Scotland

For our European summer vacation, we chose Scotland.  I had been there for work when I was single, and I always said I wanted to go back.  Dave had been there more recently for a training program at work, and we both thought it would be fun for a family trip.

We stayed at a great apartment (one of my favorite apartment of all our trips so far - with 3 bedrooms and a really comfortable feel) just off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, so we could walk everywhere.  Monday morning we started by walking over to the Royal Mile, through a close (alleyway) where they were filming a movie!  They told us to come right through, and I wanted to stop and snap a photo but didn't want to be in the way.  Apparently it was an television show, and the actors were all dressed in traditional Scottish country attire.  A fun way to start our trip!  We explored the main street and stopped at a shop to have our pictures taken in kilts and other Scottish attire.  We tasted some fudge and had lunch at The Deacon's House Cafe, named after Deacon William Brodie, the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde!  Dave had to fly out that evening for some work meetings the next couple of days, so we had dinner without him on the Royal Mile.

On Tuesday we visited the Edinburgh Castle.  We took a nice tour around the castle and saw the crown jewels!  We learned about the special stone that was used for coronations (that had been taken from Scotland to England, and has only recently been returned to Scotland!).  After the castle we did some shopping on the Royal Mile and at lunch at the Elephant House cafe, where JK Rowling wrote most of the first Harry Potter book!  It was a cool little cafe.  We walked past the Greyfriars Bobby statue - a tribute to the little dog that had belonged to a Bobby (policeman) who dies.  The little dog kept watch over his owner's grave for years until he died.  Then we went to the National Gallery of Scotland - a beautiful museum with several works, including my favorite - Impressionism!

Wednesday we went to Portobello Beach - located just a short bus ride from downtown.  It was a nice day, and we at at a fun restaurant for kids.  Liz had tried Haggis the night before, and we got it again for lunch.  Other food that was very good was their shortbread - with caramel inside!  Very, very good (but also very, very fattening!).  There was a great, child-friendly Italian restaurant near our house called Pizza Express where we ate a few time too.  The favorite dessert there was Banoffee pie - banana and toffee pie...mmm!

Thursday we had a private scheduled tour to Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond.  We learned all about Rob Roy and William Wallace.  Hearing about the battles and the strategy was all very cool.  Stirling Castle was very well-presented, with a presentation by a couple of actors where we learned why people didn't take baths very often back then, and many other facts the kids found interesting!  They also go to try sitting in the royal chairs.  We even got to see a bagpipe ensemble performing on the grounds of the castle.  Loch Lomond was really beautiful, and we saw much of the typical Highlands landscape.

Friday we went across to the New Town in Edinburgh and did a bit of shopping at Jenner's, Edinburgh's largest department store.  We then went to the Brass Rubbing center and made some rubbings (an old tradition that was perfect for a rainy day!).  That evening we went to a traditional Scottish music program called Stramash.  It was in a church near the Greyfriars Bobby statue, and was very fun.

Saturday we had another private tour, this time to St. Andrews.  What a great city it is!  That was the rainiest day of our trip, but we still had a nice time.  We climbed to to the top of the tower at the old cathedral, and went by the location where they were setting up for the British Open, taking place the following week.  On our way to St. Andrews we went by the Forth Bridge, one of the most recognizable bridges in the world (at least that's what they say - I didn't recognize it, but now I will!).  On our way home from St. Andrews, we went to a couple of other small towns, including Leith, which is the hometown of the Proclaimers (singing duo).  Our tour guide said that perhaps "500 Miles" should become Scotland's national anthem, as it's a song that everyone knows!

Throughout our trip, especially on the two days of private tours, I learned a lot about Scotland and its relationship with England and it's role in the United Kingdom.  In a way, Scotland is a bit like America, in that they want greater independence from England.  Scotland has a rich history of independence, but was joined with England because of the united of the royal families at one point.  They are slowly gaining a bit more independence from the government in Westminster.

Sunday morning I went with Liz to the airport for her flight to Geneva (then on to Lyon and Valence, France for her music workshop).  Our family left mid-day to fly back to Zurich.  We transferred through Frankfurt, and for the first time in all of our European travels we lost one of our bags.  It was Elise's bag, but it was returned to us by the airline after a couple of days...

Scotland is a beautiful place and it was a fun family trip!