Scotland summary

I came down with a cold the day after I got back from Scotland (I felt it coming during the weekend), and I know precisely what set it off - walking around Stirling Castle Thursday without a functioning umbrella. Fucker got blown to pieces, and by the time I'd reached the souvenir shop to purchase a new, I was already drenched.

I think I managed to convince my colleagues of the virtues of the Castle, and afterwards most of us went up and climbed the Wallace monument - the weather had improved a bit by then. Later Thursday we had dinner at a TGI-wannabe called Papa Joe's, and it was quite good. Cheaper than TGI, yet with plentiful and good food.

Friday morning most of the wimminses went shopping (bah!), or left early for Edinburgh, while the two other guys and one brave woman went with me out to Doune Castle. I was happy to see that they liked the place for the same reasons I did - all its nooks and crannies, which give the place a sense of adventure, and of being bigger than it actually is.

Around noon we took the train from Stirling to Edinburgh, and on board I got a wee lesson in Scots English. Sweet Jebus, what those people DO to their wovels. The conductor came into the carriage and started shouting something and I could have sworn he was going on about "bay corners". I believe his exact words, as perceived by my ears went something like "Mumble, mumble Bay Corners! BAY CORNERS! mumble, mumble". It gradually dawned on me that what he was in fact shouting was "bike owners"... apparently there were some bikes blocking an emergency exit, and he wanted them removed.

In Edinburgh we walked from the station through pouring rain till we found a very nice place to have lunch. I believe it was called The Dome Garden, it's in Rose Street (a pedestrian street parallel to Princes Street), down some steps. Good, plentiful food and very friendly staff. We had the Dutch waitress in stitches most of the time, anyway.

We had rented an apartment not 100 meters from the Royal Mile, and it was quite a nice place. If you're traveling in a large group, apartments are often the way to go, and if you're there for some time you may be able to save a little on food - though part of the fun of traveling is of course going out for dinner. The place was right next to the cemetary where Adam Smith is buried, and as soon as I get the pics from my colleagues I'll post a funny little story about our visit there. We spent both evenings in a pub just up the street, I believe it was called Tass. They had some folk music on Friday, though nothing I recognised, while Saturday they had a couple of guys doing mostly 50s and 60s pop - good fun.

On Saturday three of us went up to Edinburgh Castle (due to my membership in Historic Scotland it was all free, free, free and we also avoided the ticket lines, muahaha) and took in the marvelous views over Edinburgh, which is surely one of the prettiest cities in the world. We strolled through the Scottish National War Memorial, then got a quick history talk in the Great Hall. Afterwards we walked down to Grassmarket, where I bought some gifts in a tiny, second hand bookshop, then up to Grayfriars, where we lunched and then back to the Mile again.

Sunday we had a hell of a time finding a cab and getting out of the city, since they were having a marathon, and most of the centre was closed for traffic. Bastards. Anyways, I think I was able to pass on some of my enthusiasm and love for Scotland to my colleagues on this trip, and I'm already looking forward to my next adventure. I'll have to see how much money I have left after the US trip this summer, but maybe I'll take 8-10 days there in October. There's still soooo much to see and do... still no awa ta bide awa!