Scotland, Part Deux

Sunday night, I turned in and quickly found myself completely wound up and unable to sleep. I think it was a combination of things - the time difference, excitement and unsettlement about Ireland (Mary was unexpectedly called into work during the time we were going to go to Ireland - so I wasn't sure what to do)... so I hopped online and started looking at the different airlines' deals on airfare. Airfare in the UK/Europe is CHEAP. Especially if you book in advance. There are tons of low-budget airlines (kind of like Southwest) - ie: RyanAir, BMI, EasyJet, which sometime have specials on flights as killer as 5 Euro for a flight! (And sometimes you can get fares tax-free too!).

I had narrowed my choices down to Turkey, Greece, Majorca, Spain or Morocco. About that time, my friend Amy appeared online and we started chatting. She was ready to hop on a plane and come on out! LOL. (She's a travel nurse between contracts, so had a bit of time on her hands). Well, nothing was really working out in a way either she or I was comfortable with, so we didn't settle anything that night. We decided to wait until the next night and figure it out. No biggie. (ha!)

Monday we went into Glasgow. I was so exhausted at this point from Jetlag and from not sleeping on Sunday night (AT ALL) that I was zoned out with a stomach ache and talking babble (says Mary!)... We ate at a dive of a pub called Fat Boab's (pronounced Fat Bobs).

My lunch at Fat Boabs - Minced Beef and Mash. Looks gross - but was pretty tasty!

Look how crazy my eyes look! That's what sleep deprivation and jet lag does to me.

We drove around Glasgow a bit and then went back to Mary & Luis' flat.

Gotta love Glasgow's version of the Apple Store!

That evening, I tried to figure out an itinerary with Amy. I was back and forth between just throwing in the towel and going to Ireland on my own and trying to make Rome work (by then, I was pretty sure that I wanted to go to Rome the most, and Amy found a fantastic deal on a last-minute, round-trip ticket from SFO [$550]. By this point, I was a blathering idiot. Nothing made sense to me anymore and I was quite upset. I nearly booked a flight to Rome from London (not remembering that I was actually in Glasgow and wouldn't have time to make it to London for that flight!) So we didn't resolve anything again because I just couldn't function. Sorry Amy! I had to call it a night and I completely crashed - slept for 12 hours straight!

The next morning, I felt considerably better. And I felt much calmer about the whole situation. Rome was a peaceful decision to make and I was very happy with it. So I gave Amy a call at 8am - midnight back in California. Woke Amy up (she had instructed me to!) and as soon as her head cleared, we both booked our flights to Rome and I booked a hostel. Four hours later, she was on her way to the airport and off to meet me! I LOVE having great travel friends who work the same way I do... gotta love spur of the moment things that work out.

That settled, Tuesday, Mary and I went in to Edinburgh (pronounced Edinbra, with a rolled R). We went via train - East Kilbride to Glasgow and then Glasgow to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh is a GORGEOUS old city! It's just so... SCOTTISH!  There were statues of dudes in Kilts and castles and cold, damp, overcast weather. It was a perfect day in Scotland! 

Statue of a dude in a Kilt.

Along the Royal Mile.

Fun house mirrors! mmmm... flattering!

Mary and I took off up the hill towards the main castle, Edinburgh Castle. There are two Castles in Edinburgh - Edinburgh castle and the Queen's Castle. One is at the top of the Royal Mile and the other at the bottom. It's a pretty cool set-up. Both castles are at least still partially in use by Royalty and government to this day. 

A Scottish Ballerina... hehehe.

We had a blast touring Edinburgh Castle and even got to see the Crown Jewels. Mary, always so curious and congenial, struck up a great conversation with the guard in the crown jewel room and he took it upon himself to give us a great, detailed guide of the jewels, swords and stone of destiny (which is still used at every coronation of royalty - it is put in a compartment under the throne during the coronation so that the person being crowned can sit on it). Pretty cool. No crown Jewel pix, however, as you're not allowed to photograph them!

After Edinburgh Castle, we headed down the Royal Mile towards the Queen's Castle.

You just can't go to Scotland without getting a photo with a bagpiper!

We stopped off for Lunch at a great little Pub! This time it was Fish and Chips, which also came with Mashed Peas. A very proper Scottish Lunch - and VERY Tasty, fresh fish. Yum!

Mary outside our Lunch Pub - The Deacon Brothers' Tavern

And then we were off again on foot toward the Queen's Castle.

We found this gorgeous little cemetary covered in pink blossoms. Kodak Moment!

Back on Sunday I purchased a Scottish Trust pass to get me into the Castles and Attractions we were planning on visiting. It was a better deal to buy the pass than pay for the attractions separately. Well, once we arrived at the Queen's Castle, we found out that it wasn't actually included in the pass I'd bought! Sad! We opted not to pay an extra 10 Pounds to see the castle and just walked around the perimeter snapping photos instead. (I don't know about you, but Scotland's bonny history isn't at the top of my scintillating list of fun... for Castles I'd go to France, Ireland... places with a bit more romance!)

The Queen's Castle

A Beautiful Bluff sits along the back of Edinburgh, covered in those Yellow flowers...

Then we made our way back to the train station and headed on home!

Went to bed at a decent hour (after watching "A Good Year" with Russell Crowe, to prep for Rome [even though it's set in Provence... lol]) and then off to the Airport for Rome on Wednesday!