Irish You Were Here!

Hiya as they say in Ireland! It's so nice to have access once again to the Internet so we can update you as to the sites and sounds of Scotland we experienced and our final days. First off to certain followers; our apologies! We didn't get a chance to purchase a "Nessie" postcard nor were we fortunate enough to make it to the Monarch of the Glen Castle.

We're still sorely disappointed that our week's adventures in Scotland were shortened by two whole days. We feel that we missed so much that we could have done so we had to be abbreviated in our remaining touring.

On Thursday, May 20th we drove from Loch Lomond to Stirling. There we toured the Stirling Castle. Stirling Castle is a great symbol of Scottish independence and a source of enduring national pride. The castle’s long, turbulent history is associated with great figures from Scotland’s past, such as William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots.

Stirling Castle:


We spent just a little too much time there but then made our way from Stirling into Edinburgh. Oh and for those of you who struggle with pronunciation; know that Edinburgh doesn't rhyme with Pittsburgh with a hard 'g'. The locals pronounce it "Edinburrah".

We parked our car just outside the West Princes Street Gardens and walked through them, up the steep face climb of the castle. After that steep, breathless climb we made it to the Edinburgh Castle.

The Ross Fountain:


I stopped a worker as we entered the castle center/plaza and asked what it was that they were preparing for as the plaza was filled with bleacher seats. He responded with the Tattoo; the Edinburgh Military Tattoo to be exact. The event takes place August 6-28 and they were already setting up for it. Actually; the truth of the matter was I honestly didn't understand a word he said except for "aye" which I know means "yes." The Scottish brogue is one of the most difficult to interpret and Scottish Gaelic is even more difficult. To me it sounds as if someone is speaking English backwards with a mouth full of cotton. Back to the Tattoo. The definition is: a signal sounded on a drum or bugle to summon soldiers or sailors to their quarters at night. Originating from the Dutch "doe den tap toe" (pronounced "doo den tap too"), literally translated means "close or turn off the tap". A display of military exercises offered as evening entertainment. A continuous, even drumming or rapping. The Tattoo brings hundreds of performers, both from Scotland and bands and organizations from abroad and they perform under the dramatic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.

The soldiers' dog cemetery. The cemetery is a small garden used as a burial place for officer's pet dogs and regimental mascots.


After walking through the gorgeous gardens and touring the castle; we made our way over to the Royal Mile. The Royal Mile is a succession of streets which form the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh. After exploring shops we decided to squeeze in a quick whisky tour and signed up for the Scotch Whisky Experience. It was a little hokey but nonetheless had us experience a tour that started with a swirling, bubbling barrel ride through a replica distillery as we become part of the whisky making process. A tasting was our reward in the end and I found that part of the presentation really fascinating. I'm not a whisky fan per se but didn't realize that the entire country is divided up into regions of where whisky comes from; Highlands, Lowlands, Islay and Speyside. After our tasting we got to visit the Diageo Claive Vidiz Collection; almost 3,500 individual bottles!

A view of bottles:


After all of that we got on board the hop on/hop off tour bus for a city tour. That evening after finishing touring and cramming in a day's worth of activities; we drove to Saint Andrews. The freakish thing about being this far north is that the sun doesn't begin to set until after 9:00pm. It stays dusky for hours and then it rises so early; it almost appears as if it never goes down.

We arrived to St. Andrews close to 10:30 at night. We decided to spend the night there as our plans for Friday were to golf in St. Andrews. We found a room at Hotel Ogstons and checked in. Scotland and Ireland both are in a heat wave and it's been really, really warm. This hotel didn't have air conditioning so we kept the window open and fan on. The fan was on a 2-hour timer and with the heat, the noise of the rowdy pub drinkers and up every 2 hours to reset the fan; it was a terrible night's sleep. We awoke the next morning and Dave got us confirmed at the Jubilee Course at St. Andrews. What we didn't realize is that the Open is coming to St. Andrews this year and they too had bleachers erected; gearing up for the event in less than 60 days.

On the famous bridge overlooking the old club house (members only; no women allowed):
We played the Jubilee first then had lunch in the club house. Afterward we walked alongside the Old course and we couldn't believe the difference between the greens. Dave's definitely going to try and return and golf the Old course one day. I'd love to as well but it's very expensive and it's a lottery draw to get on.

Friday evening we drove back from St. Andrews to Loch Lomond. We've covered quite a bit of ground in our rental car; which when we picked it up only had 10 miles on it.

On Saturday we drove into Glasgow. Again; as we were short-changed on our time to the country we allowed ourselves time on Saturday for a city tour versus time dedicated to museums and galleries. While regretful that we simply couldn't do it all; we've said that we'd like to come back and try it again. The tour was great and hit all the city's highlights.

My favorite; a newly married couple posing for photographs as our tour bus goes by.


One of our tastiest, most inexpensive meals was that evening at Crown Carveries; I guess a UK version of perhaps Luby's Cafeteria?

Sunday morning we got up and returned our rental car and checked in at the airport for our flight to Dublin. We got a new rental car and drove slightly over 3 hours to Limerick where we're staying at Best Western Perys Hotel.

We stopped for a late lunch in Kildare at the Kildare Village designer shopping outlet at this Italian restaurant; L'Officina Dunne & Crescenzi. It was pretty good and after lunch it was back on the road again.

A dear friend of ours works for Best Western International and he's always extolling the virtues of international Best Westerns and how great they are. We're thinking he must not be familiar with this one or has ever stayed here. Again; another hotel with no air conditioning and our room overlooks a dumpster. Oh well.

Next on our agenda is to tour the Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty castle,the Burren and see Galway Bay.

Hopefully more pictures to come! Pin It Now!