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?
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?
posted by Chris Ash | 3:01 PM
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