SCOTLAND 1

May 27 - June 14, 2003

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The first 3 nights I stayed in Edinburgh (that's "Edinburrah," to you Yanks). During that time I went on a late-night ghost hunt, a literary pub crawl and climbed Arthur's Seat. Arthur's Seat is very large -- 251 meters high, to be precise -- and has fabulous views of the city.
Don't point at the crazy lady.

My 2nd night in Edinburgh I went to a "Scottish Evening" -- dinner & a show featuring traditional dancing and singing. It ended with The Celebration of The Haggis, where the said dish is brought in led by bagpipes & adorned with deer antlers. Burns' "To A Haggis" is recited with much fervor & the haggis is lanced with a dirk, to be enjoyed by all. It was actually very tasty. Sort of an exotic & spicy cousin to my first love, corned beef hash.
I thought the host resembled Dick Van Dyck.

I also enjoyed Holyrood Palace & Abbey ruins, Edinburgh Castle, St. Giles Cathedral & Greyfriars Kirkyard.

After Edinburgh I headed to the Lake of Menteith. I spent a full day at the lake, mostly on tranquil Inchmahome (literally, "Isle of Rest"), walking around the ruins of the old priory there. This is where my ancestors are to have originated. It was kinda creepy and at the same time tickled my imagination to see all the headstones with the name "Grahame" on them -- some even with the "e" at the end. Apparently the Graham clan was once powerful in the area.

I then spent one day in Stirling, seeing the sights there.

From the backpackers' bus I saw 2 castles that had been used in Monty Python movies. This is one of them.

A visit to Scotland is incomplete without a snog with a hairy (Highland) coo.

Glen Coe is just breath-taking. It's one of the many things on my Have To Come Back To See list.

Ben Nevis, Great Britain's highest peak. It's not quite a mountain, but it still takes, on average, 8 lives per year. The weather at the top is sub-arctic year round. I only went up halfway, as I was unprepared for a real climb.

I took a day trip to Mallaig, along the same track used in the first Harry Potter movie. Once in Mallaig, I took a boat ride around Loch Nevis. There was an icy wind but I stayed on the deck anyway, mesmerized by the views. It was a transport boat & we dropped off little old ladies with their groceries at remote "towns" (read: small cluster of homes) along the banks.

The views along the tracks on the way back were astounding and ever-changing. I used up an entire roll just on the train...

When I got back to Farr Cottage Hostel, what had been a quiet place with only 1 other guest the night before had turned into Party Central.

A Haggis bus had come in with a handful of backpackers & we all set about trying to empty the contents of the fully-stocked bar.
L to R: "Two-tone," Karyn from Australia, Robin from the U.S.

I remember laughing, shooting pictures, playing games & telling jokes.
Me with Stuart, resident whisky expert.

Ali's very strong vodkas had me feeling quite good. It was a brilliant night. The next day I had no voice. Seriously, I was reduced to a whisper, lest I sound like Demi Moore turned into a goose.
Ali & me.

CLICK HERE to get to the 2nd set of pictures.

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