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Windy Islands, part 2

After a couple of months spent home when I went back from my Up North and Down South trips, it was time to start over again. As usually - why should it be easy, when it can be tough - North for the winter! Let's see where Windy islands tour part 2, will lead us... 😎😆
You can also fallow the trip in Polarsteps.
Not to overload the post with pictures, most of the photos you can find at the end of it divided into galleries.

20 December 2022 – Dublin, Ireland

As soon as I arrived, my new couchsurfing hostess led me through the woods. How can we not go along perfectly!

A windy walk on the hill above Dublin
A windy walk on the hill above Dublin

The arrangement was that she could only have me for one night, so I had to look for another option till 23th. I actually had, a host accepted me for the all 4 nights straight away, but I kind of didn’t have a good feel for it.

A windy walk on the hill above Dublin
A windy walk on the hill above Dublin

I rather look for a hostel…

21 December 2022 – Howth island, Ireland

Well, yeah, but it’s not the first time I’ve gone somewhere for one night and left after 5 days or 6 months… 😜 with a friend for life. Well, in this case the days were 3, but the friendship is friendship!

A windy walk on Howth island with my lovely host and friend - Miska
A windy walk on Howth island with my lovely host and friend – Miska

On the second day Miska took me to a wonderful little semi island. Despite the wind that was literally blowing us away (yes, it moved up even me!), the view and the company were magnificent and both of us (actually the three of us with Peppa the dog) truly enjoyed it!

A windy walk on Howth island
A windy walk on Howth island

22 December 2022 – Dublin, Ireland

https://youtu.be/kYCPaRKuBkg

On the last day, Mshka wouldn’t even be at home, but the understanding and trust that was established between us was the reason for me to get the spare keys to leave at a certain place on departure. Thanks, friend! 😘

In the morning, however, she did not miss to take me to visit her friend, where we managed to destroy two portions of incredibly delicious homemade delicacies to disappear and а wonderful coffee! I haven’t had coffee like that in a long, long time!

Delicious home made cookies and an amazing coffee!
Delicious home made cookies and an amazing coffee!

After which she left me on the beach, where I again enjoyed the peace and beauty of the sea, although the mist hid the surrounding hills.

Killiney South beach
Killiney South beach

But before that, still in the dark, my grace hurried to the city centre on foot to buy a transport card so I could go back home afterwards. And as well add to the collection, of course! 😛

Early in the morning I got my travel card for use and for my collection as well
Early in the morning I got my travel card for use and for my collection as well

I took the train back into the city and dedicated myself to a tour of central Dublin. Well, it wasn’t very long, since it was already dark at 4 in the afternoon, but… next time more! 😉

Cloudy walk in Dublin
Cloudy walk in Dublin

Couldn’t miss to at least pass by the most famous cathedral in Dublin – St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

St. Patrick Cathedral, Dublin
St. Patrick Cathedral, Dublin

Finally, before returning to Miska’s home, I met for coffee with the host I had refused.

The famous Temple bar in Dublin
The famous Temple bar in Dublin

My intuition had not failed me. We had absolutely nothing in common with this man – my stay with him would be an awkward passing and a game of hide and seek.

https://youtu.be/1gIW3sVms6k

23 December 2022 – Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

And of course Ireland had to send me away with an Irish weather (witch I kinda managed to skip till now). Not only did it rain all night and I was greeted with more rain in the morning, but I had to wait (in the rain!!) for the bus that was supposed to be on time, because of the flights cancellations, missed flights, etc.

It’s not in time. It’s not there at all! After an hour delay, the driver of another bus to the airport took pity on us and picked us up even though we had tickets for another one… 🤦🏻‍♀️

Waiting on a bus stop with no shelter in the rain for more than an hour...
Waiting on a bus stop with no shelter in the rain for more than an hour…

This was a real shame after all the efforts of my couchsurfing host (now a dear friend) to facilitate my trip. She even used my birthday as a pretext to give me a ticket (on top of the 3 days of hospitality!) for a direct bus so that I wouldn’t have to wander with Roberto on the unreliable public transport in the morning!

The beauty of the early morning rain!
The beauty of the early morning rain!

Well, apparently Irish public transport in general cannot be relied upon at all… 🤷🏻‍♀️

So, thanks to the fact that I was quite early, I actually made it just in time. And new action awaited afterwards. Well, I had never passed such an airport check. They only didn’t make me take the teeth crowns off for inspection, dammit! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Roberto got a kilo overweight - he is literally copying me! 🤔
Roberto got a kilo overweight – he is literally copying me! 🤔

I was sitting on the plane, which took off 30 minutes late, wondering after that Irish send-off, what kind of Scottish welcome awaits me…

And so while I was wondering, the plane that took off 30 minutes later landed 15 minutes earlier… 🤣

Poor Roberto... They wasn't too good to him in Scotland... 😬
Poor Roberto… They wasn’t too good to him in Scotland… 😬

And here it was another surprise waiting. Apart from the miserable, tattered Roberto who appeared in the baggage line, no one else paid any attention to my humble self.

