They are amazing, indeed.seby wrote: Sat Aug 09, 2025 5:43 am How good are hush puppies?! I am eating as many as I can whilst in the South
Re: Catch-all travel thread
342Why is this confusing? Seems to me a lot of Europeans smoke based on my travels to Spain, Italy, France, and passion through Frankfurt and Munich, and Zurich airports. Why would Germany be any different?Gramsci wrote: Sat Aug 09, 2025 6:38 am
The only weird thing is how many Germans smoke. Genuinely confusing.
Re: Catch-all travel thread
343Germany is quite an outlier.enframed wrote: Sat Aug 09, 2025 12:29 pmWhy is this confusing? Seems to me a lot of Europeans smoke based on my travels to Spain, Italy, France, and passion through Frankfurt and Munich, and Zurich airports. Why would Germany be any different?Gramsci wrote: Sat Aug 09, 2025 6:38 am
The only weird thing is how many Germans smoke. Genuinely confusing.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking_in_Germany
Germany ranks last on the Tobacco Control Scale[5] and has sometimes been referred to as the "smoker's paradise" of Europe.
Low taxes, you can buy everywhere, some bars and restaurants still allow smoking indoors. Restrictions are way lower than in the UK. It’s actually really weird how prevalent smoking is here. Even compared to Spain and Italy. I think it’s also a bit jarring because of the perception that Germans are outdoorsy and health focused. Plus the big dose of the stereotype that they are very common sense people with a more collective outlook than many other Europeans.
clocker bob may 30, 2006 wrote:I think the possibility of interbreeding between an earthly species and an extraterrestrial species is as believable as any other explanation for the existence of George W. Bush.
Re: Catch-all travel thread
344So my wife and daughter and I are thinking about going to Edinburgh in March. Mostly to satisfy my daughter’s cryptic obsession by sitting next to Loch Ness for a day. But also because Edinburgh seems like a decent place that I have yet to visit. If anyone has any hotel or food recommendations I would love to hear them.
Jon
Jon
Re: Catch-all travel thread
345I can’t recommend hotels because I live in the area so don’t have to use them. Food wise, Edinburgh is pretty good - what sort of stuff do you like?Barbo wrote: Sat Aug 23, 2025 8:24 am So my wife and daughter and I are thinking about going to Edinburgh in March. Mostly to satisfy my daughter’s cryptic obsession by sitting next to Loch Ness for a day. But also because Edinburgh seems like a decent place that I have yet to visit. If anyone has any hotel or food recommendations I would love to hear them.
Jon
I understand the allure of Loch Ness and there’s lots of tour companies who offer day trips there from Edinburgh, but it’s about 4.5hrs there (and the same back obviously) from Edinburgh and you’d only get to spend an hour or so at the loch itself. If you do book a tour, use Rabbies.
Re: Catch-all travel thread
346Do you mean cryptozoological? Either way works I suppose, and maybe you can answer the perennial question: what if a dinosaur had got in the lake?Barbo wrote: Sat Aug 23, 2025 8:24 am Mostly to satisfy my daughter’s cryptic obsession by sitting next to Loch Ness for a day.
What with these internet maps they have you'll have seen this already, but Loch Ness is quite a trek from Edinburgh - bit much for a day trip? Inverness is worth a stay to break things up.
Re: Catch-all travel thread
347For food I like most everything. But anything a bit more locally-focused would be nice. My wife is vegetarian which generally does not complicate things too much but needs consideration I guess. Also coffee and breakfast places of note would be appreciated. And maybe a pub where folks won’t be too suspicious of a middle-aged man sitting by himself and sipping a hand drawn ale while occasionally muttering “mmmm, tasty” under his breath. We will probably stay in the areas you would expect a tourist to stay.Nico Adie wrote: Sat Aug 23, 2025 8:38 amI can’t recommend hotels because I live in the area so don’t have to use them. Food wise, Edinburgh is pretty good - what sort of stuff do you like?Barbo wrote: Sat Aug 23, 2025 8:24 am So my wife and daughter and I are thinking about going to Edinburgh in March. Mostly to satisfy my daughter’s cryptic obsession by sitting next to Loch Ness for a day. But also because Edinburgh seems like a decent place that I have yet to visit. If anyone has any hotel or food recommendations I would love to hear them.
Jon
I understand the allure of Loch Ness and there’s lots of tour companies who offer day trips there from Edinburgh, but it’s about 4.5hrs there (and the same back obviously) from Edinburgh and you’d only get to spend an hour or so at the loch itself. If you do book a tour, use Rabbies.
It does seem like quite a trek to get to Loch Ness but my daughter’s expectations are mostly to just sit there for a couple hours. And I like bus rides. Any time I can travel on the ground without having to drive myself is a treat.
Jon
Re: Catch-all travel thread
348We were thinking about staying in Inverness for a night. So I appreciate the confirmation that it is worth it.pldms wrote: Sat Aug 23, 2025 8:46 amDo you mean cryptozoological? Either way works I suppose, and maybe you can answer the perennial question: what if a dinosaur had got in the lake?Barbo wrote: Sat Aug 23, 2025 8:24 am Mostly to satisfy my daughter’s cryptic obsession by sitting next to Loch Ness for a day.
