Okay-back to the blog, I plan to put pictures up of our trip to Brecken Beacon National Park, St. Faagen’s (an old welsh town), and Glastonbury. Plus the one’s of the Roman Bath’s- I have not forgotten, do not worry! In the National Park, we mostly drove around and looked at the scenery. In the old welsh town we walked around and looked at the old welsh buildings. BUT Glastonbury was much more exciting, which is why I shall elaborate on it.
This town deserved much more time spent in it than we gave it- much to both of our disappointment. We got into town, walked up to the top of the Tor, ate at a café, and left- all within about 5 hours. We didn’t know much about Glastonbury except that it was a short distance away and had some interesting sights. The first thing we noticed when we got there was a lot of people dressed in a rags/gypsy fashion with long hair, braids, and pendant necklaces and most of the stores had to do with psychic healings, crystals, or meditation. It was thee most hippie town I had ever been to and I wanted to go inside and explore every single store! It really was quite fantastic. Unfortunately, we did not go in any but made our way up to the top of the Tor (http://glastonburytor.org.uk/). This link explains the Tor. Supposedly people make their way up to the top of the hill and when they come down they have a renewed sense of peace and well-being. It is said to be a spiritual place of healing. I was up for some healing, but I admit when I came back down all I felt was hungry! We ended up eating at a small café that was full of mystic paintings and the such. They had wonderful food- John and I were just afraid that we were going to get put under some sort of spell… J. It was a great experience and I would have loved to have more time to explore the town and all it offers. Okay on to our Scotland trip. This was very much an enjoyable experience. The countryside is absolutely gorgeous and pleasing to the eyes. Rolling, green hills with sheep, cows, and horses as far as the eye can see. We were fortunate to get to experience all different types of Scottish weather- sunny, fog, rain, windy, cloudy, chilly, and warm. We started our journey Saturday morning and made it as far as the town of Moffat where we slept in the car. Yes we planned to do this and both of us were actually quite excited about it. We stuffed three quilts and seven pillows into the trunk of our car! Needless to say the idea was much more enjoyable than the actual experience. We put down the back seats so we were laying half in the trunk and half on the back seat, but neither of us could straighten our legs all the way unless we smushed together at an angle with our feet at the right of the trunk and our heads on top of the laid down front seat on the left. I think we may have gotten 5 hours of sleep between us both. Oh well- it was an experience we wanted and we got it!
Sunday we headed for Edinburgh and to find our hostel which was located on what is called the Royal Mile, right in the heart of the city. Here I am going to type out John’s account. Monday morning he wrote down what we did on Sunday and I am going to type it out word for word. This way you can experience it through his eyes- it may be refreshing for those who tire of my ways!! Anything written in italics will be my thoughts- perhaps to help clarify or further enlighten you on the topic.
- Arrive in Edinburgh @ 12:45 (1st car park)
- checked in to Brodie’s @ 1pm our hostel
- ate breakfast outside * (favorite kind of breakfast) w/ latte, but forgot about Americano, didn’t understand John’s ‘cistern’ reference
- settled into dorm-moved car to more secure car park (17 pounds)
many kills of the car which never ceased to bring forth swearing
Side notes that are scribbled at the end:
- walk down to one end of “Royal Mile”
there were small ponds in front where apparently you could not go paddling- they were perhaps 6 inches deep
*Contemplate walking the precipice but No- tomorrow (also starbucks)
- start our ascent of “Royal Mile”
- stop at Indian shop….gaze at seashell bras and some jewelry
- continue to enjoy street vendors, doorways, bagpipers, Scottish Terriers, hippie cows
- arrive at Edinburgh Castle (no tour today, but maybe tomorrow) enjoy view
- walk down steps, Tiff bathroom, John spills coffee while setting up picture
- John loves the ‘manfrotto’ unipod from Wynette, Tiff loves the name ‘manfrotto’
- blue doors, red doors (proof by pics)
- nice couple takes our pic, we oblige their request also
- go into sword shop, clerk gives us advice
- enjoy street painter-decide to research the Caves/Dungeons, John overrules on money and weather…Tiff complains but still anticipates the dungeons we never saw them
- walk along side of waverly train station and modern Edinburgh, go back to old town
- enjoy photo making at steps took three pics and combined them into one
- peruse a few ‘girlie’ stores
- go up fun alley way (dark, thin, pretty)
- to “The Mitre” bar..John: 2 guiness, Tiff: rose wine, and shared bread. John’s philosophy on ‘life is highschool’
- back to Brodies….sign up for two pound dinner (the cost, not the quantity)
- John buys hackysack, clerk pokes fun at John and compliments his lady
- go to tattoo parlor..Cornhusker painting from Nebraska…Clerk lived in US for 13 years and husband from Lincoln, NB. It was odd- small world
- finally to last shop….buy cheap books: “The Life and Death of Planet Earth” “Eastern Philosophy” and “Why God is Not Great”…plus a ring
- to Brodies…wait for dinner
*’share’ john magazine
I shoved myself close and was annoying as I tried to read with him
*dinner late
*save wieners for last pork sausage type things, very good!
- to dorm for bed: read, shower, read, kiss, goodnight in separate but nearby top bunks
- John snores, but sleeps well. As annoyingly chipper this morning.
- “Favorites in life” Tiff = 5 John = 0 apparently I say ‘this is my favorite’ A LOT
- most look like dog/owner the dogs and their owners looked alike here
- dogs look smaller
- Mitre waiter gets Tiff’s attention multiple times he was rather cute, what can I say!
- Good intention with leather-bound books
That was John’s version of our Sunday- I hoped you enjoyed it! Now for Monday we went and actually toured the grand Edinburgh Castle. It was beautiful and we have many the pictures to join. We then spent the afternoon traveling up north and stopped off at a small town right on the coast. A few hours were spent walking along the water picking up random rocks/shells and talking. We then headed back to the hostel and relaxed til bedtime. John didn’t snore this night- made me happy because I got sleep!
We headed back the next day- stopped at roadside stands for food. John got a double cheeseburger (which was wonderfully yummy) and I got soup (thinking I would be healthy)- my soup ended up being powdered with hot water added to it. Grrr. After 7 or so hours in the car we made it back to our apartment. It was a great trip with lots of historic architecture, luscious scenery, and manual driving- which provided amusement for me and anxiety for John.
I think that is all I shall write for now. I’m not sure if I will get another blog in before I leave- I don’t imagine I will be doing anything of great significance. Most likely we will be lying low and trying to enjoy our last days together before a four-month hiatus. As I have no idea when I will get access to internet in Africa- I ask you all to be patient! I plan to blog often and post whenever I am able. I thank everyone again who reads my thoughts and hope that you look forward to hearing about Africa because here it comes!!!
2 comments:
Thanks for the commentary on Scotland! It many times made me smile!! I can imagine the night in the car....sounds like an experience most people probably only do once, Huh? The pictures are great..I have to back and look at them all again more thoroughly. We're very anxious to hear all about Africa shortly, have a safe trip!!! Let us know when you get there!!!
LOVE MOM XOXOXOXOX
tiff, i also enjoy the word "monfrotto." it makes me giggle.
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