Note:I was told I could post more than one review of Scotland. I tried, but no dice. I guess Epinion wants all of Scotland in one novel. So I am posting this under museums since I do review 2 of them. Sorry, Peter, I tried. I don’t know how you get all of your Australia ones in but I love reading them. If somebody can clue me in, I will be thankful.
"Cruel is the snow that drapes Glen Coe…" so starts the ballad that describes the sad tale of the most famous glen in all of Scotland. It was the month of February, winter of 1692 when 40 MacDonalds were murdered by their guests, the Campbells. The weather was fierce and the obliging MacDonalds allowed the group of Campbells to seek food and shelter in their home. It was an act of deceit and cruelty when after the household had all gone to bed, the visiting Campbells slaughtered their hosts in their beds, women and children alike. After the massacre, fairy pipers were said to lead the Campbells astray in the mountains on their way back to Fort William.
*Frigid Fingers*
It was while walking through a lively avenue in Hampstead at 7 PM when I felt those frozen fingers sneaking up into the sleeves of the monstrous purple jacket* and scalpelling** through the muscles of my spine to seize my marrows.
It was not the sort of the wishy-washy California cold that you can shoo away with an acrylic fleece throw and a portable electric heater. Its name was Cold, pronounce it in the way you would say with grim determination, “Thor” or “Magnus”.
Edinburgh is a beutiful area steeped in history and mystery. The area itself is a magnificent physical setting tied to key aspects of Scottish history. With spectacular scenery and lots of places to shop this is the place to go.
With friendly people who greet you. Nice Scottish breakfasts sure to put the pounds on. Oat cakes galore. It is hard to avoid spending lots of money in Edinburgh as their are so many clothes and gift shops. This really is the best vacation destination.
Part of the wonder and beauty of Wales is the search for the hundreds of castles that exist sprawled all over the country. Here are some of the ones I knew and loved:-
Castell Coch
Castell Cosh (or the Red Castle) is situated on a hillside between Cardiff and Pontypridd. It is often called the ‘fairy tale’ castle and is reminiscent of castles from the medievil era. (Also it is similar to many castles found in the Rhine Valley.
A few months ago, I decided that I wanted to go to Scotland to trace out my roots. I wanted to see where my family came from and why my grandfather was so full of pride when he spoke of Clan Ramsay and the Dalhousie family of Scotland. I wanted to go and see our famed castle, the Dalhousie Castle, and experience life as it could have been if my ancestors hadn’t of come to American several hundred years ago.
Edinburgh Review by Leslie Watson (eider@barrow.com)
Edinburgh, Scotland Tuesday, September 3rd
We arrived in Edinburgh and went right to Edinburgh Castle where we met Keith, our guide for the rest of the day. He was a large Scotsman fully dressed in the traditional kilt and everything. He was an extremely funny and entertaining guide with a booming voice.
This past summer I had the great pleasure and opportunity of visiting SCOTLAND along with a cruise to NORWAY and several jaunts into ENGLAND. I’ll just be writing about SCOTLAND here. I was fortunate enough to have a pen pal from SCOTLAND so her and her husband invited me to spend a few weeks with them and see their country. She’s coming over here next summer so I hope to show her my beautiful TENNESSEE.
If you are a golfer, then a visit to St. Andrews will be the experience of a lifetime. To stand on the little bridge, over the burn on the eighteenth fairway, looking back at the scene that you’ve seen so many times on television, is an absolute thrill.
At first sight, the old course itself appears to be fairly simple. However, a closer look at the tall grass lining the fairways, as well as the ubiquitous pot bunkers, which await your errant shots, might make your heart race a little faster.
Dublin Review by Leslie Watson (eider@barrow.com)
Dublin, Ireland Saturday, August 31st
By early evening we arrived in Dublin where we would spend two nights at it’s oldest, most posh hotel. The Gresham was a gorgeous hotel. Well, I should say the lobby, restaurants and bars were gorgeous. Once again, all the budget is spent in what the public sees, not the rooms. The lobby has Waterford crystal chandeliers, a sweeping staircase and elegant bars and restaurants. The rooms however, were very plain and dull in appearance. It was comfortable though and we had two twin beds separated by a nightstand. Brian was sad that we would have to sleep apart, but I was not. Haha, Just kidding.
