Week 46: Scotland

We are back from our three + week hiatus! We have to admit we were a little tied up, what with all the unicorns, fairies, and mythical sea creatures around here. We have just covered a LOT of ground in Scotland with my Mom and her friend MJ, and now I’m ready to tell you all about it! Did we need our wellies and brollies, you ask? Read on to find out!

Day 1: Glasgow

Highlights:

Getting to our AirBnB at 3:30am and getting my first of many Mom hugs!

Visiting the expansive Glasgow Cathedral

Exploring the Necropolis set upon the hill behind the cathedral

Visiting the oldest house, Provand’s Lordship 

Trying bacon butty’s and Irn-Bru for the first time 

Visiting Grinkon’s Sweet Shop (est 1903) and trying our first tablet and surplooms

Riding Glasgow’s Hop On Hop Off bus between some of the sights. We especially enjoyed riding in the open-air section, but it got a little cool up there later in the day.

Stopping at People’s Palace and learning that this large green space was created for gathering people, allowing cattle and sheep to graze, and doing laundry! It is also the home of the largest terracotta fountain in the world.

Exploring the Tall Ship museum, where we toured inside the Transport Museum and then poked around the rooms of a tall ship. 

Walking around the Botanical Gardens, which were housed almost entirely in humid green houses. These gardens were home to many small flowers, cactus, and succulents. 

Visiting the Gelateria nearby, which has been voted the best in Scotland!

Seeing George Square

Searching through some shops and restaurants for places of interest

Playing cards to finish off the day!

Weather: cloudy and windy at times, sunny and warm at others

Day 2: Glasgow

Highlights:

Lawn bowling with the two pros on the greens outside Kelvingrove Gallery

Checking out Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and catching an amazing organ performance. It was crazy watching this man’s hands and feet dance along keys and pedals and knobs!

Browsing through shops along Buchanan Street

Discovering murals, statues, and other "special interest" areas scattered around the city

Crossing bridges over the Clyde River

Playing cards to finish off the day!

Weather: cloudy in the morning, sunny in the afternoon

Day 3: Glasgow to Edinburgh

Highlights:

Taking the train from Glasgow to Edinburgh

Walking along the Royal Mile up to Edinburgh Castle, taking in St. Giles Cathedral, a variety of shops and buskers, and many ‘closes’ along the way

Checking out the Writer’s Museum and learning a bit more about Robbie Burns

Enjoying traditional Scottish dishes at Scotties Pub near our place

Learning a new card game called Hand and Foot

Weather: sunny and warm in the morning, then it really cooled down a lot in the afternoon

Day 4: Edinburgh

Highlights:

Venturing into the dark, damp, cold vaults below the South Bridge with Mercat Tours. We learned about how crowded Edinburgh had been in the 18^thcentury, and how 142 vaults were built in the arches of the South Bridge. These vaults were used for storage, workshops, pubs, and a few illegal activities as well. It was on this tour that we learned more about body snatching! These vaults were filled with rubble in the late 1800s and forgotten about until a rugby player rediscovered them in the 1980s. 

Picnicking and walking through the park, looking up at Edinburgh Castle

Visiting the National Gallery of Scotland, where Mom showed us the painting of Lady Agnew, which her friend Judy is working on replicating

Watching an estimated ten thousand women march through the streets, celebrating 100 years of suffrage and incredible work done by women

Visiting the National Museum of Scotland, where Will had a blast in the “explore’ room, and I was awestruck with the beautiful agate they had on display

Enjoying Sunday night dinner of numerous Yorkshire puddings

Weather: windy and cool most of the time, but a few sunny breaks

Day 5: Edinburgh

Highlights: 

Walking down to Portabello Beach, stopping to admire manicured gardens along the way. Although we experienced quite a bit of wind and rain, we enjoyed a walk along the beach promenade, and then took refuge inside the Portabello swimming pool. We learned that the Portabello sea baths opened in 1901, and that people used ‘bathing machines’ on the beach- these were fancy covered carts that allowed someone to sit inside and change while the cart was carried down to the water’s edge.

Visiting the bowling club on the way back to our place, and then having a couple hours of games, reading, and hot drinks

Walking through the beautiful Holyrood Park and on up to Arthur’s Seat. The path was steep and rocky in sections, but the view from the top was pretty great. 

Enjoying dinner and games back at our place

Weather: a fair bit of rain and wind in the morning, but beautiful later in the afternoon

Day 6: Edinburgh to Kirriemuir

Highlights: 

Will and Mom going together to pick up our rental car from the airport (and being stopped on the bus there by a parade of clowns and balloons!)

Mom driving standard on the other side of the road, and Will navigating through the streets of Edinburgh

Finding farming fields, large trees, sheep, rolling hills, and stone fences just outside of Edinburgh

Stopping in Falkirk to eat lunch, walk along their historical pedestrian street, walk out to Callendar House, and see Antonine’s wall

Checking out the Falkirk Wheel, which is the only water wheel of it’s kind in the world

Visiting the Kelpies

Walking around the cute town of Kirriemuir, where we found a Peter Pan fountain (author JR Barrie was born here) and a Peter Pan statue

Weather: cloudy but nice all day

We stayed in AirBnB’s throughout our time in Scotland, as they provided more space for four people and were priced closer to our budget than any of the hotels. We always stayed in private accommodations here, and usually had two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. During this first week, we found our accommodations fairly easily and had the first two booked before arriving in Scotland. In Glasgow, we stayed in an apartment on the second floor, which had a great view looking out to the city. In Edinburgh, we were situated on the first floor and were close to a great Scottish restaurant, a grocery store, and a bus stop. In Kirriemuir, we were on the second floor and had a ton of space and beautiful furnishings. 

Act of kindness: We met a number of kind people this week, but the one that stands out the most was the guy who managed the bowling greens near Kelvingrove Gallery and Museum. He was just so passionate about his greens, and was happy to let us borrow bowls and play.