We traveled for two weeks with a lovely group of 29 folks from all over the US and Canada. But throughout our travels, I kept thinking of all my blog friends...the history lovers, the gardeners, the foodies, those who suffer from wanderlust like I do, the artists, the bibliophiles, and of course, the knitters. Each and every one of you would have LOVED!!! it, my friends. (Well, except for the food poisoning, but even that didn't keep me down for long. Still don't know what we ate, but 3 of us had a little love affair with the bathrooms for 24 hours.) I wanted you all to be with me and to share this incredibly amazing adventure. So, I did the next best thing....and took photos. A l-o-t of photos. I promise you, I won't bore you with every one (hee hee, there are over 1000!!!), but here are some of the highlights from our 'Best of Scotland' adventure. (Part 1 of ??? parts.)
In case anyone actually made it through all these photos....here is what you just saw:
Glasgow, where road cones appear on statues...Wellington now wears one outside of the Museum of Modern Art all the time.
Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis (note: the grave of William Miller, author of Wee Willie Winkie! I almost missed that one, too!!) Provands Lordship, the oldest house in Glasgow. (Lovely little garden behind it.)
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum (I got lost in here--literally, my group sent out a search and rescue...could have spent several days.) Roger, the stuffed elephant, Dali's Crucifixion, Charles Rennie MacIntosh's exhibit (we got to Hill House another day)---premiere art deco architect and designer,
My friend's first taste of 'tablets'...she liked it. Our first encounter with haggis---it was 'lovely' (the Scots use that word a lot!). And then there was Irn Bru. Not so lovely. (Hubby was a real sport---it tastes like liquid bubble gum. But we had a delightful encounter with some locals when we bought it!)
Culzean Castle (the 'z' is silent) and gardens. (Should have taken a picture of Eisenhower's desk. Drat. Instead, I took a picture of the fake rat in the kitchen.) It is one of the grandest country houses in Ayrshire, designed by Robert Adams in the 1770s, for the Clan Kennedy (no relation).
Alloway: Robert Burns Memorial and gardens (did you guess from the quotes? We watched Tam O'Shanter while touring the museum), the cemetery where his father is buried, the house where he was born, and I sort of crashed a wedding (bagpiper).
The end of day 4....and my first project (settler shawl) is blocking in the hotel room!
Note how much yarn was left over. If that isn't a good omen for the rest of the trip, I don't know what is!!!!
Did you get a good picture of all of the weapons on the wall at Culzean castle? Did you know that Eisenhower has access to rooms there forever, not President Eisenhower, but his descendants....
Did you see a Hee land coo? (Highland cow)?
Did you think that Haggis has a taste of lavendar?
Did the pipers come in with the haggis?
Inquiring minds want to know....
Posted by: Ann Denton | 09/25/2015 at 08:09 AM
Your Home!!!!
I loved each and every one of the photos and think I need to add Scotland to my list next year when I fly to Germany.
I'm sorry to hear you got food poisoning, probably it was the haggis,yuck ;)! Tablets? Now what is that?
Love that you blocked in the hotel bathroom and wow, finished it by the skin of your teeth. It's 'Lovely'.
Can't wait to see more.
XO
Posted by: Tracey | 09/25/2015 at 08:12 AM
ahhhh......stay tuned. This was just part one!!! (thought I included the weapons on the wall...that was really impressive!!! and yes, we did hear about the Eisenhower connection. They are in the process of making a new exhibit on him, so his desk and other memorabilia were sort of shoved in a back hallway---but we still saw it!!!!)
Posted by: steph@woolythyme | 09/25/2015 at 08:19 AM
tablets...sort of our version of pralines. butter and sugar---what's not to like?!?
Posted by: steph@woolythyme | 09/25/2015 at 08:20 AM
Must add to our bucket list!!! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Chrystel | 09/25/2015 at 08:25 AM
Thanks so much for posting, Steffi. I was stuck in my kitchen while carpet cleaners were here. So I felt like I'd Haida little trip to Scotland! I've been catching other photos you sent while you were on the trip. Recognized some place I've been especially Isle of Skye. My walking tour in Scotland was the scariest one I've ever been on, though the Italy walk where I met you two will always be the hottest! Again, thanks. I love your blogs!
Posted by: Ginger Briles | 09/25/2015 at 08:37 AM
GAH!!! Wonderful pictures!! I'm thrilled with how obviously wonderful your trip was - I can't wait to go back there again one day. Your shawl looks beautiful and well done you blocking it in the hotel room!
Posted by: Caroline | 09/25/2015 at 11:13 AM
You did all that and still had time to knit?
The gardens are wonderful up there. Must be the cool conditions, or the longer hours of daylight. Whatever, it never fails to impress just how much will grow so far north.
Looking forward to Part 2!
Posted by: rusty duck | 09/25/2015 at 12:15 PM
Oh fantastic photos! I enjoyed the pictures on Instagram too, thanks for sharing! It sounds like a fabulous time. I can't believe you cranked that knitting out so fast. Looking forward to the next part/round of Scotland!
Posted by: ellen | 09/25/2015 at 01:05 PM
Lovely pictures! Tell Ralph I chuckled when I saw the cemetery pictures.
Posted by: Jean M. | 09/25/2015 at 08:58 PM
Fantastic! Lucky you!
Posted by: Lkhumbert65@gmail.com | 09/26/2015 at 05:55 AM
Truly spectacular! Scotland is on my must-visit list! I've missed your posts, but I was following your journey on Instagram! So happy for you - looks like you had the best time ever!!
Posted by: Alina | 09/26/2015 at 04:00 PM
I would not have been bored had you shown us all 1000 pics of Scotland. Each picture more amazing than the last. Such fun (minus the food poisoning)!!
Posted by: Andi | 09/26/2015 at 07:24 PM
Oh, Steph! I. Cannot. Wait to go visit my daughter and son-in-law next spring/early summer (which ever it winds up being...). Your photos are, shall we say, lovely?!! My daughter is in Edinburgh -- did you visit there? Two weeks? Oh, I can't wait! :)
Posted by: Lisa | 09/27/2015 at 12:09 AM
PS: by the skin of your teeth on the shawl...lucky you! :)
Posted by: Lisa | 09/27/2015 at 12:10 AM
FANTASTIC! Oh, wow, I think I'm speechless with jealousy ;)
Posted by: Nicole | 09/27/2015 at 12:50 PM
Really enjoyed all your pictures of Glasgow. I often go to an annual conference at the university there, so have been a few times, and it's a city I like a lot.
The shawl is beautiful!
Posted by: Iris | 09/28/2015 at 03:55 AM
I can't wait to see your take on Edinburgh when you travel there in the spring. I really would love to have spent several days there....going with a tour group has many many many (!!!!) disadvantages!!! And to see it through the eyes of your daughter who is living it.....you'll have a wonderful time!!!!!
Posted by: steph@woolythyme | 09/28/2015 at 06:39 AM
first of all I missed you. Second of all what's up with the food poisoning? My daughter was ill in Iceland for 24 hours....maybe europe has a thing going on for us americans ;) Lovely photos!!!
Posted by: karen | 09/28/2015 at 09:16 AM