If you want to read the blog in order go to the front page and use the navigation buttons at the bottom of each page to go through it. I can't figure out a way to change the order so this is the best way. Below is the link to the first page.
http://oursillyadventures.blogspot.com/2010/06/twas-night-before-scotland.html
If you want to look at more pictures you can follow this link to the Photobucket page. We took close to 1000 pictures and I just pulled a few to use with the blog.
http://s112.photobucket.com/home/ScottyVegas26/allalbums
Enjoy!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The End of the Tour and One Last Day in Glasgow
The end of the tour found us back in Glasgow. We checked our bags at the hotel and said many goodbyes. Carol, Garandpa, Chris, and I headed to town to do some tourist type shopping. We wandered around the tourist shops and had lunch at an awesome noodle restaurant called Wagamama (http://www.wagamama.us/). It really good. It looks like the only U.S. location is in Boston, MA.
It was Saturday in Glasgow and there were a ton of street performers out. One of the coolest was this band of Highland drummers in traditional regalia.
There was an Armed Forces celbration happeneing too and we saw the parade as we came out after lunch.
We picked up souvenirs for friends and family. Chris got himself a kilt that looked good on him.
We ended the night in the hotel watching the U.S. vs Ghana game in the lounge and enjoying a few drinks with some of the other tour members. Chris had to get up at 4am so he retired early and we said our goodbyes.
Carol, Grandpa, and I were up early the next day to check in for our flight. We ate breakfast at the hotel, said goodbye to Donnie and a few others that we saw, and hopped the flight back to Philly. Customs was a snap to get through. At Philly we parted ways with Grandpa and caught our flight home. The heat of the desert made for a rough welcome, but we were glad to be home.
It was an awesome and unforgettable trip. I hope you enjoyed the recollection as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thanks for coming along with us.
It was Saturday in Glasgow and there were a ton of street performers out. One of the coolest was this band of Highland drummers in traditional regalia.
There was an Armed Forces celbration happeneing too and we saw the parade as we came out after lunch.
We picked up souvenirs for friends and family. Chris got himself a kilt that looked good on him.
We ended the night in the hotel watching the U.S. vs Ghana game in the lounge and enjoying a few drinks with some of the other tour members. Chris had to get up at 4am so he retired early and we said our goodbyes.
Carol, Grandpa, and I were up early the next day to check in for our flight. We ate breakfast at the hotel, said goodbye to Donnie and a few others that we saw, and hopped the flight back to Philly. Customs was a snap to get through. At Philly we parted ways with Grandpa and caught our flight home. The heat of the desert made for a rough welcome, but we were glad to be home.
It was an awesome and unforgettable trip. I hope you enjoyed the recollection as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thanks for coming along with us.
Men of Worth Tour Day 9
We left Inverness bound for Glencoe, the site of the infamous massacre of the MacDonald clan in 1692. (http://tinyurl.com/2a4vxvk) The visitor center here is very nice, but nowhere near as high tech as the Culloden center. The real attraction here is the scenery. The mountain view here is breathtaking and it reminded me alot of some of the areas around my hometown.
We stayed our last night of the tour in Rhu on the Firth of Clyde (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firth_of_Clyde). We stayed at the Rosslea Hotel which was very nice. We had an excellent dinner and toasted to the tour, the musicians, the comaraderie, and the Men of Worth. Afterward there was an impromptu jam session where everyone played, laughed, and drank. It was a great wrap up to an amazing tour experience.
We stayed our last night of the tour in Rhu on the Firth of Clyde (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firth_of_Clyde). We stayed at the Rosslea Hotel which was very nice. We had an excellent dinner and toasted to the tour, the musicians, the comaraderie, and the Men of Worth. Afterward there was an impromptu jam session where everyone played, laughed, and drank. It was a great wrap up to an amazing tour experience.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Men of Worth Tour Day 8
Day two in Inverness started with a interesting story from Cousin Chris. He had sleepwalked out of his room and he woke in in one of the hotel hallways wearing only his underwear. He had no room key so he went to the front desk in his undies and got second key. It made for an amusing morning as he retold it to the other tour members.
Our first stop was the Clava Cairns (http://tinyurl.com/26hq555). These 4000 year old burial mounds were used by the Picts. They have been fully excavated today and you can walk into them. The morning was misty and the weather was chilly. It made for a perfect accent to the visitation of these houses for the dead.