What with these internet maps they have you'll have seen this already, but Loch Ness is quite a trek from Edinburgh - bit much for a day trip? Inverness is worth a stay to break things up.
Jon
Re: Catch-all travel thread
349Hendersons is an excellent vegetarian restaurant, proper institution of a place. There’s lots of great Indian restaurants in Edinburgh, Mother India & Yaduvanshi are both great and centrally located. Under The Stairs (relaxed vibe) and Monteiths (slightly more formal but not hugely so) do great contemporary Scottish food. Makars Mash Bar does proper Scottish comfort food. The Orchard is great too, amazing whisky selection and good pints.Barbo wrote: Sat Aug 23, 2025 9:09 amFor food I like most everything. But anything a bit more locally-focused would be nice. My wife is vegetarian which generally does not complicate things too much but needs consideration I guess. Also coffee and breakfast places of note would be appreciated. And maybe a pub where folks won’t be too suspicious of a middle-aged man sitting by himself and sipping a hand drawn ale while occasionally muttering “mmmm, tasty” under his breath. We will probably stay in the areas you would expect a tourist to stay.Nico Adie wrote: Sat Aug 23, 2025 8:38 amI can’t recommend hotels because I live in the area so don’t have to use them. Food wise, Edinburgh is pretty good - what sort of stuff do you like?Barbo wrote: Sat Aug 23, 2025 8:24 am So my wife and daughter and I are thinking about going to Edinburgh in March. Mostly to satisfy my daughter’s cryptic obsession by sitting next to Loch Ness for a day. But also because Edinburgh seems like a decent place that I have yet to visit. If anyone has any hotel or food recommendations I would love to hear them.
Jon
I understand the allure of Loch Ness and there’s lots of tour companies who offer day trips there from Edinburgh, but it’s about 4.5hrs there (and the same back obviously) from Edinburgh and you’d only get to spend an hour or so at the loch itself. If you do book a tour, use Rabbies.
It does seem like quite a trek to get to Loch Ness but my daughter’s expectations are mostly to just sit there for a couple hours. And I like bus rides. Any time I can travel on the ground without having to drive myself is a treat.
Jon
Bar wise - I like the Bow Bar, Guildford Arms, Thistle Street Bar and The Athletic Arms (known as Diggers). All proper pubs.
Breakfast/coffee wise - The Edinburgh Larder, Papii, Snax & Seven are all consistently great. My favourite coffee shop in Edinburgh is Guajira, they do great sandwiches, soups and cakes too.
If going to Inverness, I’d recommend taking the train. Beautiful journey and in March there’ll probably still be snow on the mountains. You could rent a car in Inverness and see Loch Ness that way, also if you are up there then Fort George is an absolute must see.
Re: Catch-all travel thread
350This is very helpful. Thank you. We have booked a hotel, right around the corner from Guajira coincidentally.Nico Adie wrote: Sat Aug 23, 2025 3:05 pmHendersons is an excellent vegetarian restaurant, proper institution of a place. There’s lots of great Indian restaurants in Edinburgh, Mother India & Yaduvanshi are both great and centrally located. Under The Stairs (relaxed vibe) and Monteiths (slightly more formal but not hugely so) do great contemporary Scottish food. Makars Mash Bar does proper Scottish comfort food. The Orchard is great too, amazing whisky selection and good pints.Barbo wrote: Sat Aug 23, 2025 9:09 amFor food I like most everything. But anything a bit more locally-focused would be nice. My wife is vegetarian which generally does not complicate things too much but needs consideration I guess. Also coffee and breakfast places of note would be appreciated. And maybe a pub where folks won’t be too suspicious of a middle-aged man sitting by himself and sipping a hand drawn ale while occasionally muttering “mmmm, tasty” under his breath. We will probably stay in the areas you would expect a tourist to stay.Nico Adie wrote: Sat Aug 23, 2025 8:38 am
I can’t recommend hotels because I live in the area so don’t have to use them. Food wise, Edinburgh is pretty good - what sort of stuff do you like?
I understand the allure of Loch Ness and there’s lots of tour companies who offer day trips there from Edinburgh, but it’s about 4.5hrs there (and the same back obviously) from Edinburgh and you’d only get to spend an hour or so at the loch itself. If you do book a tour, use Rabbies.
It does seem like quite a trek to get to Loch Ness but my daughter’s expectations are mostly to just sit there for a couple hours. And I like bus rides. Any time I can travel on the ground without having to drive myself is a treat.
Jon
Bar wise - I like the Bow Bar, Guildford Arms, Thistle Street Bar and The Athletic Arms (known as Diggers). All proper pubs.
Breakfast/coffee wise - The Edinburgh Larder, Papii, Snax & Seven are all consistently great. My favourite coffee shop in Edinburgh is Guajira, they do great sandwiches, soups and cakes too.
If going to Inverness, I’d recommend taking the train. Beautiful journey and in March there’ll probably still be snow on the mountains. You could rent a car in Inverness and see Loch Ness that way, also if you are up there then Fort George is an absolute must see.
Jon