Last Day in Edinburgh

Today we spent the day in Edinburgh trucking around the town. Some highlights were Grayfriar's Bobby (The little dog that faithfully sat by his master's grave for years after until the dog died.), Holyrood Palace where the monarchs stay when in town, Edinburgh Castle, a fantastic walk about town with narrow cobblestone streets and neat shops, and our 2 night stay at Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club. The weather has been very cooperative with temps around 60 degrees and a little sprinkle off and on mixed with sun. Light jacket weather for sure. Tomorrow, we head west to the ferry over to Belfast, Ireland (U.K.)

Royal Mile

Holyrood Palace

Cool and interesting street

Edinburgh Castle

Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club

Greyfriars Bobby

Today we started off from our over night stay in a fabulous prior private home turned hotel in Nairn Scotland which was our northernmost location. The house was built in the 1600s and in modern times was visited by the likes of Charlie Chaplin and other notables.

There was a wedding reception being held at the location as well. 

We headed south toward Edinburgh and passed right through the Culloden battle field (1749). Unless you are a fan of the TV series Outlander you would not know the significance of this place. It is the location where Bonnie Prince Charlie made his last pitched Jacobite rebellion fight against the British. This rebellion was an attempt to put a Stuart back onto the thrown of Scotland and England. The battle was over in less than an hour and the result was the dissolution of the clans in Scotland as well as their way of life. The British outlawed kilts and the Gaelic language in Scotland in an attempt to bend them under their control. Of course that was impossible in the long run. Kilts remain but the Gaelic language had a tough time surviving as parents were afraid to teach their children for fear of fines or imprisonment. 

We stopped in the city of St. Andrews, as Paul mentioned, and some of the other sites there were the ruins of St. Andrew's Cathedral and ruins of Castle St. Andrews. The center of the medieval church in Scotland, built in 1158, fell into disrepair after the Scottish Reformation outlawed mass and was robbed of its relics. A failure of one of its gothic center towers caused it to collapse and the town's people grabbed the stones and built their homes. 

Standing on the inside of the cathedral

Built in approximately 1200 the castle changed hands between the Scotts and the British many times and finely in 1656 it was in such disrepair that the burgh tore much of it down to be used repairing the peer. Notable people as James I of Scotland and preacher John Knox (Scotland Reformation) spent time there. It also was used as a prison.

Castle St. Andrews

At the end of the day we arrived in Edinburgh and attended a fabulous Scottish dinner theater.

One of the songs performed.

The Old Course at St. Andrews

Never in my life had I imagined I'd ever visit St. Andrews Links in St. Andrews, Scotland.  The birthplace of the game of golf.  Today, I had the opportunity to stand on the 17th green of The Old Course (The Road Hole).  As someone who for 25 years played golf multiple times per week, this was an amazing experience.  Crossing Swilken Bridge, as I've seen professional golfers do during The British Open many times, was a thrill.  I've included a photo of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club building.  I'm thankful for the opportunity to be here, to be with Cheryl, Randy and Jane.  This evening we attended a Scottish Show in Edinburgh during which the lead female singer sang an amazing rendition of Amazing Grace.  Following the end of the 4th verse she asked the audience to stand and sing with her - It was quite moving for me.

17th hole

Scottish Highlands

We left Glasgow this morning and headed north into the Sottish Highlands. The landscape looked just as we expected.
  

  

Searching for the Loch Ness Monster

Started the day with breakfast at the BRISKET Restaurant prior to leaving in search of the Loch Ness Monster.  It's been a wet but exciting day.  Ran into a bagpipe player along the way.  Spent an hour cruising Loch (Lake) Ness.  Have ended up at a beautiful spot for the night;  The Newton Hotel. Gorgeous place!

 

Walking the City

We had plenty of time over our first two days in Glasgow to stroll the city streets on our own. Some of the interesting sites along the way were a number of these old Police "booths." None had actual police in them but some had little businesses in operation.

  
In the last few years artists have completed murals here and there with very realistic features.
  
The Mural of the man and bird is to represent a modern Saint Mungo who was attributed four miracles. There is a poem used to assist in the remembering of them. The four are commemorated in the Glasgow coat of arms.

Here is the bird that never flew
Here is the tree that never grew
Here is the bell that never rang
Here is the fish that never swam

One type of food in which there is no short supply is Fish and Chips. Of course we ate at the one claiming to be the best one in Scotland. I could not disagree with that. We ate there twice. Of course, we will have to visit many more fish and chips to either prove or disprove that claim.

Glasgow Cathedral

Today, we began our official tour with our group and guide. We had a few highlights of the day and one was a visit to Glasgow Cathedral.

Glasgow Cathedral

The cathedral is the only medieval cathedral to have survived the Reformation not unroofed and built in the late 12th century. Technically, it is not a cathedral and has retained the honor ceremoniously as it has not had a bishop residing since 1690 and is currently Episcopalian in the denomination of the Church of Scotland. We learned that the dark color that this type of stone takes on over time is due to the fact that large amounts of coal were being burned over the centuries to heat dwellings. The black suite from the coal has darkened that stone.

 

It is allegedly built on the site of church of patron saint and founder of Glasgow, Saint Mungo, who had been an apostle of the British Kingdom of Strathclyde. This kingdom was one of the early kingdoms post Roman occupation and absorbed into Scotland around A.D. 1100.

We walked down into the lower rooms where many VIPs are interred including the remains of Saint Mungo.

The cathedral was a filming location used for some hospital scenes on the television series Outlander (STARZ) which is a fictional story set in Scotland simultaneously in the mid 1700s (Jacobin uprising) and modern mid 20th century.

Oldest home in Glasgow

One of today's highlights was a visit to the oldest home in Glasgow.  Built in 1471 this three-story home is quite interesting.  Spiral staircases with pie-shaped stairs leading to the top two stories.  Beautiful, hundreds year old furniture.
    

We've arrived

Arrived at 7:35 a.m. (2:35 South Bend time).  Went exploring in the Glasgow City Center for a few hours and enjoyed seeing Central Train Station.  Had dinner at Merchant Chippie, recent recipient of the "2017 Best Fish & Chips in Scotland" Award.  About out of gas at this point in the evening.
 

Fair Food

Well, I was right at home today as we saw a street food fair that had just opened today a mere walking distance from our Glasgow hotel. Streets were closed off similar to home and they were not playing games with the choices. I happened to run into some Churros (elephant ears or donuts in a long skinny shape). Again, it was hard making a choice.
 

Arrival

    

We arrived at our first destination Glasgow, Scotland. The overnight flight was brutal but we all servived but with little sleep. It is about 55 and rained most of the morning with, now, some sun coming through. Sort of like Alaska weather in the summer. The names on the shops and the people's accents are outstanding and the city is very old as you can see by the images. All very cool.

Wanted-Vinyls

     

This post is for Jon. This is your perfect "underground " vinyl record shop in downtown Glasgow.