Europe: It's the Details

It's all the little details that contribute to Europe being so exquisite. Here's a hint of the exquisiteness I came across this past summer: 

Of interest .....

Provision from H.R. 3200 summary as introduced by Representative Dingell:

"Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on: (1) an individual without coverage under a health benefits plan;"

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The bill also includes a tax on health and accident insurance plans to provide for the Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research within the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

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Payments for Medicaid primary care services will increase.

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The bill also aims to address "health care workforce diversity."


- All data shared from a legislative analysis performed by the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress

Scotland: Portobello Beach

Recently my friend Rebecca and I went to Portobello Beach, a suburb of Edinburgh. From city centre, you can catch a 26 Lothian bus and the next thing you know, you're seaside!

Our first stop in Portobello was at the town hall where we popped by the craft fair to support our friend Katie of Katie Kards. Katie makes super cute stationary!

One thing I love about Edinburgh is that there is an endless list of things happening around the city: a craft fair here, an antique market there, an art exhibit for the weekend ..... there's always so much available.

Next, we headed to the promenade for lunch at the Beach House Cafe where we split a sandwich AND dessert.... to-die-for toffee cake (in case you're interested!) 

Then we walked along the promenade and took in our Scottish beach!

  

Overall, a venture out to Portobello is a great little day trip out of the city!

Edinburgh: Fife Coastal Path

A few weeks ago, MBA and I woke up one Saturday to gorgeous weather. As this is a bit unusual in Edinburgh, we decided to take full advantage and quickly planned a short hike along the Fife Coastal Path. We caught the train in Edinburgh which headed over the Firth Railway Bridge into North Queensferry, which is on the other side of the Firth from Edinburgh. After a few minutes in the village of North Queensferry (spent peering into the window at the Wee Restaurant), we found the Fife Coastal Path and headed out on our trek. 

This was our view from North Queensferry. How could we not enjoy this beautiful setting???

Plus, the village of North Queensferry is a charming old fishermen village, complete with lots of little cottages and gardens.

The village had lots of cute little buildings like this post office with matching signs informing all the villagers of what the building contained. Whether it be the post office or the Wee Restaurant, the building would have the same typeface sign.

So off on the trek we went ... and I snapped photos all along the way.

I kept looking back and taking pictures of the Firth bridge. It discouragingly looked like it was at the same distance for a very, very long time.

Along the walk, we passed old World War II shelters and remnants. The Germans originally attacked Scotland via the Firth of Forth.

Check out that house up there. The backside is all glass ... what amazing views they have the Forth and out to the North Sea!

On the Fife Coastal Path, you hike village to village. I personally like the option of stopping in one village for a coffee or deciding to catch the train the next village up. There's lots of flexibility on this path!

Hence ... I saw this village in the distance and thought "I want to see that!" Thus .... we kept trekking along ....

Random old pier left to its own

I'm so glad we kept hiking because we came up to this gorgeous beach where a few children were building sandcastles.

Then we found a nice rocky spot to sit and have our picnic lunch. It was pretty idyllic.

Instead of eating these wild berries - we opted for our store-bought fruit!

Picture for Laney

... a smidge different from a Florida beach picture

Note how the bridge doesn't seem much smaller even though we've hiked a few miles. Oh my!

Dalgety Bay in the distance ... I was determined to make it there!

We walked through the next village: Inverkeithling

We were back on the trail and enjoying sunny views of the water

Dalgety Bay is getting closer!

Then we arrived. It was charming ... much like most of the little villages in Scotland. And we decided to keep walking ....

After a few hours, I was glad to see the bridge was finally becoming smaller.

Then the strangest thing happened. The trail went through a neighborhood unlike any neighborhood we've ever seen in Scotland. It looked a bit like America to us: brick homes with large floor plans. How very strange!

Next, we passed an old estate.

And then we passed the old estate's barn which had been converted to fashionable flats ... pretty idyllic since it was right on the water.

Pretty gorgeous views! They even had their own yacht club.

Up ahead, we saw the next village.

Next we passed through the ruins of St. Bridget's Kirk circa 1138.

We had a good look around .... it is simply amazing that something that old is still around.

I had my picture made at the ruins. Hi mom!

At this point, we were exhausted but kept hiking along.

We were so glad to arrive finally at this spot:

Aberdour!

Then we caught the next train back to Edinburgh.

What a day!

(And that is how you go hiking in Scotland without a car. It can be done!)