Scotland: Lets get down to Business

The morning of our flight to Scotland I was just giddy.  Our international flight didn't leave until 7:15 that night so I calmed myself down and settled in for the day of waiting and prepping.  Gosh I was so darn excited.

With our negative COVID test in hand, our passports, printed documents, and everything else Bob and I headed to the airport to start our amazing journey.  After reading several articles and the always awesome Rick Steve's travel guide Bob and I decided to pack light and mobile.  We each travelled for 2 weeks with one roller bag and one backpack.  SO GLAD I DID THIS.

Bob and I were so excited to fly Business. Not only because we were going to be able to sleep, but because we even got to hang out in the Club World lounge before lift off!

We enjoyed some drinks, chatted with some fellow travellers and got our adventure off to a fantastic start!

I felt like some kind of mini celebrity when we boarded our flight and I saw our individual pods.  UM YES PLEASE!  This is pure luxury and we couldn't wait to spend 10 hours snuggled up in our little spaces.

Of course I took the free champagne offered and the little comfort kit complete with eye cover, socks, toothbrush, lotion, chapstick, a pen, and a little essential oil roller.  Who wouldn't??

Bob and I were able to lay completely flat and sleep for a good 6 hours of the trip before being woken up with the promise of our first Scottish Breakfast!

We arrived in London fresh faced and so happy.  

We had a short layover in London and soon we were on our way to Edinburgh!

Shocker.....it was wet when we arrived and only a bit chilly.  The weather was so much fun and honestly so Scottish for our entire trip.  I knew travelling in October was going to mean rain, cold, and colors, but it also meant very few tourists.  We loved every second!

Our first place was right in the heart of Edinburgh below the castle.  We successfully navigated the tram from the airport to the City center and then took the 10 minute walk to our flat.  The sky was gorgeous that first night.

We arrived at our little flat with enough time to meet our amazing host, see a bit of the Grass Market, and settle in for some sleep before starting our itinerary!  It was a great travel day!

Scotland Prequel: COVID

 Okay.....I promise to get to all that was the amazing Scotland 2021 trip, but it just wouldn't have the same feel unless I set you up with a prequel.  Stress anyone??

So without getting into any conversations here, COVID has made everything a lot more complicated and involved, travelling being a big one.  Now the silver lining is that there are far fewer tourists out and about willing to jump through all the hoops.  Knowing this I prepped myself for a bunch more logistics leading up to this trip but LORDY I had  no idea what we were going to have to go through.

Bob and I are vaccinated......lets get that out of the way.  At this stage in the world the only way to be able to travel without the need to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival is to have a 2 shot vaccination record and a pre-departure negative COVID test.  Cool, that we can do.  In addition to that, the United Kingdom also requires an additional test taken on day 2 of your trip just to confirm your negative status.  That test has to be booked before you leave and has to be sent to the address you are staying at in Scotland.  Okay......but you shouldn't book that test until you are sure that you are negative and will even be arriving in Scotland at all.  Oy.

After months of prepping for this trip we had 4 failure points that quite honestly were completely out of our control.  I didn't expect all the stress that knowledge was going to bring.  Bob and I ended up purchasing very good (and expensive) travelers insurance for all of the what ifs taking copious COVID tests might bring.  So we waited and worried (well I worried) for a good 3 weeks. What if we pop a random positive and have to postpone the whole thing? What if we are negative and get there and pop a positive?  What happens if we have a negative trip and then pop a positive before coming home?  What if, What if?  And darn it, I really, really, REALLY want to go!!!!!  So I sweated all of the small things while counting down the days to our October 1 pre departure test.

Then came September 22nd, when we picked up Evie from school with a headache.......24 hours later.

Evie Longmire you are POSITIVE for COVID

(insert bad word here)

So we had to test all of us.

Lily Longmire you are POSITIVE for COVID

(INSERT BAD WORD HERE)

Both Bob and I were NEGATIVE, but completely quarantined with 2 positive COVID cases for the 2 weeks before out trip to Scotland.  YEP.....not even kidding oh and we were back doing remote learning, yay........(sense the tone).

Now, thankfully neither of the girls had any major symptoms so I can tease a bit, but I could not believe it. We tried to distract ourselves (and disinfect ourselves) by going to the pool everyday and we even paddleboarded on the lake!

The week leading up to our trip was unreal.  I desperately tried to cast all my cares on Christ, but I was so blown away by our luck.  No covid for 1.5 years and the girls pop positives 2 weeks before our Scotland trip.  Oy.

I am grateful for immunity AND the Pfizer vaccine, because in the past 3 weeks Bob and I have been tested 5 times each, have lived in close contact with 2 positive cases, and never once popped a positive.  It felt DIVINE!

The Friday we took our pre departure test I don't think I slept a wink all night waiting for that go/no go text.

When our results came through and they were negative and I was able to actually believe we were going, I was giddy.  

We had done it.....now lets go to Scotland!