Yes, I've been back in the country for a couple of weeks, but continuously on the go (somewhere else)...were you thinking...how long is this trip? Well, all I can say is that it was FANTASTIC! Kind of wish I was just getting back...I could have stayed forever! Not one thing stands out as this is the best part of the trip. I remember all of it as each day had it's own best parts that doesn't weigh over any...probably why I could have stayed forever...definitely in the Highlands.
Some of my most memorable moments:
- Plane delay in DTW, causing us to miss our flight from AMS to EDI, which then we were placed on separate flights...are we ever going to get there?
- First views of Edinburgh Castle up on the hill.
- Wondering if we'd ever find a restaurant that served food after 8:00 pm in Edinburgh.
- Checking out the men in skirts...proper term...kilts.
- Driving in a Right-hand Drive car on the Left side of the road -- only bounced off the curb one or two times, or was it three or four...what can I say, the roads are more narrow & those trucks seem to really come at you. Which B road is this?
- Remembering to look Right-Left-Right vs. Left-Right-Left when crossing the road.
- The drive from Edinburgh to Fort William...or really Stirling to Fort William...what a view.
- Seeing snow still on the mountains.
- Seeing heather on the mountainsides ... just like the postcards.
- Seeing a Highland Coo (Cow)
- Climbing the wee hill behind Glenfiddan & capturing views of the glen & of the Harry Potter viaduct & steam train.
- Inverness ... love this town!
- Having the sun rise at 4am and set at 10:30...or was it later & earlier....just always seemed to be there!
- Drive to Skye...or was it the drive back seeing the things I didn't see going out.
- Leaving my mark on Scotland as I had to go really bad :)
- Stopping by several Standing Stones that date back 4000 years+
- Eating a great deli sandwich outside the Beauly Priory when it was in the 80's (25C)
- Chatting with the Earl of Mar at Castle Leod.
- Wading in the sea at Nairn...collecting shells & rocks for the kids
- Dinner outside at Findhorn watching the tide go out...great Fish & Chips!
- Walking through the Battlefield of Culloden.
- All the meals in Inverness...best yet!
- The views & tasting at Glenfiddich distillery.
- Staying at the Dinnet house, a more recently built (100 years old) manor house & having dinner with our host & other guests...great conversation.
- Mist rolling in over Dunnotar Castle & St. Andrews.
- Seeing the 8th century Pictish Stones at Meigle & St. Andrews.
- Attending evening service at Roslyn Chapel after touring it.
- Staying at Borthwick Castle...where Mary Queen of Scots & her 3rd husband Lord Bothwell spent their honeymoon...mind your head when going into the loo.
- Breakfast conversations with other guests at Borthwick Castle...is 2 hours too long for toast & cereal?
- Trying to decide on which abbey was my favorite, Jedburgh, Dryburgh, Melrose...Melrose won out!
- Seeing all the castles...Best Ruins: Dunnotar & Urquhart; Best Rebuilt: Eileen Donan & Stirling will be when complete; Best still occupied: Castle Leod & Glamis; and I'm sure my choices will change when I start revisiting my pictures.
- My daily Scottish breakfast of Two Fried Eggs, Bacon, Grilled Tomato, yogurt & granola, fruit & in Inverness add Porridge with scotch liqueur & real cream.
- Amazed that others were more obsessed with our Presidential race then we were!
- Digesting all the centuries of history that has occurred in one country!
- Lucking out and only have a couple days of light rain off & on...blue skies & sunshine!
- And course, spending it all with my sister.
2 comments:
Ditto on everything you captured! Everytime i think of some place or vignette I seem to relive it in real time. It is still so vivid. Hope it stays that way. You are the best travel planner!
Sister Jane
Sounds like you hightailed it around Scotland like we hightailed it around France! Got it all in though didn't ya? That's out little planner girl Pinny!
♥ BoBellen
Post a Comment