Adventures in Europe: Road Trip through the Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom

Over the last week Diana and I drove a loop through the Scottish Highlands, visiting Oban, the Isle of Mull, Iona, Loch Ness, Inverness, Cairngorms National Park, and many other places.

Adventures in Europe: Stonehenge, United Kingdom

 After we left the Cotswolds, we stopped for lunch in Marlborough and then continued driving onward to Stonehenge.

Adventures in Europe: Cotswolds, England, United Kingdom

 Yesterday Diana flew into London and I cycled to Bath and then she bussed and I took the train to Swindon. Today we rented a car to do a little tour, starting in the Cotswolds.

Adventures in Europe: Bristol and Bath, United Kingdom

As part of my cycling trip I spent last night in Bristol and this morning I did a small tour on my way out of town, including visiting two of Banksy's public art installations. 

This one is called "Well Hung Lover."

And this one is "Mild Mild West."

Once I arrived in Bath I needed to catch a train to Swindon, but I did a little loop to see the very impressive Bath Abbey . . .

. . . Pulteney Bridge (apparently "one of only four bridges in the world to have shops across its full span on both sides") . . .

. . . St. John the Evangelist's Catholic Church . . .

. . . and many other sites that I did not even manage poor taken-while-riding-a-bicycle photos of. Clearly Bath is a fun town, however, and they are in the middle of the Jane Austen festival so it seemed to have some particularly good energy, and many folks in Jane Austen period costumes.

Adventures in Europe: Wales, United Kingdom

I have spent the last four days cycling across Wales from Holyhead to Bristol (with nights in Harlech, Llanidloes, and Hay-on-Wye). I am blogging about the cycling at my cycling blog (https://cyclingedmontonian.blogspot.ca/), but here are a few photos from along my route starting in the northwest corner of Wales and heading to the southeast where Wales borders England.

Adventures in Europe: London, United Kingdom

I flew into London today (YEG-OHR-LHR), arriving early this afternoon. I am going to start my visit to the UK with a cycling trip in Wales, so I took the tube into the city to pick up a rental bike. The weather was as perfect as you would want in London so I was super happy to cycle from near Waterloo Station up to Euston Station, passing Buckingham Palace, down the mall, around Trafalgar Square, and so on.

I have been in London over five times but it was my first time riding a bike and I cannot believe I never did it before!

Once I reached Euston I wanted to eat before I caught my train, so I sat for a lovely meal in an Indian restaurant.

Then I headed to Euston to catch my 19:00 train to Holyhead, Wales.

The bike fit comfortably, and I settled in for the four hour ride.

Adventures in Asia: Bangkok, Thailand

My final layover on my trek around the globe is Bangkok, whence I will fly to Vancouver and then Edmonton. So, since January 10 I will have flown from Canada to Europe to East Africa to the Indian Ocean to the Middle East to Southeast Asia and back to Canada--literally right around the world. It is the first time I have traveled around the world and the first time I have crossed the 90° east meridian.

My Qatar Airways flight from Doha landed around 19:30, but it took awhile to get through the airport, which was packed. I had booked a hotel close to the airport and I arrived there around 21:00. I briefly considered trying to go into the city, but I was tired and decided I would just eat dinner and go to bed. So, after checking in, I walked a couple of blocks to eat dinner at a rooftop restaurant. Of course it was well after dark, but I still enjoyed the Bangkok vibes, and I ended up eating two plates of pad Thai, a wonderfully cold Singha beer . . .

. . . and some mango sticky rice for dessert.