by Katrine Sivertsen | Aug 2, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
We drove to Milngavie (pronounced Milgay, because…Scottish people) and left the car there in an overfilled railway station parking lot. Milngavie is the starting point of the West Highland Walk, our goal for the next 8 days. The first few days the height profile looks... by Katrine Sivertsen | Aug 1, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
No hiking today. Charging our batteries for the West Highland Way starting tomorrow. Went shopping in Fort William at Aldi, M&S, and a price bargain shop and had great fun. Topped it off with a large (and I mean LARGE) cup of coffee and chai latte at Costa coffee.... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 31, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Sootie Finally a cat day! At St Conan Kirk, this friendly feline took a good portion of my dreamies and nearly my finger in the excitement. According to the cafe next door to the church, she has been known to walk brides up the aisle in the church, but was... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 30, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Sunset from the Kingshouse hotel A small walk wouldn’t kill us, so we did the very manageable trail around the lake if Glencoe Lochan which featured both mountain, forest and lake. I made good friends with the local ducks who feasted on our leftover bread. The rest of... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 29, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Today needed to be a chill day considering we (I) was still sore after the hikes. We went to the Glencoe visitor center and checked out their replica turf and creel (a kind of wooden weaving) house from the time the massacre happened. We found some fun souvenirs like... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 28, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
After picking up a few Scottish souvenirs, we left Fort Augustus and drove to Glen Coe. This was the place where a big massacre happened in the 17th century where the MacDonald clan was killed by the Campbells. Our hotel still has a sign that says: “No hawkers or... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 27, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
It was time for a chill day after the arduous Ben Nevis hike. We slept in since we were lucky enough to have our hostel room to ourselves, and then found a tea room where we had tea and scones with clotted cream for a kind of breakfast. We wandered around Fort... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 26, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
After waking in our sleeper train, we made our way to the Ben Nevis visitor center. The weather has been dodgy and today looked like it the best day for hiking. And so it was, no rain, cold weather or strong wind, and just the right amount of cloudy. The hike up was... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 25, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Today was a day of driving around the Isle of Skye, more specifically the Trotternish loop, for some scenery. The views included the Trotternish Ridge, Quiraing, the Old man of Storr (supposedly a buried giant whose thumb is still visible), and the one pictured here:... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 24, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Aviemore’s Old Bridge Inn was our accommodation for the night, and we headed out early for a paddle on Loch Morlich in kayaks. I loved the trusting ducks that would come over and expect a nibble. We drove through Inverness and along Loch Ness, but no sighting of the... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 23, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Our lovely guest house in Elgin provided us with a great breakfast that even included some color and non-fried items, a rarity in Scotland. Our trip went on to the Culloden battlefield where the Jacobites (remember Jamie from Outlander? That side) suffered a brutal... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 22, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Today was the closest to a Scottish baptism as I could come. A “wee” train ride from Dufftown to Keith with a visit to Strathisla distillery where they make the Chivas whisky. A tasting flight was of course in order, which I had to be responsible for since Terry was... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 22, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Finally a long night’s sleep with no specific time to get up and nowhere to go in the morning. We made shameless use of the laundry machine at Terry’s sister before driving off into the Scottish countryside. We first had a cozy walk through Banchory snacking on some... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 21, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
We arrived in Aberdeen early this morning after having a proper Scottish breakfast on the train (and my first ever shower on board a train!). Terry spent some time in the station lounge while I roamed the shopping center once it opened, and Terry joined me later. We... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 19, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Our hotel had the key to a beautiful private garden called Ecclestone Square park, where we had our breakfast all by ourselves among “Alice in wonderland” paths and flowers. We then headed to the IMAX theater to watch the latest Mission Impossible movie, where I... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 18, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
As one does in London, we started the day with a little shopping and a stop at a cafe. We then got ready for the evening’s big event: The sunset steam express. Pulled by a steam locomotive, we rode through the Surrey Hills. We were served a three course meal with... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 17, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Another relaxing day in Cascais with a slow walk around the town and seaside, browsing stores with an ice cream in hand. There was also time for a few hours by the pool (with another sighting of the duck family). It was sad to say goodbye to the family in the evening... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 16, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Today was the day of very few plans. Breakfast, a massage, pool time (with the ducks again!) and out with the family to eat lots of seafood at “Baía do peixe”. Eaten the only way it can be eaten: messily with fingers. by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 15, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
We all had a slow morning after the wedding party, and moved hotels to Cascais in the afternoon. Straight to the pool where I was ecstatic to see a mother duck with her five ducklings also hanging by the pool and even taking a dip with us. The evening dinner was at an... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 14, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
The day arrived! My sister got married! All the girls spent a relaxing morning getting our hair and makeup prepped in matching robes and hair clips prepared by my sister. The ceremony was beautiful in an enchanting forest at a Portuguese castle. It was informal, yet... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 13, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
The day started with a train trip down to Lisbon and Sintra where my sister’s wedding will take place tomorrow, which is the event we have been traveling towards the whole week. The partying kicked off with a rooftop cocktail dinatoire in Lisbon. Guests from 12... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 12, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
The day started with the Santa Lucia funicular in Viana do Castelo. Beautiful views of the town. We tried Francesinha for brunch, a typical sandwich for Portugal with layers of toast, meat, cheese, topped with an egg and an abundance of sauce. The kind of thing that... 
by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 11, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
We decided on a late morning in Santiago de Compostela today, strolling through the old town and having breakfast at Costa Vella Garden Cafe. It was so picturesque, and I made many new feathered friends who cleaned up my plate after we left. We took the train to Vigo,... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 10, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
We left Oviedo today in a shared car service because there were no bus tickets left (!) and the Feve train at its slow speed would take over 7 hours. And on such a sunny and hot day, we’d rather not be on a train no matter the good views. In A Coruña, Terry got to... 
by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 9, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
I picked up my phone during the night and it told me it can’t charge because of overheating. No wonder I felt the same way, trying to sleep in a top bunk with no air condition. After a few fitful hours of sleep we took the Feve train to Ribadesella. A beautiful little... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 8, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Kusama. Straight to the Guggenheim museum this morning. A staple of Bilbao city. Lots of interesting works that went over my head. Like this Kusama infinite mirror installation. The flower puppy outside is lovely and is right up my alley. The journey went on to... 
by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 7, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
We left Bremen this morning and backtracked our way to Hamburg all the way to the airport. I was slightly nervous about my hand luggage being too big. So in an attempt to make it look smaller, I layered clothes from my luggage onto myself until I felt like a Russian... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 6, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Straight from the ship to the train station in Copenhagen. Onwards to Hamburg for a quick train change where German punctuality failed to impress when both our trains were delayed. We still made it in good time to Bremen to see the musicians. Which I could not believe... 
by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 5, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
This little potted plant was our overnight host, and what a wonderful host he was 😻. It’s such a great feeling to wake up and the calendar says “no meetings today”. After leaving the furry ninja, we walked through sunny Oslo, weirded out a few folks by practicing the... 
by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 4, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Finally on our way! Leaving our beautiful house and garden behind but in good hands. Looking back at our house it made me think that it wouldn’t be so bad just to stay there. We love our house. Then again, it’s good to get out of the comfort zone – nothing grows...