The next stop for the day was Culloden Battlefield (http://www.nts.org.uk/culloden/). This is the site of the final battle between British Forces and the Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite Rebellion troops. The visitor center is a multi-media extravaganza. Long time lines take you through both the British and Scottish history leading up to the battle. A four screen theatre immerses you in a recreation of the battle from both sides of the conflict. Interactive digital maps, movies, sound stations, and live weapons demonstrations give you a sense of the execution of the battle and the brutality of warfare in 1746. You can go outside and walk a path around the battlefield accompanied by a GPS receiver and a headset. As you reach key points around the battlefield, the GPS beeps and starts a sound file telling you about the battlefield, the events in that area, and the people involved. As you walk between points you can choose to listen to other details about the battle. It was one of the most interesting and memorable experiences I had in Scotland. We only spent two hours there, but I could easily have spent two or three more.
We went back into Inverness after Culloden and caught a ferry up the Calledonian Canal which leads out onto Loch Ness. It was windy and there was definitely a chill out on the vast waterway. Luckily the ferry had a full bar on it so a lil' coffee spiked with scotch kept us warm.
Our destination was Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness.
This is one of the most historically significant castles in all of Scotland. (http://tinyurl.com/modj7) The visitor center here had a movie telling about all of the important history surrounding the castle. The center also had a load of information about the occupants and day to day life of the castle. The castle itself is a ruin, but it is fully explorable. We climbed up and down and into every nook we could find. The view was also spectacular as the castle sits right on the bank of Loch Ness.
I I collected some rocks from the shore of Loch Ness for some co-workers while we were there.
Back on the bus, whiskey was poured and we were on our way back to Inverness. When we went to Ireland with Men of Worth in 2008 I played a song by Against Me! for James. He figured out how to play it and I got to sing it one night during the tour. James asked me on the bus ride if I had that song with me and if I would be willing to sing it again at the jam session tonight. I lent him my iPod and we got it figured out. After dinner there was a jam session with all of the musicians from the tour. They are a very talented group and listening to them was great. I got to sing, Carol sang her parody/tour recap version of Doon in the Wee Room, and Grandpa did his version of Waiting by Hank Williams. It was a great night and one of the many joys of doing a tour with James and Donnie rather than a more traditonal tour where you are cut loose after dinner with nothing to do.
I don't have any video of the session, but here are links to the original versions of the songs we performed.
Pints of Guinness Make You Strong by Against Me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OvzoWttPDI
Doon in the Wee Room
http://tinyurl.com/2fqocb8
Waiting by Hank Willams Sr.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtFQmV8Jwko
Our first stop was the Clava Cairns (http://tinyurl.com/26hq555). These 4000 year old burial mounds were used by the Picts. They have been fully excavated today and you can walk into them. The morning was misty and the weather was chilly. It made for a perfect accent to the visitation of these houses for the dead.
The next stop for the day was Culloden Battlefield (http://www.nts.org.uk/culloden/). This is the site of the final battle between British Forces and the Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite Rebellion troops. The visitor center is a multi-media extravaganza. Long time lines take you through both the British and Scottish history leading up to the battle. A four screen theatre immerses you in a recreation of the battle from both sides of the conflict. Interactive digital maps, movies, sound stations, and live weapons demonstrations give you a sense of the execution of the battle and the brutality of warfare in 1746. You can go outside and walk a path around the battlefield accompanied by a GPS receiver and a headset. As you reach key points around the battlefield, the GPS beeps and starts a sound file telling you about the battlefield, the events in that area, and the people involved. As you walk between points you can choose to listen to other details about the battle. It was one of the most interesting and memorable experiences I had in Scotland. We only spent two hours there, but I could easily have spent two or three more.
We went back into Inverness after Culloden and caught a ferry up the Calledonian Canal which leads out onto Loch Ness. It was windy and there was definitely a chill out on the vast waterway. Luckily the ferry had a full bar on it so a lil' coffee spiked with scotch kept us warm.
Our destination was Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness.
This is one of the most historically significant castles in all of Scotland. (http://tinyurl.com/modj7) The visitor center here had a movie telling about all of the important history surrounding the castle. The center also had a load of information about the occupants and day to day life of the castle. The castle itself is a ruin, but it is fully explorable. We climbed up and down and into every nook we could find. The view was also spectacular as the castle sits right on the bank of Loch Ness.
I I collected some rocks from the shore of Loch Ness for some co-workers while we were there.
Back on the bus, whiskey was poured and we were on our way back to Inverness. When we went to Ireland with Men of Worth in 2008 I played a song by Against Me! for James. He figured out how to play it and I got to sing it one night during the tour. James asked me on the bus ride if I had that song with me and if I would be willing to sing it again at the jam session tonight. I lent him my iPod and we got it figured out. After dinner there was a jam session with all of the musicians from the tour. They are a very talented group and listening to them was great. I got to sing, Carol sang her parody/tour recap version of Doon in the Wee Room, and Grandpa did his version of Waiting by Hank Williams. It was a great night and one of the many joys of doing a tour with James and Donnie rather than a more traditonal tour where you are cut loose after dinner with nothing to do.
