Another journey comes to a close, Scotland part Deux

And at last, this journey comes to an end. Like before, and with any good 'adventure', it wasn't the destination, it was the journey that made it memorable. Some things I saw again, Edinburgh castle, St Jiles' cathedral, John Knox's house and so on. Some things were new, like the dozens of 'closes' I wandered down, Culloden battlefield, the cottage JM Barrie stayed at as a writer's retreat. But really it was all worth it.

In the end I enjoyed certain places more, the Inverness countryside for one. Something very settling about that area. The spare population, the climate and the slower pace I believe is what did it. Something theraputic about it, and mentally stimulating. For me, change is not only good, but desrired, and that most certainly was change.

But the trip back was not very eventful. The plane wasn't quite as old but not nearly new. The seats were not that uncomfortable and the staff did their best to help people get through the trip. But really... 8-9 hours on a plane... the tedium of 'sameness' was a little tough to get through at times. US Customs was .. well... their usual selves and suffered a lag in the process because the airport stumbled around a bit. Specifically this time, the baggage handlers brought the baggage from our plane AND a plane from London Heathrow but didn't keep straight which luggage carosel was for which plane. So picture it ... passengers from two overseas planes wandering between two carosels that were next to each other looking for their baggage. And yes True Believers, you guessed it, there was a high change your luggage (if you had more than one bag) would come out on either carosel at any given moment. Never thought I'd get to play "Where's Waldo" with my luggage!

Past customs was a 4-5 hour layout in the airport. Nothing much to tell about that, found a charging station and recharged my laptop then slept a little in the seat while waiting for the next plane. I did score a really nice travel backpack. Wide enough to handle most anything I want to carry... overnight stay clothes, laptop, you name it. Brookstone and very durable. I'll definately make some use out of it.

I'm back home now, gifts and such are sorted. I also realized the pics I took were at high resolution with my new camera! Not that the pics are bad, but they are LARGE. I'll have to look at them in detail before I burn CDs and upload them for viewing.

Scotland was enjoyable as usual. Unwound a lot of knots in my spirit and my mind and let me think clearly about a lot of things for the first time in a long, long time. Like I said before, I'll be going back. Not sure when but it'll be soon. I think next time, I'll look into a cottage. Even if I find myself going to Ireland or Wales or so on. Y'know.. follow JM Barrie's example on that one. It sure seems like a sound idea.

If anyone wants to head to Scotland.. one word of advice. Plan your stay carefully. It's expensive (at the time of this writing, the exchange rate from dollar to pound sterling is *insane*. Two dollars to every pound sterling roughly!) to just eat and stay there. You have to be on very disciplined budget. If not, you'll kill your bank account.

Though if you manage it, be sure to visit some of the 'closes' in Edinburgh. Some are worth it. Like the one with the Forsyth Tearoom (yes.. it was a *real* tearoom the locals use... not some tourist trap... scones, biscuits, tea and all). And if you wander down underground visiting Mary King's Close and you feel a small hand on your lower back when no one is behind you then see a shadow move just so while in a very tiny room deep underground during the tour... tell Annie I said hello and that I'll be back to visit her as soon as I wander that way.

Nearing the end of the road, Scotland part Deux

Back in Edinburgh after two days in Inverness, so this'll be a wrap up.

Day before yesterday, we toured some like through the house of the protestant reformer John Knox and then took a buss tour through Edinburgh. We *were* going to go to Holyroodhouse palace... until the Queen decided to show up ... well there went that. Makes sense, it is her house after all. Beyond that Dad had to go to the doctor, something was wrong with a muscle in his shoulder, I think its tension but no one really knows. So after a good stretch with UK medicine, Dad had a prescription and we were on our way.

We caught the train to Inverness but got on the wrong part of the train! Dad got first class for everyone but because the cars aren't marked on all train types we got on the wrong end! It turned out for the best anyway. There was a British couple up from Bristol touring the UK on holiday. The husband is a train geek... serious train geek... and could tell us anything about the railway system in the UK.. and even some about the US train systems! He let us know when we were at the highest point of the trip and crossing the peak of one of the tallest mountains in Scotland and all. They were lovely to talk to and stayed on board with us all the way to Inverness. We didn't miss first class at all.

