Hi all,
I arrived in Scotland last night, at midnight, from
Roma! The night before we left Rome was my birthday
and we ate at Santo Padre. When I walked in the door,
I realized I had eaten there about seven years ago on
a previous trip to Rome but had forgotten. We had
wonderful antipasti, pasta, steak and panna cotta. We walked back to the hotel to try and walk some of it
off.
We stayed at the Intercontinental De La Ville. The hotel/service was lovely. I booked a juior suite and
they upgraded us to an executive suite since I have an
Ambassdor membership. It was a nice two room suite
with two bathrooms. They also threw in an extra
breakfast every day since there was three of us in the
suite (my mom and my sister). The last night I booked
using points. You're supposed to only get a regular
room for that but they did not move us.
I asked for a late checkout on the day we left but
someone else was going to be using the suite so they
gave us another room to use for the day until 6pm! We
left for the airport at 7pm.
My sister and I went to see the excavations under the
Vatican. We thought they were magnificent and the
highlight of our trip. We also saw Pope Benedict give
his Angeles address in St. Peter's Square in six
different languages.
Rome was so quiet because it was January. There were
no crowds or lines.
I'm having a birthday dinner tonight in Glasgow with
my family. There is a huge annual music festival
starting in Glasgow called Celtic Connection. We are
going to see the torchlight procession (with bagpipes
etc) that leaves from St. Georges Square and winds to
the Royal Concert Hall for the opening night concert.
I'm meeting up with all my cousins tomorrow night in a pub in Glasgow. Unfortunately, my flight leavs at 5.55am on Friday morning. Oh well, I'll sleep on the plane. LOL!

Julie,
So nice to hear that you are enjoying your trip. Your discription of dinner in Rome made my mouth water!!!!!
Keep having fun, enjoy the festival and concert and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

Happy Belated, Julie!

I know how much you were looking forward to this trip and it's nice to hear that you've been treated royally - as it should be!

Julie...what a wonderful way to celebrate!

Best wishes,

Margo

Happy belated birthday Julie (although it sounds like the celebration is continuing)!

The music festival sounds fabulous. It must be cold under those kilts this time of year! ;)

Love the cake Karen 'baked' for you. You look smashing under that pink hat!

Happy belated birthday, Julie!!

Masaki

What a great birthday celebration, Julie. Thanks for sharing. Hope there will be photos.

Hi everyone,
Thanks for the cake Karen! We had a wonderful meal last night at 78 St. Vincent Street
www.78stvincent.com


I had:
Golden fried crab and smoked haddock fish cake
with spring onion, ginger, chilli and soy dressing

Followed by: supreme of chicken with chorizo in a basil cream sauce with broad beans

Followed by:
Warm sticky toffee pudding butterscotch sauce and ice cream

After about three hours, we waddled out of the restaurant! Everyone thought the food was terrific.

My brother's fiancee's 10 year old son was in the torchlight procession with a group from his school. Very cute.

I'm staying with my parents. They live close to Loch Lomond. Last night there was a deluge of snow. Hope I can make it out tomorrow. This has been a shorrrrrt vacation but a lot of fun.

Julie...I don't know how much news you've been seeing but it snowed in southern California too!

Hope your travel arrangements go as planned.