Best of Scotland

Is our two week dream vacation really over? Sigh....

I do believe it is.

It's hard to believe we left almost a month ago and have been back for a week and a half already. Time flies, my friends! Alas, we are left with hundreds of memories and treasured pictures. I will share my favorites...

Here we are at the airport eagerly anticipating our departure.

Our layover in Iceland proved to be a disappointment due to inclement weather.

Welcome to Scotland!

Thank you very much.

We flew into Glasgow where we spent the first night. We had a fabulous dinner and woke up at a decent time the next morning to explore before catching our 1:30 pm train to Edinburgh. The hotel concierge recommended we go to the Barras - a local "market". I asked if there would be food and he said, "oh, yes." He also told us it was a very popular place and that everyone would be there.

Great! We love checking out popular, well recommended places.

Except Barras was NOT popular.

We spent 30 minutes walking to the "market" each way and about 5 minutes going through it. It wasn't anywhere you would want to stay for longer than that.

Finally we found some good shopping and food and ended up meeting an adorable couple who told us that "no one goes to Barras." It was quite humorous.

We had been told to try Irn Bru.

We loved it.

This is our first dinner in Edinburgh at Maxi's Restaurant. 

Both of our meals were fantastic and made with fresh, local food. Yum.

Cheers.

Morning cup of tea anyone?

Edinburgh Castle - magical!

Goosebumps. Brought tears to my eyes.

Reminds me of our wedding. Love bagpipes.

There was a wedding at the castle the day we were there. That'd be quite the wedding!

One of our favorite parts of the castle was the dungeon where the prisoners of war - American, French, Spanish, Dutch and British - were all held during the War of American Independence from 1776-1783. 

We both thought this was really cool - an American soldier had carved an American flag and ship in one of the thick doors of their cell. It was the actual door, which I find fascinating for some reason.

After our three and a half hour tour of the castle, we made our way down the Royal Mile and stopped for lunch at Deacon Brodies Tavern at the recommendation of our FAB concierge, Scott, at Channings Hotel.

And guess what he recommended we have there?

Haggis, neeps and tatties.

Basically sheep heart, liver and lungs served with mashed turnips and potatoes. And a whiskey sauce.

Doesn't that sound amazing?

No, it does not. But it was really good. Like, really good.

It was a long day so we took a short nap in the sun. My favorite kind.

The next day we went on a day tour with Rabbie's Tours. Our first stop was Doune Castle, set of Monty Python's "Holy Grail." (Never seen it.) The fresh air smelled just like Minnesota.

Beautiful loch.

I make friends constantly. I can't help it.

In front of Kilchurn Castle, situated at the head of Loch Awe and surrounded by mountains. Loved. It.

"Rest and be thankful" pass to Loch Lomond. I love the story with this spot: Rest-and-be-Thankful are the words which are located on a stone near the junction of the A83 and the B828, placed there by soldiers who built the original Military road in 1753. The original stone fell into ruin and was replaced by a commemorative stone at the same site. The section is so named as the climb out of Glen Croe is so long and steep at the end that it was traditional to rest at the top, and be thankful that you had made it to the highest point.

It was beautiful. 

Here is Scott, our ever so helpful concierge. 

Packed and ready for our next adventure. Off to the Shetlands we go!