Scotland......Finally

Day 5 & 6:

For those of you who have known me for any amount of time you have undoubtedly heard me discuss Scotland and my desire to visit. You've also likely heard me ramble some random facts from my Celtic Studies background or most definitely a Gaelic phrase. So to say that this adventure was a dream come true is an understatement, even if I didn't make it to the highlands......yet!

Scotland is a dream. The train ride was about 5 hours from London to Edinburgh. I was highly tempted to stay on board and continue on to Glasgow and see if I could stumble upon Goven, Grammie MacDonald's home (not grammie Rose but Grampy's mother).

I got off the train and was greeted by the sounds of a piper, very fitting. He was playing you are my sunshine and I felt so at home. I walked down the street and checked into my hotel before taking a tour around the city. I saw so much in such a little time and was most impressed when the tour mentioned a school that has been around forever with one of its most prominent pupils being none other than Alexander Graham Bell (for those of you that don't know, Mr. Bell and I have a deep history as I have spent the better part of 4 years sharing his story at the AGB museum in Baddeck).

After the tour I had a chance to explore Edinburgh Castle, the home of much of the history I have explored and the home of many greats in Scottish history. Perhaps the most breathtaking part was the Scottish crown jewels and the stories of how they were hidden at various points over time to keep them safe from the likes of the English who were hell bent on destroying them. Unfortunately there was no photography there so I couldn't take pictures. Also in there was the Stone of Destiny on which all British royals are coronated on. It's fascinating to see up close and to realize that within this lifetime it will once again return to Westminster to crown another King. It was neat to see the city from such a vantage point and to feel the history seep from the old stone walls.

Next up was Holyrood Palace, the Queen's Palace in Edinburgh. With it's winding stairs and in tact rooms it is a magnificant site. The chamber of Mary Queen of Scots was most interesting as it is home to many of the remnants of the Stuart dynasty. I even snuck some pictures before finding out camera's weren't allowed (in my defense I had my flash off and I didn't see any signs).

Day 2 was my Bell day. I walked the streets looking at monuments before finding my target. 14 South Charlotte Street, the birthplace of Alexander Graham Bell. His family must have had pull in Scottish society with the location of the home. It has a stone plaque on the outside of the building announcing it's importance but other than that you would walk by and never know the importance of the place. Right around the corner was the Alexander Graham Bell restaurant. A busy, popular place with locals, it boasts a full bar and is open 7am-1am. The menu was vast with many traditional dishes and more modern ones. My favorite was tea and dessert. I had fun there messaging people from AGB and of course my mom. Go figure, in honor of Bell it has free wi-fi, one of the only places in Britain I might add. The walls were full of pictures but I soon realized few of them were of Bell but of other Scottish greats. I asked a waiter about their memorabilia, he went to check with the manager (having no idea himself) and the reply was that head office sent it. I was disappointed and when he asked why I wanted to know I explained having worked at the museum, he got all excited and showed me around so I could take photos of the few bell related things, all the while asking the most random questions that he gets from visitors but didn't know the answers too.

The rest of day two was spent wandering town and checking things out from stores to book shops and in between. An amazing first visit but definitely a first visit and not an only one.

Off to London again where I will fly to Sweden in the morning.

Slainte!