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Dear Aunt Jimmer,
Although I had been to England several times, the closest I had gotten to Scotland was watching the movie Braveheart or teaching Macbeth, the Scottish play that Shakespeare wrote after Elizabeth’s death when King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England. After spending some time there this summer, my family and I agree we love Scotland.
The green hills of Scotland attest to much rainfall, but while Idaho Falls was windy and rainy the first few weeks in June, we had sunny temperate weather for our Scottish visit, interrupted only once by what our tour director poetically called “a sneeze of rain.”
Our first stop in Scotland was at the woolen mills in Moffat. My children have double Scottish roots—the Sinclair family on their dad’s side and the Ritchie heritage from my family. My college son surprised me with his Scottish spirit, buying both a kilt and sporran and even modeling them for us.
Next, we spent a few days at Edinburgh. The first night my children went on one of the guided ghost walks about the city, while mom and I opted to relax at our hotel. The following day we spent at the Royal Mall area, exploring the castle and visiting the Holyrood Palace, the royal residence of the queen when she visits Scotland.
The castle at Edinburgh perches on volcanic rock and dominates the city skyline. In ancient times it was called Din Eidyn, “the stronghold of Eidyn,” but when the Angles invaded in 638 A.D. the castle rock area was named Edinburgh and remains so today.
We tour the castle admiring the royal jewels and the medieval swords. My children and the other students in our group have fun exploring both the dungeons and a military prison that once housed prisoners from the American Revolutionary War.
Each day since June 7, 1861, a gun is fired at the castle at one o’clock. An account of the first firing said “it frightened the citizens and scattered the flocks of pigeons roosting on the city’s buildings.” We are in the dungeons when it is fired, so we are not too startled.
After touring all the castle buildings, we spend some time looking out over the city of Edinburgh, and then start the long walk down. We decide to find a café known as The Elephant House for lunch because there, J.K. Rowling, a young single mom in Edinburgh, first penned a fantastic story about a young wizard, Harry Potter.
We are scheduled the next day to tour Sir Walter Scott’s estate, Abbotsford, but a teacher from Kansas City asks if we can make a short detour to the village of Roslin to see Rosslyn Chapel, a previously obscure Scottish church made famous by the popularity of The DaVinci Code.
The church was built by the prosperous St. Clair family in the fifteenth century, and we are all amazed at the carvings inside and outside. Some scaffolding being used in repairs allows us to climb up and have a close view of all the high intricate carvings. The guidebook tells us the St. Clairs are part of the Sinclair clan, so we feel a family connection to this church.
Our last visit in Scotland is to Abbotsford, the impressive castle-like estate of Sir Walter Scott. A delightful tour guide with dry English humor leads the tour of his estate. She shows us treasures from all over the world sent to Scott and commented that his friends brought him more than refrigerator magnets! One such item that I find interesting is a burial urn that Lord Byron sent him from Greece. Scott’s extensive library covers the walls of his home, and as a lover of books and writing, I feel a literary closeness.
When we leave Scotland to finish our United Kingdom tour in York, Stratford, and London, a part of me wants to stay in this land of incredible scenery and friendly people, and I resolve to return again.
Best,
Vickie
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Posted by vickie100 on 2008-07-15 22:08:44 | Rating: | Views: 26
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