The Scots version of Harry Potter has to make it to the top of the best souvenirs pile, right?
(And yes, I will actually read this!)
And yes, there were corgis….
Let’s start with the tips:
Here * is the power adapter I used (thanks to my friend Piper for recommending it!)—you could plug in multiple devices at one time on it, which was great for me since I have so many things that need charged. I could charge my phone, my watch, and my CI battery at the same time. Perfect.
I loved my packing cubes,* especially for putting yarn in on the way home! This set also comes with a double sided laundry bag so you can keep clothes and underwear separate.
This * was also very useful for packing all my cords and chargers en route.
I highly recommend packing travel sizes of things you use regularly—I got travel sizes of my concealer, blush, and brow pencil, as well as getting a travel size hair brush and taking as many travel sized toiletries as possible. Space is a premium, as is weight, and I’m really glad I did this.
Money: I took a Visa credit card and debit card (my regular bank card) and I had about 200 pounds in cash. This was useful when we were in a wi-fi free area and we had to pay for the cabs! If you do not have a “tap and pay” card, you can use a chip card, no problem—just tell them and they’ll indicate where you need to stick the card, and you’ll have to sign the receipt, which you don’t have to do here when you insert your card. Visa and Master Card are commonly accepted in Scotland.
There are Bank of Scotland bills, but you can also use regular Bank of England pounds in Scotland (which is what I had). Keep in mind that there are not one pound notes—it’s one pound coins. The denominations are written on the coins and the bills. Try to familiarize yourself with them before you go so you’re not dumping all your currency on the pub table and asking the waitress what’s what (yes, I saw this happen).
And here’s the “duh” tip—tell your bank/card issuers that you’re going overseas so they don’t decline your charges!
Fun things:
I am not sure why Pepsi/Coke comes with a lime or lemon wedge, but it does. They also come in the little glass bottles that you pour at the table (unless you order it in pint size as I did at a pub). In general there was also ice—I can go either way on drinks so I didn’t ask for ice. Refills are not free. (I didn’t expect them to be and just rolled with it.) There is also generally one soda (other than IRN BRU) on the list, and it’ll be Pepsi or Coke, and a diet equivalent. If you drink Dr. Pepper, you’re out of luck.
Diet Coke at the National Gallery, with lime!
Every place serves hot chocolate, even the pubs. I found this gloriously delightful. And of course there is a slate of tea everywhere, which I also found delightful, because it’s good tea.
The sparkling water in Scotland is amazing. It’s loads better than the stuff we have in the US. It just tastes like delicious, clean fizzy water, and I loved it.
Fizzy water in the hotel, restocked every day, on the right. (There was also “still” water—ie, non bubbly water. Some places would list sparkling, still, and tap as your options.) Yes, refilled every day, gratis—another thing I loved!
“Detours” are called “diversions”, which I thought was fun.
I also very much miss sugar cubes.
There are two installments left in the Scotland series:
Accessibility in Edinburgh
How I planned the trip!