There was no passport control, nothing at all. Go figure it… 🙄

Just outside Edinburgh Airport
Just outside Edinburgh Airport

After all the “teasing” Scotland has been doing behind my back, I wasn’t sure if the arrangement of picking me up from the airport was genuine. But yes, it was! I have been picked up and taken to a wonderful location on the outskirts of Edinburgh – right on the beach!

The view from my window at Edinburgh
The view from my window at Edinburgh

I’m typing right now and watching the waves

And my Birthday dinner! 😁😛
And my Birthday dinner! 😁😛

This will be my home for the next few days. Then… Then we’ll see

26 December 2022 – City of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

The three days spent with my host were quite stressful. A guy I only knew in short and from FB, and who has nothing to do with travel, saved my pretty ass by letting me crash on the sofa in his living room. In addition, he had to seriously change his schedule on this occasion, since he is generally a night bird living in front of the TV until 3-4 in the morning.

Walk by the beach at the Edinburgh suburbs...
Walk by the beach at the Edinburgh suburbs…

It was not comfortable for two Muslim male roommates to have their living room occupied by a stranger woman. His roommate didn’t come in at all (he was quite shy and extremely religious), and I felt guilty that the guy didn’t have free access to his own kitchen (through the living room, of course). Apart from that, my host smoked a lot, literally non-stop, of course in the living room. And he was smoking nothing but weed

Walk by the beach at the Edinburgh suburbs...
Walk by the beach at the Edinburgh suburbs…

God, how that shit stinks! I feel like even my bones have absorbed the smell!

https://youtu.be/sDN47cDCFG0

The situation was uncomfortable for everyone, and I should have changed it sooner rather than later. Therefore, from the first moment I was glued to the laptop to look for options.

At Edinburgh Castle, which was closed of course, due to the Christmas days.
At Edinburgh Castle, which was closed of course, due to the Christmas days.

When I finally had a solution to the problem on the third day, I allowed myself to stay another day and see at least some part of Edinburgh. Not much, but still better than nothing.

Well, I was just thinking I would live Edinburgh without seeing one of those, when I heard the music few meters ahead. 😉
Well, I was just thinking I would live Edinburgh without seeing one of those, when I heard the music few meters ahead. 😉

Who knows if I’ll ever go back again, although I’d love to – the city is so lovely and there’s so much to see and feel...

27 December 2022 – Carlisle, UK

On my way to the next adventure, I had to get to Carlisle and wait about 2+ hours for a bus in the opposite direction to take me back to Scottish soil.

At the end I had to find the Bus Station where from my buss departs in the morning
At the end I had to find the Bus Station where from my buss departs in the morning

To kill time and hide from the cold, I slipped into the first possible establishment. There wasn’t much choice, almost nothing was still working after Christmas.

On my way towards the Scottish Borders
On my way towards the Scottish Borders

I hit a nice place. After ordering a coffee for £3, I decided not to hang out there for two hours (the restaurant is tiny) and asked for any idea where I could leave Roberto and walk around the town.

The restaurant I was having coffee at
The restaurant I was having coffee at

The smiling girl immediately replied – but of course, you can leave the backpack in the service room, no problem. The manager appeared at this point and created a problem.

Well, it was their problem after all. I was just sitting for two hours warm in front of a cup of coffee with a huge rucksack next to me attracting all the attention of the customers… 😆🤪🤷🏻‍♀️

27 December 2022 – Newcastleton, Scotland, UK

The solution I found after being kindly screwed by Bess was actually a lady who offered me her hospitality indefinitely.

On a walk around Newcastleton
On a walk around Newcastleton

I wrote in various FB groups, including Bulgarian ones, in Scotland. As I feared, I received only unnecessary “advices” in the Bulgarian groups – why am I here at this time of the year, since I have no right to work legally…

https://youtu.be/Pzbbn5Ez1S4

I remembered again why I do avoid my compatriots abroad. Sad but true!

On a walk around Newcastleton
On a walk around Newcastleton

I got some useful pointers from the Scottish Scottish groups, one of which was about the “host a sister” group, which I had used before but had just forgotten about at the moment.

On a walk around Newcastleton
On a walk around Newcastleton

I had already started emailing the hostels in Edinburgh for work when I was literally inundated with messages in this group. Under my post and personally. Taila was the second person to offer help, and since she didn’t set a time frame (which gives me freedom to search another option without added stress), I didn’t even think twice before accepting her generosity!

On a walk around Newcastleton
On a walk around Newcastleton

I am extremely grateful for the sympathy that all these ladies have shown. Some offered help, those who couldn’t afford it, wished success, but they all sent tons of positive energy and warmth! Thanks!!! 🥰🥰

The view from my window at Newcastleton. I'm kinda jealous I am not at the other side...
The view from my window at Newcastleton. I’m kinda jealous I am not at the other side…

Taila, a single mother with a ten-year-old daughter, was expecting a baby boy, but that didn’t stop her from taking in a complete stranger, even giving her her own bedroom, just because she was outraged at the injustice done to her! Thank you from the bottom of my soul, Taila! 🥰

On a walk with the lovely daughter of my lovely host lady
On a walk with the lovely daughter of my lovely host lady

Evie and I took advantage of the rare breaks in the rain to walk the dogs (three!) and ourselves! 😁


GALERIES

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