Ben Nevis – upupupupupupup

I was very proud to make it all the way up Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the UK.  The Husband and I have some pictures we’re really happy with, but nothing shows the scale like a recording.  Here are three.

While climbing – we’re going up there!

The summit and observatory ruins.

Another view.  Like heights?

Happy Happening Edinburgh

So what if it rained the whole time?

July 5, 2008

Good times, good times.  What a great city!  Large enough to have lots to do, small enough to navigate on foot.  Hip but unpretentious locals.  Good food, cheap whisky, beautiful and not too expensive.  The only thing I’m sorry about is that we’re heading back to the states before the series of festivals in August.

We rose early and hurried to Edinburgh Castle in an attempt to beat the crowds.  It was a good move – by the time we left the line was 200 people deep.

Our tour guide (ignore the Union Jack, it’s a technicality).

How To Wear A Kilt

This is a door from the military prison at Edinburgh Castle.  The graffiti is from an American revolutionary ”war criminal.”  Can you see the little ship and flag with 13 colonial stars?  I was feeling patriotic the whole trip.

Stars and Stripes

Supposedly the phrase “3 square meals a day” originates from Edinburgh Castle where most prisoners were treated fairly well and received a large and specific amount of food on square plates.  The Americans were treated worse due to being considered war criminals instead of enemy soldiers.  Hmmmm … sound familiar?

3 squares a day

The H stayed at the castle to see the military museum.  I couldn’t take any more swords and dungeon stuff so I wandered the streets in search of a funny sheep t-shirt.  I didn’t find one, but that’s okay.  I did buy a plaid wool scarf – how could I not?

Edinburgh street

Sara Short

Sara Tall

We met up later for a bus and boat tour just as it started pouring rain.  The bus had the most hilarious narration of any bus tour I’ve ever been on and the boat ride on the Firth of Forth was fun and not too crowded.

Firth of Forth bridge

Someday I’ll go back to Edinburgh for the fringe festival and 6 tons of explosives.   Until then I’ll just reminisce with my pictures.

Haggis, Neeps and Tatties

Naturally High in The Highlands

July 4, 2008

I wouldn’t say I am a history buff, but I know a good amount of English history and I’ve enjoyed visiting many historical sites.  Sadly, prior to this trip my knowledge of Scotland came mainly from two movies – Braveheart and The Highlander, the latter being more historically accurate.  Happily, I spent this 4th of July touring Stirling Castle and the William Wallace National Monument and I learned a great many things about Scotland, primarily that it is a country of people of independent spirit and pride as well as a knack for engineering and inventions.  And a weird sense of humor about their violent and bloody history. 

We thoroughly enjoyed Stirling Castle, our first Scottish castle.   The H and I limped along at the end of a guided tour; we could hardly walk from the climb up Ben Nevis the day before.  The castle is remarkably well preserved.  They are in the process of restoring the Great Hall.  The day was unusually clear; we could see the William Wallace monument from the castle wall.

Stirling Castle

 

Stirling Great Hall glass

view of Wallace Monument from Stirling Castle

We hadn’t planned to go to the Wallace Monument, but it was so close we couldn’t resist.  Earlier that morning, talking about our various knee and leg soreness, The H said, “Hey – let’s go find the tallest staircase in Scotland.”   He got his wish.  We climbed 246 steps to the top of the monument.

Wallace Monument, view from the top

We looked at William Wallace’s sword, learned many things about Scotland and enjoyed another picnic near the car park.

The Thistle, the Scottish national flower

                                      See more pictures here.

Invented by the Scotts:

The Decimal Point, Documentary Film, Colour Photographs, Golf Clubs, Encyclopedia Britannica, The Hypodermic Syringe, Postcards, Advertising Films, Gas Masks, The Thermometer, The Gravitating Compass, Insulin, Interferon, Penicillin, The Pneumatic Tyre, Radar, The Kaleidoscope, Logarithms, Tennis Courts, The Motor Bus, The Steam Engine, The Fax Machine, The Photocopier, Video, Tarmacadam, The Telegraph, The Self-Acting Fountain Pen, The Telephone, The Mackintosh, The Lawnmower, Continuous Electric Light, The Thermos Flask, Anaesthesia, Antiseptics, 18 Hole Gold Courses, The Bowling Green