Tempus Blogged

We all know time flies ( much to our dismay.. ) but who knew it Blogged?

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Location: Huntsville, Alabama, United States

Before .. a Software Architect.. now? A fiction writer as well. Alternate History Science Fiction to be exact! At times some murder mysteries as well.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Scottish Tale, the beginning at the end

Morning came early yesterday but with flights leaving at 8 and 9 am, there was little choice but to rise at 5 am. A wash, a brushing and a quick cab ride navigating the traffic brought us to the airport and the end of the time in Scotland. The airport was uneventful, but crowded. At the terminal I looked out at the rain and clouds, silently thinking back over the clouds moving across the light sky on the cold morning over Loch Ness, the warmth of the dark wood in the Whitehart Inn as I enjoyed a rich, dark coffee and a freshly cooked lunch. Good memories, ones to keep and treasure on the cold days like that day.

The ride to Amsterdam was calm and only took an hour. I enjoyed the conversation with a Scottish lady on her way to a vacation adventure of her own in New York City. Broadway specifically. I imagine that she and her daughter will have a wonderful time.

My arrival into Amsterdam was unusual. Long lines and a new security checkpoint was what I faced. While this was the end of my Scotland experience and adventure, I did not realize that my adventure had one surprise left for me. Dutch customs was polite and even approachable, but they were indeed thorough. After checking all the passengers, we boarded and were in the air after an hour. On the plane I found myself seated between a member of the Dutch Royal Air Force and a fascinating young lady who was a commercial jet pilot who had been volunteering in Africa. He was travelling to the States for a class on antennas and her was for medical treatment over the malaria she caught in Tanzania. If that sounds like the beginning of a thriller manuscript, then such a guess would be right.

Despite the overly curt flight attendent, a young man obviously new to the job, the flight went relatively uneventful at first. I chatted with the young lady pilot on my left, talking some over our jobs and lives, places and times far away from us at the moment until lunch was served. It was the typical airline fare for economy class, 'nuke and serve' instant meals with a side of bread and salad. Nothing too fancy but nothing terrible. I ate a good portion of my meal but my travelling companion Jenny ate little as she was tired and lost her appetite to the malaria.

The attendants took away the meals but then only a few minutes later an attendant called for a doctor. Jenny and I looked around to see what was going on and spotted a knot of people clustered only six seats ahead over someone. Finally, a paramedic raised his hand and offered to help. Between him and the flight attendants, they helped a young Indian man back to the mid-plane area for flight attendants. It was thought he was airsick, something I considered unusual to say the least. We were in a large Airbus 330, no turbulance and I thought it was fairly stable as a rock. Thinking little of it, aside from hopes he would recover, I returned to my writing and Jenny to her nap.

Then another person fell ill and then another. Then another call for a doctor came over the loudspeaker. Flight attendants were doing their best but in the end were not keeping any more calm than the passengers who were becoming alarmed over the calls for doctors. Jenny asked me what was going on, to which I didn't know. I thought back to the start, the first passenger was Indian. Given the meal choices, I made a guess he might have chosen the noodle dish. Looking at the other passengers, I couldn't guess as to what they had but as they came down with but they had to have the same thing. Then an attendant came to get the gentleman next to me, asking him about his companion and if he had any medical problems. The answer was no, but despite that I noticed that a fourth passenger, himself another member of the Dutch air force, was on oxygen in the same place as the other ill passengers. When the man who had been so quietly sitting on my right returned, we asked if his friend was going to be alright. He replied that he would need to be put into the hospital on landing that he was suddenly not feeling well. All through this, people started making their way to the lavatories rather quickly.

I turned to Jenny and talked it out. For something to hit this fast after the plane had been in the air over the atlantic for so long, it pointed to something ingested. Going to the meal, I listed out what was served. Jenny and I each had the two types of meals offered. Both had a salad, bread, dessert but the main course was different. Now the main course was prepackaged and obviously needed microwaving. Good guess that most paracites would be removed at that point. The salad had been refrigerated and was fresh, also it was mostly lettuce, cabbage and some tomatoes. Jenny had eaten little, being ill with her malaria. I had eaten more, but both of us tried the dessert. Her only a bite, myself most of it.

