Seven Easy Steps to Enjoying Delicious Fish & Chips

Step 1: Locate chippy. (In this case, one attached to The Lower Deck restaurant in Portree Harbour on the Isle of Skye.)

Step 2: Find suitable unloading surface.

Step 3: Unload. Watch steam rise from fresh packets.

Step 4: Soak in how ridiculously delicious the food looks.

Step 5: Locate suitable dining area. (The backseat of a Vauxhall Corsa works swimmingly well.)

Step 6: Locate suitable dining partner. (Garrett works swimmingly well.)

Step 7: Bask in the memory of the amazingly good food just consumed.

Those promised updates from our adventuring in Orkney and around the Highlands are taking a bit longer than expected. Hopefully this will keep your appetites whet while those get cooked up.

Completely unrelated, I thought I would share this great collection of photos by Callie Shell showing a side of Obama we don't often get to see and, in particular, this really beautiful photo:

Of the picture, the photographer says,

It was primary morning in New Hampshire. Barack and Michelle Obama had been campaigning separately all week. In the first few months of 2008 their private time seemed to consist of a few crossover moments in back hallways before rallies. This moment was rare and you could tell they just loved being able to sit together. Jan. 8, 2008.

This photo won first place in the "People in the News: Stories" category of the World Press Photo contest. Well deserved.

The Local's Guide to Edinburgh

No, that is not what this blog post will attempt to be. It is, however, the title of a brilliant little book I picked up when Garrett was here in January. It's packed with recommendations for walks, shops, and other hidden gems in town. But, most importantly, it's got restaurant recommendations! We tried out a few of their listed restaurants and were quite impressed. Eating was our primary activity for the few days Garrett spent with me in Edinburgh. (But honestly, I'm a Winchiu. When is eating not a primary activity? I'm ashamed at the lack of my gastronomical adventuring thus far.)

Some of our favourites:

Monster Mash
For traditional British grub in giant portions, like this ginormous steak pie Garrett enjoyed. Also, the waitress was so friendly, I almost wanted to check her back for a perma-cheerful-robot switch.

Paul's Original Sandwich House (P.O.S.H.)
In New Town, they've got delicious italian meatball subs almost as good as the ones from Pulente's/Molto's (which has sadly closed its location near Carleton in favour of an actual restaurant in Gatineau).

Made in Italy

In the Grassmarket, this restaurant had delicious Italian food at incredibly low prices and very pleasant service. We shared a tasty pizza and topped it off with this dessert, which had heads turning and prompted many more orders for dessert around the restaurant. I can't wait to go back to try their lasagna, which looked amazing.

Other than all the eating, we did do some touristy stuff around town. On the day we arrived (Dec 30), we did a tour of the Scottish Parliament, which was pretty interesting. It focused mainly on the architecture of the building (which is the reason I wanted to do the tour) and emphasized the themes of "nature" and shipbuilding present throughout the building. Sadly, we couldn't take photos inside but here is one of a model of the campus:

We also made it up to Edinburgh Castle...

...rang in the new year on the Salisbury Crags...

...and wandered into the National Library of Scotland to see one of the seven original copies of Tales of Beedle the Bard, handwritten by JK Rowling! Have any of you Harry Potter lovers read the stories yet? Still haven't gotten my hands on the book.

More photos at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2188233&id=90402206&l=55431 and more interesting stories from the Orkney Islands, Skye, and the Highlands to come!