Lochs, Glens, Castles and such

On the train again; headed back to London. 


I think that there were more travel logs or journals in the last century because it took longer to travel to and from places. Thus people had time to record all their tales and travel adventures. If I didn't have this time on the train I don't know when I'd update you all! Traveling keeps a person so very busy. 


So, SCOTLAND! Yes, what a place that was! Let me tell you all about it. 


Edinburgh


Edinburgh is of course the capital of Scotland as well as one of the oldest cities. It is the only city that has a castle built on a volcano in the center. It is the epitome of mystery with it's winding streets and little "closes" or alleyways that lead to more buildings or streets hidden from the unobservant.


Down one of these Closes (Lady Stair Close) was The Writer's Museum dedicated to famous Scottish authors like Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Lewis Stevenson. Looking inside this museum was almost as fun as finding it! 


We walked up and down the Royal Mile which stretches from the Castle to Holyrood Palace/Park. Stopping in little Museums and churches; Lorna and I discovered a mutual love of old graveyards! So we lingered in one of those. 




The Castle

Every City should have a castle. We are certainly remiss of them in the States. Edinburgh Castle is immense! Sitting on a cliff of volcanic rock in the center of old town you can't miss it. I loved walking along the battlements looking out. On the top the wall went higher than my head; I could only look out the slits in the stone made for archer's to release their arrows. 


*Travel Bulletin* The rain is really coming down now. Sheets and sheets. We can only hope we get a reprieve when we reach London! I wish you could hear it against the roof the train coach; it so soothing; it makes me sleepy. 




The Sword


My good friend Gwen also made the journey to Scotland and told me great tales of an armory near the castle; swords for sale she said; you have to take a look. Well, look I did. And I one wheedled it's way into my heart and pounds out of my purse. It is simply stunning though. A short sword actually, with a carbon steel blade (I could use it if I wanted)it's used for defense; held in the left hand to parry a blow. I quite love it. I'm going to have to check the laws in IL about carrying a sword. 




Haggis


Everyone has heard of Haggis. 


If you haven't here's the definition:


A traditional Scottish dish made of the heart, liver, etc., of a sheep or calf, minced with suet and oatmeal, seasoned, and boiled in the stomach of the animal. 


I'll give it to you; it sounds quite awful, it really does. But I since I was IN Scotland I was determined to give it a try. And as luck would have it we happened upon a cafe that was giving out free samples. SO, we tried it, Lorna and I. And we LOVE it! In fact I had it for dinner one night and lunch the last two days in Scotland (Haggis paninis and baguettes are delicious). Who'd have thought? 

Holyrood Palace

Holyrood Palace is the royal residence for the Queen of England. And she was actually in when we went to tour the palace; her flag was flying, that's how you can tell. So, I was probably the closest I'll ever be to Royalty! 




The Palace is stunning; but of course. It was interesting to see the Bedroom of Mary Queen of Scots as well as the old Abbey ruins alongside. 

The Underground Caverns


When in Edinburgh, you have to go on a ghost tour. It's not a rule but it should be. Lorna and I had signed up for "The Double Dead Tour" a SUPER scary ghost tour that went to the graveyards and the caverns. BUT the guide went MIA, and the guide for the Underground Cavern tour said we could go on that tour and get a refund for the difference. So that's what we did. We went down, down into the bowels of Edinburgh that were first filled with the poor and then run over by criminals of the worst kind. The caverns were dark and dank, water still drips from the ceiling or rather the street above. And if you don't bring a light in with you, there'll be none. A truly chilling experience. 

Loch Ness and The Highlands

Looking out from the boat onto Loch Ness. 

On our last day we took a day tour all the way to Loch Ness, through the Highlands. What country it is; it is all at once beyond description and bursting with it. Here's an excerpt from my journal about riding through the Highlands:

Our first stop riding through The Highlands.

"I think I can die now that I've seen The Highlands. The land isn't desolate as much as it is endless. The sky is just white mist and the mountains disappear into it. 

We're traveling through the valley now. Lochs on one side and mountains on the other; so rocky and wooded I can't see up the side. 