I repeat this to her and tell her that assuming that the Indian man ate mostly a modified vegetarian meal, he would have possibly had the noodles. The others had the same attendant we had, the smart alec young man. When asked he was recommending the noodles and not the chicken. Most were taking his advice. I didn't and took the chicken. But that meant that a good many of the ill passengers possibly had the noodles, possibly.

Taking a leap of faith, I deduced down that the bread was fine, the salad was likely innocent. That meant the microwave meals and the dessert was suspect. My meal was well heated and fully cooked, that left the dessert. The dessert was a custard of some kind, slightly whipped and very gel like. It was slightly warm, despite that I thought it should be colder. That lead me to suspect the dessert was bad, which would explain the very sick passengers, such as the Indian man, the Dutch pilot and so on. Each had the dessert since it was the common food served to both.

I mentioned this to Jenny who told me that it seemed very likely. She figured out where we were using the inflight map, and determined that the pilot ought to be turning around to set down. She figured out the logical places on the map he would go, if he was told. Apparently the flight crew has to tell the pilot there is a problem. Given how alarmed the flight crew was, it was unlikely the pilot was told.

In any case, the word made it back to the paramedic about the food poisoning theory and the illness cases settled down. The pilot did push on and the rest of the flight was tense, but rather uneventful. As for myself, I suffered no jet lag again but apparently, the super dry recycled air played havoc with my metabolism as I got a terrible migraine. The light case of food poisoning didn't help either.

Finally we landed, a 10 hour flight squeezed into a nice compact 11+ hours. Changing planes, I made it out to Huntsville and home. Tired, worn thin, I was glad to be back. The trip was worthwhile, I saw things that I'd never thought I'd see. And I found places I want to return to regularly as a vacation spot to relax.

Friday, November 10, 2006

Scottish Tale, and the road goes ever on

More of Edinborough, this time the lesser known places, out of the way spots. Though today the weather moved in to herald the end of the week, or perhaps the start of winter. Some would call it a drizzle of rain, perhaps more. I doubt such does the weather justice as I would prefer to liken it to Fog with great character and dubious intentions.

The first of the morning was spent in a tour of the city. Seeing the statues and architecture of the city. 200 statues to historic people grace Edinborough, placed everywhere, from parks to cathedrals, from small hidden courtyards to in front of banks or hotels. It was impressive, we even saw the hill known as Arthur's Seat.. a small mountain that rises in the middle of the city park, topped with the tan basalt volcanic outcrops of rock. The same kind Edinborough castle is made from.

When that was done, we spent time with a stroll along the Royal Mile, touring the shops and places there. Most of the shops range from chains to personal owned places. It was the personal owned shops that drew my interest more. They also had the more interesting fare. Hats, scarfs, and other small items that the chains don't carry at slightly less than normal tourist fare. We bought some and moved on, all and all it was lovely walking weather despite the near light flakes of slush that decorated the cobblestone roads, pedestrians, cars and structures. The wind blew in small gusts, pulling along the twisting roads still following the midieval plan from pre-1600, 1200 and even earlier in some places.

Down Royal Mile, we found the home of John Knox, the great protestant reformer. There are much of his speeches on display, his sermons and much on his life. He was quite the rascal, challenging Mary Queen of Scots, calling her a 'Hussie of Rome'. I'm very surprised he was never executed but only deported. Ah politics I suppose.

From there we wound our way along the Royal Mile back down past Grayfriar's Kirk to the oldest pub in Edinborough, called the Whitehart pub. Here Robert Burns, Sir Scott, Wordsworth, and others sat for a drink and composed their manuscripts. It was a warm place with wooden beams with messages like 'a man can drink but not be drunk' and so on. A page there told the story of the pub, as it was around during the hangings that took place in the 12th century and earlier, doing a lively business to the spectators of the grisley scenes. I can't speak for the scenes but I can speak for their Haggis, Leek and Tattles which is fantastic.