Once in Inverness, Mom immediately spotted all shopping opportunities before anyone else quite naturally. We walked around after getting checked in and got some dinner. During our stay, the hotel had rotated out staff, but some were still there. Like the restaurant manager remembered us.. mostly me for some reason.

The next day was shopping and then taking Mom on the ride across Loch Ness and touring Urquhart Castle. It was captivating as always. Something about the cool loch air with the peace and stillness. It really gets you. Settles the soul. Something anyone can use these days.

But we spent most of the day touring the loch, the exhibition center about the loch and the castle. We even got a talkative buss driver. He took us by the cottage that J.M. Barrie stayed in to write Peter Pan! Also pointed out the house that Alister Crowley stayed in while in Scotland when he was alive and pulling his shenanigans. He knew all sorts of local legends and stories. He told so many, I tried to memorize them but it may take me days to sort through them all.

That evening we came back, got some dinner and stayed up late just talking. Truth be told, we were too tired to do much more!

The following day was another tour.. this time of Culloden Battlefield.. that was great! With being able to see the battlefield, we also got a presentation about it and a "living history" demonstration from a re-enactor there showing how all the weapons worked. Simply fascinating stuff. I took as many pictures as I could. There was one spot that fascinated me.. ok... in short, Culloden Battlefield is part of a giant moor in Scotland. After the battle (very bloody one) the wounded were murdered by the victors where the wounded lay and then all were buried right where they lay on the battlefield. Stones with clan names and such carved into them litter the moor all over the place with a two story cairn of stones marking the entire battlefield/graveyard. But the really unusual thing is that next to the stone for what apparently was the one main military strategist on the Jacobite side (one whom history remembers as having a brilliant military mind and one that prince Charley *ignored* going into the Battle of Culloden) was a marker for the 'well of souls'. And sure enough.. there was a small well there. The water was dark and clear. Something felt just unquiet there. Naturally... I had to get closer.

Now bear in mind ... when I set foot on the battlefield it suddenly turned from spring to cloudy and winter ice cold! Gusts like November get. Fortunately I had my fedora and leather coat on. I stepped up to the well.. which was a small hole in the ground with water in it. Very ordinary, right? Wrong.

I never could see the reflection of the sky. I saw the reflection of the grass *beside* the water and the well.. but never the sky. Naturally.. I had to stay to look longer. The water would ripple.. when there was no wind gusts. It barely rippled when the wind would blast over.

So encouraged... I walked further into the battlefield. The further I got, the colder it got, and colder and COLDER. When I reached the carin I was wishing for gloves. I took a picture of the commemorative plaque there and read it. Then I looked around at the surrounding moor. For some reason it was very still and hushed and the chill eased back some. We went inside then and got some coffee. I was still cold but the chill wasn't quite what it was when I set foot out the back of the culloden battlefield exhibit and museum.

I would've gone back again ( I really wanted to ) but the tour needed to leave. More's the pity. I wanted to read more headstones.

Once back in Inverness, we caught the train back to Edinburgh. Now that time, we caught first class proper. That was nice. We had the first class car all to ourselves. Very sweet deal. I even got a chapter and a half done on a new Kinloch story! Good stuff too.. right out of the gate I re-read it and thought "damn that's good stuff". Just 'felt' good.

Any case, the train trip back to Edinburgh was great. Very soothing. Even got to see a double rainbow on the route. I think Mom got pics of it. Finally here almost at journey's end we're at the hotel and all but me are sensibly asleep. Me? I'm catching up my blog!

Scotland part Deux,day 3

Got up early to face clouds but the rain never showed itself. Instead it turned into what I would call a lovely early fall day. Even if it is spring in Scotland. The people were out in droves, many many Americans and Japanese tourists were out and about. Stopped by the Whiskey distillery for a tour, that was as entertaining as always, then dropped by a phone place to get some pay by the minute cell phones. Those came in handy off and on during the day for all of us to locate each other. Especially my dad who does have a habit of wandering.