I don't have any video of the session, but here are links to the original versions of the songs we performed.
Pints of Guinness Make You Strong by Against Me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OvzoWttPDI
Doon in the Wee Room
http://tinyurl.com/2fqocb8
Waiting by Hank Willams Sr.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtFQmV8Jwko
Men of Worth Tour Day 7
As we headed out of of Lybster we saw our first pair of Highland Cows.
We were on our way to Dunrobin Castle and after that to Inverness. Dunrobin Castle is not the kind of castle you normally picture with towers, battlements, and a drawbridge. It was a home to the Earls of Sutherland for many generations. It was very pretty and rather large. The most impressive part of the stop though, was the Falconry demonstration in the gardens of the castle. We saw the trainer run through several drills with a hawk, a falcon, and an owl. The birds flew over our heads and the trainer even had the owl land on the head of a guy in our tour group. It was really cool. The pics are the Castle, the gardens, the trainer with a falcon, and the owl swooping over us.
We made it into Inverness around 2pm. Carol, Chris, and I mounted an expedition to find an internet cafe. We wandered around the streets and finally we were directed to a cafe in a dark alleyway. The computers were not great, but we got a little work done and got some funds transferred. We went back to the hotel and availed ourselves of some scotch before dinner. There was music that night, but Carol, Chris, and I again headed to the streets and found ourselves a karaoke bar. It wasn't the best karaoke, but we managed to make it a good time. We stopped at a little bar near our hotel afterward. On our way to our rooms, we ran into another tour member. We learned a very interesting fact about our hotel from him. The hotel bar is open ALL NIGHT to hotel guests. Woo Hoo! We got another pint before retiring for the night.
We were on our way to Dunrobin Castle and after that to Inverness. Dunrobin Castle is not the kind of castle you normally picture with towers, battlements, and a drawbridge. It was a home to the Earls of Sutherland for many generations. It was very pretty and rather large. The most impressive part of the stop though, was the Falconry demonstration in the gardens of the castle. We saw the trainer run through several drills with a hawk, a falcon, and an owl. The birds flew over our heads and the trainer even had the owl land on the head of a guy in our tour group. It was really cool. The pics are the Castle, the gardens, the trainer with a falcon, and the owl swooping over us.
We made it into Inverness around 2pm. Carol, Chris, and I mounted an expedition to find an internet cafe. We wandered around the streets and finally we were directed to a cafe in a dark alleyway. The computers were not great, but we got a little work done and got some funds transferred. We went back to the hotel and availed ourselves of some scotch before dinner. There was music that night, but Carol, Chris, and I again headed to the streets and found ourselves a karaoke bar. It wasn't the best karaoke, but we managed to make it a good time. We stopped at a little bar near our hotel afterward. On our way to our rooms, we ran into another tour member. We learned a very interesting fact about our hotel from him. The hotel bar is open ALL NIGHT to hotel guests. Woo Hoo! We got another pint before retiring for the night.
Men of Worth Tour Day 6
We returned to Orkney and were again set on a tour of the historical sites. Our tour guide today was Marita. She is an expatriate from Germany who came originally as a student and visited several times before moving to Orkney. She is a professional storyteller and tour guide.
We visited the Italian Chapel. It was built during World War 2 by Italian prisoners of war. They built a great deal of it from scraps of metal and wood. It is heavily decorated inside. The walls are hand painted to look like bricks and are very well done. There is a statue of St. George slaying the dragon outside the chapel that was also built by the POWs.
We went into Orkney's other city, Stromness, for lunch. We ate at a second floor restaurant in a hotel and looked out at the harbor. After lunch we saw three different sites. First was the Cliffs of Yesnaby. (http://tinyurl.com/2e8mt7g) The cliffs look straight out into the Atlantic Ocean. Marita said that when the weather is bad, the ocean can come all the way over the top of the cliffs.
Next we saw the Brough of Birsay (Brough is pronounced Brock with a heavy dose of phlegm). This is a Viking settlement that was built on top of an older Pictish settlement. It is all the way across the tidal bridge and you can get cut off if the tide comes in fast, so we didn't go over to look at it.
Finally we stopped at the Brough of Gurness. (http://tinyurl.com/2e52tfv) This is one of the largest Viking ruins on Orkney. We were able to walk around in it and see what it looked like so many thousand years ago. It was very impressive.