After our lunch we wandered back up across the Royal Mile and over to see the large statues at the City Council chambers. Built like a Greek temple in the front, the columns dominate the courtyard, giving an impressive spectacle, especially in the rain.

Even wet, live is bustling and busy. Most don't notice the weather, commenting on the cold and chill. The work crews refurbish the cobblestones and people hand out brochures to the passer-bys about upcoming plays or what-have-you. There is a feel to it that is friendly despite the fog with character, or perhaps in part to it!

By four it was time to pack, and catch the train to Glasgow. Edinborough is a full city, rich with history and in love with its tourists. While the history is impressive, it is a bit too urban for my tastes for a long visit. At Glasgow will be a bed and room waiting for some sleep. In the morning the flight out, the long trip to Amsterdamn and then to the US.

On the plane I'll have in my mind's eye or ear, the sound of the bagpiper standing on the street corner in the drizzle, dressed in full Highland regalia playing what seemed an endless variety of Scottish folk songs and tunes on his bagpipe. We encountered him early in the day but I couldn't help but stop and nod, smile and toss a healthy handful of pounds into his case. With a smile back, he gave me a grin, paused for a breath and a nod in return. I'll carry his songs and the words I've read on numerous monuments and places about Scotland. I'll paraphrase it a bit...

Your heart is free, it's up to you to follow it.

Good words.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Scottish Trip, not so much a hobbit's tale

Or is it?

Visited Edinborough Castle today... WOW... It's made from the volcanic rock of the immense hill it sits on. Seven gates and walls defend it (yes I got visions to the City of Gondor in Lord of the Rings *more* than once). It was fantastic. The main road winds up and around the castle, through the main gates. Off to the left, the original stairs used during the middle ages are there and accessable (why not, they're carved from granite!) Up along the top of the ramp before you reach the actual Inner court, you come across a set of buildings that were barracks, field hospice/hospitals, governor's home and so on. These have been converted into a cafe and holds a museum to the Royal Highlanders regiment and the Royal Scott Dragoon. Fascinating!

Other than those, you can take the ramp further up to the main courtyard. There you've four main buildings around you. One is a war memorial chapel. It's much like our US war memorials in Washington DC and about. It's also just as riveting. They've an entire chamber for a slew of unknown scottish soldiers. Fifteen feet tall bronze plates adorned with relief carvings of scottish soldiers wrap around, two columns meeting in the middle and the inscription reads that they have cleared the way for the rest of us, going onto God's grace. Now no longer knowing evil or pain, they reside in the honor they have earned. Gave me chills standing there. The President of Poland was there dedicating a wreath to the scottish regiments and soldiers too.

Back out in the courtyard (in the COLD wind) .. across from the chapel was the royal apartments. Still used for government functions, it was the meeting hall that was commissioned in the 1600's (I think) by the monarchy. It's all teak wood walls literally lined with scottish swords, spears, daggers, flintlock pistols and armor. In a glass case against one spot near the door is a key with brass plates, some kind of honor bestowed upon whatever ruling monarch of the time period.

Next to that was the original chambers of Mary Queen of Scotts. Boy did she have a spartan place. It had a creepy, almost sad or trapped feeling to it. Couldn't take pictures so I didn't stay long.

Beside that was the original midieval palace for the Scottish kings. This told the history of the scottish monarchy and what they went through with the English. Also... it housed the Scottish crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny. You'd better believe they had that under observation at all times. The Scottish Crown Jewels consist of a gold scepter, crown, sword, velvet and gold scabbard and gilded sword belt. The belt, scabbard, sword and scepter were a gift from the Pope (the one who had a fancy for warfare back then... can't remember which one at the moment). But, the funny thing is, the scottish royalty had the sword reworked once it arrived! I got the impression they had it reworked so it was no longer a ceremonial sword but a functional, usable weapon. Somehow I'm not surprised.

