I am writing this Journal on a the plane, somewhere over the Atlantic while sipping on a Bloody Mary. We were an hour late leaving Glasgow and I had to literally run to make my connection in Brussels. I am too old and too fat for that kind of nonsense. After that mad dash I certainly needed the Bloody Mary. In fact, I may have another. I haven't taken my Zanex yet I am saving it in case the plane starts bouncing around and scaring me.
Last Monday was a badly needed day of just laying around doing nothing much except laundry and a quick trip into Glasgow. Tuesday we worked all day transferring pictures from the video Bob shot with his fancy digital camera, (the likes of which I'll never be able to afford in this lifetime) onto a CD Rom. I saved about 150 of them so along with this journal I should have a good record of my trip. Jenny went all out and fixed a roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings and for desert we had.....Spotted Dick. Now I realize I had said that Clotted Cream was the most disgusting sounding desert I had ever heard of. But that was before I discovered Spotted Dick! Does that or does that not sound like something you need to be vaccinated for? In fact, its really very good. It's a very moist cake with raisins in it that has been steamed instead of baked. It's served with a delicious custard poured over it.
Wednesday it was back in tourist mode and Nicky and I visited Edinburgh. The Museum of Scotland was the first place on the list and we never got any farther. The museum is only a couple of years old, and it is a part of (or at least attached too) the Royal Museum of Scotland. The Museum of Scotland presents Scotland and its people from around 8000 BC to the 20th century. Sound Guides are provided, and there are Multimedia screen presentations that compliment the exhibits by providing additional information. There is also a Discovery center for kids where kids can touch, and play with objects from the past. In fact, there may still be one family in there from Wednesday as there was a big box of 17th,18th, and 19th century clothes, hats and accessories for kids to try and one little girl about eight or nine was prancing around there, highly pleased with herself in a 17th century dress and 19th century wide hat and a pair of long gloves. I'm not sure anyone would have be able to get them off of her. Before we left we went up on the Roof Top Terrace and enjoyed the panoramic view of Edinburgh. When I looked at Arthur's seat I tried to imagine Pokey climbing that in dress shoes. Brave girl our Pokey. They had scaffolding up again on the Sir Walter Scott Memorial. I have no idea what they are doing to it this time. They have been working on it for years now. I hate to say this, but the only way they are going to improve it is to blow it up. It's sooooo ugly
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Next trip I will make it to the Royal Museum which has more generalized exhibits featuring The Natural World, Science and Industry, and Decorative Arts.
Thursday I went into Glasgow on the train by myself. With a senior rail card it only cost me 2.80 which is dirt cheap for such an interesting trip. After leaving Helensburgh the first stop is Cardross. Cardross was the site of one of Robert The Bruce's Castles and where he died. There are some old ruins there that I have been intending to visit for the past 20 years but we keep zipping past on the way to somewhere else and the opportunity hasn't presented it's self....yet. After Cardross comes Dumbarton with it's huge rock/mound/cliff, whatever with Dumbarton Castle sitting forbiddingly on the top, As castles go, this is a pretty grim looking one. It was from his castle that Mary Queen of Scots left Scotland as a small child for France to be married off to the French Dauphin. It's' also the site of William Wallace's capture by the English after he had been betrayed by the Sheriff of Dumbarton. Another interesting site in Dumbarton is the rows of long, concrete, almost bunker like buildings that comprise the warehouses where bonded Scotch Whiskey is stored while it ages. Ballentine and J&B Scotch Whiskey are made in Dumbarton and sometimes when I go to the big Safeway Store there with Jenny you can smell it distilling. I do not like Scotch Whiskey but I love to smell it distilling. Kind of like chocolate chip cookies.
After the train leaves Dumbarton it starts traveling right through residential neighborhoods. You can see straight into peoples back yards, and in a lot of cases right into their kitchens and dining areas. In most cases, back yards are just as beautifully kept as their front yards. The Brits are, with a few exceptions, such as my family, manic gardeners.
When the train gets about 10 minutes out from Queen Station is suddenly dives down into a hole in the ground and becomes an underground train. After getting off at Queen St. Station I wandered down Buchannan Street, dodging the mess because they are doing something major to it and have it all torn up. Had a good wander through Borders but still no Through The Stones.(sigh). I didn't really buy anything, I just wanted to wander around in Glasgow and ride the train. When I got back to Helensburgh I went to the local book store and ordered Through The Stones. Nicky is coming over in 2 weeks and hopefully she can bring it. If not Jenny will mail it
In the evening we went out to dinner at Drymen to the Clachan Inn, the oldest Inn in Scotland, est 1734.
Link to Clachan Inn website The front insert from the menu that somehow ended up in my handbag reads: "The Clachan Inn, Dryman holds the proud distinction of being Scotland's oldest registered licensed premises. The name 'Clachan' in the Gaelic tongue means hamlet. One of the first owners was a certain Mistress Gow who was the youngest sister of the notorious outlaw Rob Roy McGrreggor (in those days the scourge of law and order in the district). Gow being a diminutive of the name McGreggor. Since 1734 the Clachan has been famed for a warm welcome and good food and drink, a tradition carried on today by the present owner Mrs. E. Plank". The comment about the food was not an idle boast. Also, in honor of this being my last evening in Scotland, (snort) a Pipe Band serenaded us on the green outside the Inn.
So here I am, bouncing around somewhere over the Atlantic, calm as I can be. This has been a fabulous vacation. We did everything we wanted to do and then more. We are toying with the idea of a Greek Island somewhere for next time. We figured that would have something for us all. Ruins for me, Sun for Jenny and a beach for Bob.
I have enjoyed writing this journal. It's the first time I have even done something like this, but believe me it won't be the last. In a couple of years if I have saved up enough money perhaps some day when you check your e-mail you will have Travel Journal #1, The Greek Islands.
The end!
