Au Revoir Écosse for Some

13.5.17: Finally Off Duty
The last day of the group holiday and what a bonus; a 9h30 start but with all the foutering about loading the baggage, taking photos and saying our goodbyes, we were 20 minutes late hitting the road. After a week of brilliant weather we had rain for the journey down through Glasgow to Prestwick airport where we were going to deposit our luggage rather than leave it unsupervised on a carpark out at the Burns Centre. Nicole S was there waiting patiently for us. What a performance it was checking in the luggage; 17 pieces of luggage, all registered by hand. We were only supposed to go in one at a time; well, that is until they realised that it would be helpful to have an interpreter. Still, the woman was good hearted and unlike her colleague who was scanning the luggage, she wasn't fazed by us all.

The Burns Centre was in turmoil too as there had been a gas cut and there wasn't any hot food. People went off in small groups to find an alternative source of supply and to explore the Burns Cottage, Monument and Gardens, the Auld Kirk and the Brig o' Doon. I ate a panini and wandered down to the river to enjoy the gardens. The lush, green countryside never fails to delight. http://www.burnsmuseum.org.uk/
Back at the airport, we had a repeat performance at the "left luggage" of one in, one out and endless paperwork. Luckily, we were in good time for the flight so people didn't get twitchy about the time it was taking.
And so came the time for Nicole S and I to say "goodbye" to the rest of the group and "hello" to Ann and Noel with whom we were going to stay for the next couple of days.  Oh, what bliss; a quiet night in even if there was only "Eurovision" on the tv.
Weather:
Rain. Sometimes heavy, sometimes drizzle