The Stone of Destiny... well... its a giant sandstone block with two iron rings in it. Ok, that's an understatement as it is awe inspiring. Though you can't quite put your finger on why when you see it in person. It's large.. something on the order of no more than four feet long and two to three feet wide. Maybe three feet at most thick. The really interesting part is that you can so easily see the original chisel marks on it. There was a celtic cross on it but I couldn't find it... now what I *swear* I did see was faint etchings of celtic knotwork that caught the light. It was setup so a person could walk all around it and I did. I checked three times and I swear I saw very faint knotwork carvings about four inches tall running along the length. I told no one, figured they'd call me nuts. So I just moved along.

Oh, a fun surprise came at 1pm when at the top of the castle, they have a .105 howitzer that they fire to mark 1pm. They do it daily (unless a major holiday like Christmas or on Sundays), and it came from when the cannon fire was a guide signal to ships in the river.

Aside from the Castle, I got to see St Giles Cathedral. Massive 11th century kirk (scottish for church .. I'm learning!) that has a separate chapel for the Order of the Thistle, an actual scottish kight order. It is magnificent. Wood seats, places for about 12 knights and their leige. Scrollwork, and other details that went right down to a bulldog figure on one chair where you could see the collar on the bulldog and its individual eyes, eyelids and so on. Bear in mind, this figure would fit in the palm of my hand. Now picture the room filled from floor to ceiling with ornate carvings of such detail. Very amazing!

Those two took most of the day, but after that I toured around Old Town, which is the still standing and in use midieval buildings that surround Edinborough castle. Cobblestone streets where cars don't fit, winding roads, tall buildings, maze of alleys and shortcuts with yet more shops in them. Simply stunning. I took a few pictures there but my batteries died between that and St Giles so I missed some good shots. Maybe I'll get some more tomorrow.

Oh and I did walk the "royal mile".. that is the main road down from the castle that winds past Old Town and to Hollyrood House Palace which was the palace of the Scottish Queen. Lots of shops and middle ages feel to the buildings.

Last for the day, I took a tour of a scottish whiskey distillery. I passed on trying any but I loved seeing how it was made, finding out about the various types, I even was shown how to 'nose' a whiskey. Apparently to determine a good whiskey, you don't taste it because your taste buds are easily fooled. You sniff it. I had to try, I was ok at it. I could almost tell some smells apart. But the alcohol was enough that it did tend to wipe out most of the odor. At least it opened up my sinuses though!

That was all for today. Tommorrow may be another few cathedrals, perhaps John Knox's house or Sir Walter Scott's home or even a city tour to get an overview of all of it. Not sure yet. But in any case, that's the morning before the trip back to Glasgow.

I liked Edinborough, but only to visit and even then briefly. I think for a longer stay I prefer the Highlands. The culture and atmosphere is more what I think I prefer.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Scotland Trip, there and back again

Ok, we left Glasgow yesterday morning and took a train to Inverness. I would've blogged but Inverness is not quite as connected as most places. ( Asking about wi-fi didn't translate to wireless internet apparenetly ). So I saved it up until reaching Edinborough today.

Inverness was really good. Rustic yet not. There is no better way to put it. You step out of the train and you see the narrow streets, most are too narrow for cars so they are pedestrian only. A good bit of those are original cobblestone or modern brick or a bit of both. Also.. gothic architecture. A TON of it. Churches, stores, you name it. Even the McDonalds (yes I saw a McDonalds). We walked from the station to the hotel (I'm REAL glad I bought the bag that converts into a backpack now!) and yes, the locals stared at us as we walked by. Given most were waiting on a bus and were quite likely bored out of their minds probably had something to do with it.

In any case, we hit the hotel (it was a Bed and Breakfast / Ramada Inn) then walked out and around Inverness. Inverness is a fishing town growing into something larger. Now given it *prefers* being a fishing town.. the end result of their growth ought to be real interesting in a few years. It was amazing walking out at night, no one bothers you, people say hello. Very nice.

