop flight through Delta going to Scotland, $457.26 to be exact. As per usual tickets were immediately booked, Scotland has always been on my bucket list!

Last month five girlfriends and I left for JFK on a Thursday night, and 6 hours later (mixed with insane turbulence) we awoke in Scotland thank god! We picked up our sweet ride at Enterprise and were off to see the Castles. FYI in Scotland they drive on the other side of the road. There were some close calls but I must say Chrissy did a great job navigating.

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First stop was Stirling Castle:

Second stop Edinburgh Castle:

We then drove to our B&B in the country side in Stirling and literally stayed in a stable. The outside was a dream…inside not so much. It was funny after the fact but note to self, never book an Airbnb that shows only one image of the inside.

The next morning we awoke early and set out for our top secret excursion. Every trip we take, my friend Chrissy always tests our limits and books some kind of adventure never telling us what or where we are going and doing until we get there. Talk about nerves! We always harass Chrissy to give us clues but she never budges.

 On our way to our “Secret Excursion” we stopped a few times over by the Highlands to explore the beautiful scenery. I must say the drive was stunning. The green rolling hills looked like something out of a movie…totally breathtakingly beautiful. I was completely obsessed and in love with all the little lambs.

We finally arrived in Glencoe and came to this little beach town called Oban which was super cute. We were told to strip in our mini van and get in our bikinis. Next thing I know another mini van pulls up and starts unloading all this equipment including helmets and wetsuits…panic sets in. 

I am informed I am going “Coasteering“. Coasteering is basically rock climbing on the side of the cliff with the ocean underneath you. We had an amazing instructor who put all our fears to rest. It was super fun and talk about a work out! It truly was a one of a kind of experience. I never heard of Coasteering before and I am pretty sure you can only do it there. At the end we all faced our fears and jumped off one of the high cliffs. ( I swear it looked higher in person then it appears on my video! ) 

For those looking for something different to do in Scotland you MUST reach out to Hebridean Pursuits to book your perfect adventure!

After a fun filled day in the ocean risking our lives we headed to our second B&B in Lochearnhead. IT. WAS. STUNNING. The charming Victorian cottage was built in the 1800’s. This place was full of history even still having the servant’s bells. The grounds were full of the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen and the cottage over-looked the river. The inside had the cutest bedrooms equipped with vanities and floral decor, bathrooms with clawfoot tubs which I obviously loved, gorgeous dining room overlooking the river, sitting room etc. The hosts were incredibly nice and welcoming. This was literally one of the best places I have ever stayed at. 

That night we went to a local pub overlooking the river.  I tried the Cullen Skink soup, a thick Scottish soup made of smoked haddock, potatoes and onions which was amazing.

The view at 10pm:

Before leaving for the airport to head home we were treated to an amazing breakfast in the formal dining room overlooking the river with all the bells and whistles. Scotland was amazing, the sights were unforgettable and the company couldn’t have been better. To see our full adventure check out my video! Cant wait for out next adventure together ❤

                          

A few tips:

  • Kitchens close usually by 9PM so if your looking to eat out go before then 
  • Driving is on the opposite side of the road
  • Bring an eye mask if your sensitive to falling asleep with light…depending on the time of year it stays light until 10PM and the sun rises at 4AM
  • It’s a constant mix of rain and sunshine so proper footwear is a must 

Airline Ticket $457.26
Airport Parking $20.00 

B&B’s/Car Rental/Coasteering:  $285.00

Food and shopping $100.00

Total: $862.26

XOXO

CC

 

 

 

A Magical Island Called Ischia…

Traditionally, every year my friend Chrissy and I go on a short weekend getaway to the southern part of Italy. This year she surprised me by taking me to a tiny little island off the  Amalfi Coast called Ischia. We flew into Naples via Meridiana. Meridiana usually has great deals for direct flights. One bus ride later and a scenic ferry ride brought us to paradise.

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First on the list… Castello Aragonese, a medieval castle that connects to Ischia, which was built in 474BC.  The views from the top were just stunning. Chrissy knows my obsession with castles so of course she picked a B&B that was directly across from it so we could have endless views of the castle, and see all its beauty it had to offer morning, noon and night. Villa Lieta was the name of the B&B which was super cozy and the staff was amazing.

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After seeing the castle, and getting settled in, we walked around the charming town, shopped, and even saw the cutest wedding ceremony set up. We relaxed on the beach before indulging in coconut gelato (the best ever), and the first of many before getting ready for our romantic dinner date.

picmonkey-collagepicmonkey-collage3We took a tiny fishing boat from the dock across the street from our B&B at dusk that takes you over to this restaurant Gardenia Mare, which is attached to the most beautiful hotel. It was breathtakingly beautiful.  Everything we ate was delicious … even the shrimp staring me in the eye (LOL).  I would come back to the island just to eat here. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

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The next day we took advantage of free breakfast with our stunning view from the roof top of the B&B. We then took the bus over to Sant’ Angelo, walked around the town and relaxed on Banana Beach. We finished the day off with the perfect lunch consisting of my favorite thing on the Amalfi Coast…mussels!! They are super fresh and only seasoned with pepper. Even if you do not like mussels you have to try them. You will not regret it, I promise. We then moseyed on back to our B&B stopping for gelato, of course, and got ready for a relaxing dinner with a view of the stunning castle.

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Travel Tip: When you book B&B’s in Italy, most places include free breakfast consisting of coffee, water, juice, and pastries. I am not one to eat a lot in the morning but to keep traveling expenses down so I definitely take advantage of this – plus the Cornettos (breakfast pastry usually filled with jam, nutella or chocolate) are TO DIE FOR! 

The next day we were up at dawn, traveling back to Naples to catch our flight home and got to see the city at the most beautiful time.  The local fisherman just came back with their catch, and locals were starting to line up to purchase their fish for the day. This tiny island truly was paradise and full of charm.  It reminded me of the setting from “The Little Mermaid”.  I am sure this is where Arielle is from 😉

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I totally recommend visiting this Ischia. Food was fantastic, people were friendly, and the views were just stunning. Thank you Chrissy for planning another fabulous Italian adventure. Cheers to the best days of our lives! To see my full photo album and video you can visit my Facebook page. Don’t forget to follow my travel adventures on my Instagram as well! – ChrissyKimmy.

Airline Ticket $663.09

B&B, Ferry, Bus Tickets $250.00

Food and shopping $140.00

Total: $1,053.09 (Best thousand dollars I ever spent)

 

xoxo

C.