Any case, we tooled through some gift shops then finally struck out through some of the side streets (called a "close" here) which would end in a courtyard almost always, and sometimes with a walled garden as well. Many had a cafe or small shop and all seemed to have a bronze plate up to some historical significance. So there was no loss of entertainment.

Down one such close, we stopped at an honest to goodness tearoom. Teas, scones, you name it.. all on fine china with gold plated edging. And it was actually fairly inexpensive! It seems we had found a place the locals go to and do not normally tell tourists...but they still accepted us with no problems. It was as if they had the attitude "Ok if you can find your way here.. then you're good enough for us to stay." Who knew?

After that, we all went on a tour of underground Edinburgh... literally. It seems that when the Scots in Edinburgh build the City Council building in the early 1700s, they literally built it on top of four "close" streets.. one of which being Mary King's close. This was all on the heels of the plague so the area was beyond economically depressed, it was actually considered haunted.

Any case, the lower half of the original medieval buildings were still intact and there. We were part of a tour that wound underground through that several blocks beneath Edinburgh and saw (and smelled ... one room was used for cattle storage!) apartments for both the very poor and what was then the middle class. Our guide was in period garb and very well schooled on the time period. I learned a LOT. It was a remarkable distinction between poor and not poor. The well to do had wood paneling and such and even a strange plaster that was apparently made from human bones! Our guide joked about it saying "In a way it makes a bit o' sense y'see.. that way ya really kin have granny for yet one moore Christmas,eh?" Needless to say I enjoyed his dark humor.

He even took us to one room that was supposedly haunted. And yes, that room was *definitely* colder. It had been the bedroom of a little girl that had died of the plague. Actually, her parents had locked her in when they saw she was very ill with it as a way to spare the rest of her family. Apparently she haunts the place still. When her body was removed the cleaners had burned her clothes and doll. Which disturbed the spirit until a noted Japanese psychic tested the place and found the girl still there... wanting her doll! So now dolls have been brought down to the place and left. Which apparently makes the spirit of the little girl happy. I had to admit.. something was off about the room. Even before he really talked about it. Naturally imagination plays into some of it... but when shadows move oddly, temperature drops... sometimes I'd rather err on the side of 'could be'. Especially when it could be the ghost of a lonely 8 yr old girl who was abandoned by her parents in a bad time in history.

So... yes, my paladin side came out with that notable rattle of sword, shield and armor. I am a sucker for people in trouble.. especially kids... even dead ones. I made my own contribution to a small dedication there. After I made my contribution, I lingered back after the group left. I smiled at the shadows while in that room alone. Nodded and wished her well and told her it would be alright. I *swear* the room felt better and I didn't feel cold, but "warm" somehow. Not hot but soothingly warm. Maybe I imagined it.. dunno. I like to think maybe she gave me a hug or smiled back.

In any case ... rest well Annie. You deserved better but now you should have plenty of warm wishes and dolls.

After that we walked well the length of Royal Mile. We were weary and in the end it was Dad and myself who hit the streets for dinner. We found some trendy place down Fisherman's close that was... welll....trendy. Food was good... but .. trendy. Serves me right for not just getting a burger.

Now the day is closing and I'm for bed.Tomorrow is more touring and then the train for Inverness. I'm looking forward to re touring Loch Ness and then Culloden battlefield and all the sites up north!

On holiday, Scotland part Deux

It was a lovely day in Edinburgh today. Wind blowing none too hard, sun shining none too hot. At first I thought I'd need a coat, but I wound up carrying it all day when it warmed up. That'll teach me not to check the weather before I venture out!

Most of the day was Edinburgh castle again. Glad we spent time there as the construction last year was done and more of the castle was open to visitors. The lower defenses and so on were all open. It was a lot of fun to see all that again, and of course I took pictures.