The next day was good as well, we took a tour to Loch Ness... yes, the Loch Ness. Took a boat onto the Loch itself. Fantastic view. The boat ended at the castle pictured along Loch Ness. What most probably don't know is that Urquart Castle is on a jet of land that sits in the middle of the Loch and right over the deepest portion of the Loch. Perfect position to be a fortress on the lookout for oncoming ships, which is what Urquart Castle was until the British destroyed it to keep the Jacobites from using it as a base of operations. And no, I saw no monster but I saw plenty of great scenery.

After the Loch, we came back and walked around through Inverness a bit, browsed several shops, bought gifts for people. Had a great conversation with one lady in a homemade soap shop (pictures do *not* to that place justice.. someone would have to invent 'smell a vision' first). We taught her the difference in American Southerners and American Yankess, and she taught us the difference between Scottish Lowlanders and Scottish Highlanders... then further the difference (and rivalry.. Alabama - Auburn has *nothing* on these people!) between Glasgow and Edinborough natives.

After all that, we grabbed our bags and headed for the train. Caught in just in time for Edinborough and moved on. Had a lively conversation with a gent on the train who began the trip with a full bottle of vodka and orange aide and finished when he got off at Perth (a good twoish hours later) with an empty vodka bottle and nearly empty bottle of orange aide. I learned a good bit about where to go and not go in Edinborough. Though given what he was telling me.. I'll reverse his (and his wife's)advice just for safety's sake! To quote Forest Gump... "and that's all I got to say abot thot!"

Once hitting Edinborough, we've checked in and had dinner. I'm thinking back over the day, and I have to admit. Glasgow and Edinborough are full of history, they are VERY busy. It causes me to remember my day job and all its stress and rushed pace. I do think I miss Inverness. In my head I'm already thinking of when I could make a trip back. There are cemetaries, hills called things like "dance of the fairies" and battle fields (like the battle of culloden) and even a prehistoric standing stone site like Stonehenge... just without the crowds and new age merchants! And there is a slower pace. People didn't go to work until 9 am, they closed up shop at 4:30pm and hit the pubs or the riverwalk at 4:35-5pm. Maybe next time I come back, it won't be right before the start of winter!

Well that's the catch up for two days. More to come on the 'morrow, eh?

Monday, November 06, 2006

Scotland Trip day 1

Technically its day 1 1/2 because I got in mid-day on sunday. But anyway.

To catch up.. yesterday was Guy Fawkles day... while the guy isn't that popular with the British ( he did try and blow up parlement ) the Scottish LOVE this guy. Firework display for 5 hours non stop! That and dinner at a cool Victorian - Pub call Frankenstein. During the night, the 'lab' lit up, music played and an animitronic Frankenstein's monster was brought to life and it sat up and tried to break it's chains! Way too cool!

Now... today's been great! Glasgow is a fun place, both urban and scottish culture mixed in. Trouble is that its so 'modernized' it has only a small amount of scottish culture. Ask for a restaurant with 'scottish food' and you get sent to an italian place!!!

Today I saw the Glasgow Cathedral, built in the 5th century and the home to the tomb of St Mungo who died in 603. The tomb is under the cathedral itself. Really cool place. Next to that was the first medical school in Scotland, the same place Dr Lister invented the anticeptic and the first SUCCESSFUL brain surgery was performed!

On the buss tour, we rode a double decker buss.. but it was open topped so I was a bit cold. But not too badly. Speaking of weather, it's no colder here than in Huntsville! And the locals kept apologizing for it being so cold! I didn't laugh but I wanted to.

I've taken several pictures so far, used up new batteries already ... something like 30 pictures. Tomorrow, we take a train to inverness and see Loch Ness and what else we can find. The day after we'll be in Edinborough then back in Glasgow on Friday and I'll fly out on Sat morning for that lovely 10 hour flight back across the atlantic.

I've had enough fun that I know I'm coming back to here or Ireland next year or as soon as I can for another week. This is a fantastic vacation. Though next time, I'm picking a city and staying around it. There is just SO much to see!