We're on our way to Loch Ness; which is over 800 m deep. Who knows what lives beneath those black waters? I could capture the beauty of this land with a brush. Photos seem just a pale copy of such staggering country; brimming with life." 




Well, that's all for now. Catch ya Layter then! As they say in Scotland. 

Last London Days

I am on a train to Scotland at 6 a.m. I don't usually do things at 6 a.m. but if you can't get up early to go to Scotland; when can you? Luckily the National Rail in England has FREE Wifi on their trains! So, I have plenty of time to update you all on my travels (for free no less)~

Regents' Park 

What I really do enjoy about London is the shear expanse of their parks. The main ones are Hyde and St. James and Regents'. We went and wandered Regents' because it was Lorna's old stomping grounds; she went to school at Regents' College which is plopped right in the mist of the gardens and such. Nothing recharges my batteries while traveling like a visit to the park. Somehow connecting with nature and soaking up some sunshine away from the city din is just the thing. We walked about looking at waterfalls and ducks (ask me sometime to show you the duck video; perhaps I'll post it here when I have more bandwidth) 

* Travel bulletin* The sun is rising over the hills and is blindingly beautiful. 

I do love a good stroll in the park; I got a tad carried away taking pictures of flowers but thats bound to happen in the gardens!

Baker Street

Can't be in London and be a Sherlock Holmes fan and not pay homage to 221B Baker Street can you? Obviously not; 221B has been turned into the Sherlock Holmes Museum; three floors of a complete facsimile of the Great Detective's Rooms complete with an actor playing Dr. Watson!

 You can take pictures of course because it is all pretend but very well done the "memorabilia" from Sherlocks paints for disguise to full scale mannequins depicting scenes of his famous cases. I really had fun in here and here's a shout out to my dad; a fellow Holmes Virtuoso!  * Fun Fact* The statue of Sherlock Holmes outside the Baker Street Tube Station is the only statue of a fictional person (I'm not sure if this is in the world or just London). 

Charring Cross Road

For any bibliophile Charring Cross Road is the place browse, buy and basically yearn for books; old beautiful books. This is my second trip to this hallowed road, well alley really, but my first on purpose. Last time I stumbled upon it by happenstance; us bibliophiles and sniff out a bookstore at a 100 paces. My favorite shop this time around was "Rare Maps, Books and Prints: T. Alena Brett." I bought two Prints there; an engraving and a small color one could be water color. 

The Engraving is so detailed of a little country scene and it's over 150 years old! The small color print is a Jane Austen drawing complete with quote; I just couldn't pass that up! Next I visited the bookshop I frequented on my last visit and picked up a small volume of compiled poetry. It's got a smooth green cloth cover and isn't bigger than the length of my hand. I love it. Lorna and I quickly left then as to keep us from buying more than would fit in our luggage. 

*Travel Bulletin* The sun is up and we're well on our way to Edinburgh; I'm having tea and biscuits from the trolley cart and we just passed through a sleepy little town that had a beautiful cathedral.  

The National Gallery

If I could I would pull up a grate in the floor of the National Gallery and live there. No matter how long I spend there it is never enough. Lorna and I hit the gift shop first; since we both weren't able to spend much time or money in the last respective times we were each in London. I got all kinds of goodies; the best probably being the companion guide to the gallery. Which probably weighs 5 lbs; we both decided that we're carrying it on the plane for the trip home, afraid it will tip our check bag over the weight limit! 

"Sunflowers" by Van Gogh

We broke down the gallery into the rooms we HAD to see so that we wouldn't lose ourselves in there; easy to do indeed. I, of course, had to see the Van Goghs as well as the Turners and Monets. 

"Rain, Steam and Speed" by William Turner

Lorna and I discovered we both had a love for the painting "The Execution of Lady Jane Gray" we sat on the bench and stared at this one for a bit. 

"The Execution of Lady Jane Grey" by Paul Delaroche

If a person can be in love with a place; that's me and the National Gallery - its sort of a long distance relationship, we're both understanding that way. 

* Travel Bulletin* Well, I'm going to take break from blogging for a bit. We're about an hour in to the journey. Sure to post more before we leave England proper.