Ah pictures... that reminds me. I did manage to score a camera. I found a store called a catalog store that reminded me of a Service Merchandise mixed with ebay. Neat place and well run. I picked up a really nice camera that should last me a long time. Which I would hope since it cost me 119 pounds sterling. Not that I had a lot of options (it is tourist season here).

Anyway, today was a tour and walk through of Edinburgh castle and pics of the sights. Nice relaxing trip. After that we toured a textile mill that makes tartans. The most interesting was when I got to talk to one young lady that works there about tartans themselves. I never in my wildest dreams thought there was over 4000 tartans in the world today with more showing up all the time! But in any case, the process for making tartans is complicated with the thread count and layout being quite particular. I manged to get a couple of photos of the loom weaving some tartans, Bannochburn and Stewart I think.

As the castle tends to take all day to tour, that was most of today. Got a good meal at a nice pub named Albannach, specifically it was a scottish beef stew (to which I had a coffee with it).

Tomorrow will be tours of the underground, John Knox' house and several nearby churches and cathedrals. At the end will be Hollyroodhouse Palace... if none of the British Royals are in residence there right now that is.

More tomorrow... then Wednesday.. on to Inverness!

Return of the Non-Native, Scotland part Deux

I tried to think of a snappier title, but titles are my great weakness.
I'm back in Scotland again. More family vacation. No worries, but it really is telling that it takes leaving the United States borders to get away from my work stress. Which I've had plenty. Working something on the order of 3-4 projects that in some perverse way were all intertwined nearly got to me. In any case...

I arrived off the plane today and found Scotland right where I left it. Good to know some things stay put when you put them away!

The flight was memorable... or perhaps the fact that it was uncomfortable was what made it memorable. Delta Airlines has the most uncomfortable international flights at least when compared to Dutch Royal Airlines and American Airlines. Delta was the most direct route, but then again, so is Fed Ex. Next time I may splurge and mail myself. I'm sure the seats may be more comfortable.

It was supposed to rain today, but really it never did. Mostly the wind was chilly and there was the hint of water in the air but nothing more. A pleasant 52ish degrees (not sure what it really was, that was what it felt like), ahh late spring next to the North Sea! Compared to humid 70s back home, it felt fantastic.

Other than acclimate, we wandered about the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, especially since we were staying in a hotel there. Seems the construction last November on St Jiles Cathedral and on the Royal Mile is complete. Looks nice too.

No new shops or stores, but saw some new street performers. One Harlequin - mime, a really funny juggler and a street corner bagpiper were an addition to the atmosphere. All were good, and I took some camcorder video of them. I'll post links when I get them up someplace.

Got some writing done, notes on my current projects and tinkered with a new Star Wars fanfic I've been writing off and on for a couple of weeks now. I may post it somewhere as I like how it is playing out. I must admit, I did do some programming, but only a little. Just enough to rid some ideas from my mind so I would quit thinking about them. This whole 'Software Architect/just get it started for everyone then invent something else' thing that work has me doing is hard to get used to.. but that would be something I'll blog on later.

Ate at a REALLY nice place called "The Witchery" ( http://www.thewitchery.com/home.html ) that serves some mean butternut soup. A bit pricy but when a place is 100 yards from the front gates of Edinburgh Castle... well ... I guess one can be excused.

Other than that, planned tomorrow. One... get a new digital camera... yes mine finally died. Digital cameras should not moan and rattle when being turned on. Then tour John Knox's home, a Tartan textile mill museum, and Edinburgh castle again (mostly cause it's just too cool to tour), and then tour a whiskey distillery (also just fun to tour). Plan to try and get to the 'Underground' tour where they take people on tours covering the plagues in scotland and so on. But that's a "as time permits" since I dunno how long it'll take. Definately taking notes again. I get the most lovely ideas when touring through there.

In any case.. that's all for now. Oh, and you can tell its spring near the Artic Circle up here... sun shining at 9pm at "night"... just too odd for words. Plays ugly with your mind if you're not careful.