One of those crazy months where I’ve been chasing time zones. I began in Scotland for golf to England to visit my friend, to a stop back in Denver to re-pack and head to SATW’s convention in Guadalajara with a pre-trip to the lovely town of Tequila. That was October.

After 1 1/2 weeks at home, I pulled out my suitcases for a quick trip to Costa Rica for the opening of the first Riu, the Riu Guanacaste. (I left in the midst of Denver’s mini October blizzard and more than 2 feet of snow!)

Another re-group in Denver, picked up my man and now we’re in Mexico at THE ROYAL Playa del Carmen.  Love this resort, smack dab in the heart of Playa, just 2 blocks from 5th Avenue.

We’ve been here since Monday and now we’re heading to Gran Caribe Real Cancun for one night. 

It’s not much of an overview, but 1,000’s of miles in the air is why I haven’t posted to my blog.

Click on the following “snapshots” of my journeys in pictures:

MEXICO:

Room with a view: THE ROYAL Playa del Carmen

Room with a view Tequila’s La Cofradia

Now time to pack, Cancun is waiting — after one more walk on the beach.

Happy travels, Diana Rowe

Read more of Diana’s adventures as: Denver Travel Examiner

I’m gazing out my window, lost in the world of travels. My monitor is in front of me, but my mind is already on the plane heading to Scotland. (Click here for picture of Piper at Balmoral Hotel )

Truth is my mind always jumps to the next place, the next adventure, even while I’m enjoying the current one. It’s what my itchy travel feet and greedy eyes yearn for, the people, the culture, the lands, the sense of being somewhere for the first time or the tenth time. This time it’s Scotland on my mind.    

It’s been nigh on 18 months since I crossed the pond, with visions of championship golf swinging across my mind, the place where the game actually began. Come this Saturday I’ll be folding myself into another coach class seat (this time on Continental) and winging my way across the Atlantic to Edinburgh.

I’ve checked the weather forecast, and I’m already adding layers for the blistery 50+F and rain. But what’s a girl to do when in Scotland settling in for a wet 9 holes on the famous championship golf course of Ailsa at Turnberry. Their web site teases me with a slideshow of “glints of lights on gorse,” “lighthouses,” and “castles” — be calm, my tortured mind. Maybe the luck of hosting the recent ‘09 British Open Championship will rub off on me?

Yes, I did have to torment my tortured mind even more by viewing this YouTube video – to show me exactly the challenges of the course, although I don’t think this video included the forecasted rain.

By now you’re probably feeling quite sorry for me, but really the schedule is grueling and includes a visit to St. Andrews and Gleneagles before returning to Edinburgh. Come back again as I tell you more about it.

For a walk down memory lane, here’s a review I wrote about my stay at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh:

http://www.travels.com/destinations/europe/review-balmoral-hotel-edinburgh/

The clock tower of The Balmoral

EXCERPT review: With a view of this capital city’s historic landmarks, a clock tower reigns atop Rocco Forte The Balmoral, a luxury, 188-room hotel in the heart of Edinburgh and across from Waverly Station. Its long history began in 1902 as the North British Hotel (or NB), catering to the passengers from two now-demolished train stations.

Stay tuned for more from Scotland.

Diana

Denver Travel Examiner