We were tired after two days of extensive touring on Orkney. The ride back seemed long, but we had music, whiskey, and good company to take us on our way. Guest Fiddler Gordon Gunn joined the Men of Worth that night and the music was great. Here is video of Gordon in action. (http://tinyurl.com/2cseo3f)
We visited the Italian Chapel. It was built during World War 2 by Italian prisoners of war. They built a great deal of it from scraps of metal and wood. It is heavily decorated inside. The walls are hand painted to look like bricks and are very well done. There is a statue of St. George slaying the dragon outside the chapel that was also built by the POWs.
We went into Orkney's other city, Stromness, for lunch. We ate at a second floor restaurant in a hotel and looked out at the harbor. After lunch we saw three different sites. First was the Cliffs of Yesnaby. (http://tinyurl.com/2e8mt7g) The cliffs look straight out into the Atlantic Ocean. Marita said that when the weather is bad, the ocean can come all the way over the top of the cliffs.
Next we saw the Brough of Birsay (Brough is pronounced Brock with a heavy dose of phlegm). This is a Viking settlement that was built on top of an older Pictish settlement. It is all the way across the tidal bridge and you can get cut off if the tide comes in fast, so we didn't go over to look at it.
Finally we stopped at the Brough of Gurness. (http://tinyurl.com/2e52tfv) This is one of the largest Viking ruins on Orkney. We were able to walk around in it and see what it looked like so many thousand years ago. It was very impressive.
We were tired after two days of extensive touring on Orkney. The ride back seemed long, but we had music, whiskey, and good company to take us on our way. Guest Fiddler Gordon Gunn joined the Men of Worth that night and the music was great. Here is video of Gordon in action. (http://tinyurl.com/2cseo3f)
Men of Worth Tour Day 5
We went to the Orkney Islands (http://tinyurl.com/25o6atg) on June 21 and 22. Orkney is a series of islands that are off of the north coast of the mainland. You depart from John O'Groats which is the northernmost settlement in Scotland.
We rode a ferry for about 45 minutes to get to Orkney. The water we crossed is where the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet. The water can be very rough at times, but we had easy sailing both days. The water there is a busy shipping lane and was very important during World War 2 as the British Naval Fleet was based in the Scapa Flow (http://www.scapaflow.co.uk/).
Our ferry landed at Burwick (pronounced Burrik) and we boarded our tour bus and met our guide, Jack. Here he is staning outside the wall of the orginal church for which the city of Kirkwall was named. Kirk being the Gaelic work for church.
We stopped at the Ring of Brodgar first. (http://tinyurl.com/23wtxjd) It is a 4000 year old ring of standing stones built by the Picts. Considering that it was excavated and built by people who had no metal tools, it is pretty amazing. Being able to stand in a place of such wonder and mystery was inspiring.
We heard a lot about the history from Jack and we saw some Viking graffiti scrawled onto one of the stones. We reloaded the bus and headed for Kirkwall to tour the city and have some lunch. Kirkwall is the largest city on Orkney. Actually, it is one of only two cities in the entire place. Jack took us around the streets and gave us another history lesson. Then we were set free to wreak havoc on a few pints and a plate of fish and chips. I also picked up bottles of Orkney-made scotch. One from the northernmost distillery in Scotland, Highland Park and another top shelf scotch called Scapa. They are both very tasty.
After lunch we went to see Skara Brae (http://tinyurl.com/hkh6b). This is a Pictish settlement from 3700 BC. It is right on the coast of the Bay O' Skaill. As you walk toward the ruins there are several stone markers that lead you through major events in history all the way back to Skara Brae. There is also a replica of one of the houses to walk through. The ruins themselves are off limits as they are very old. Again, I was struck by the amazing things that ancient people were able to do. Follow the link and check out the history about this place.
This is a picture of the top of the settlement. It was built underground to protect from the elements.
On the same sight as Skara Brae is a manor house called Skaill House. (http://www.skaillhouse.co.uk/) It was interesting as well. The house was owned by a family that owned the land where Skara Brae was found. Descendents of the family lived there until the nineties. The house is now owned by someone else and is often rented out as a vacation house or wedding space. Photos cannot be taken inside, but it was quite impressive. Check out the website for pics and info.
After the tour went back to Lybster via ferry, bus, and whiskey.
There was more music and Grouse that night.
We rode a ferry for about 45 minutes to get to Orkney. The water we crossed is where the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet. The water can be very rough at times, but we had easy sailing both days. The water there is a busy shipping lane and was very important during World War 2 as the British Naval Fleet was based in the Scapa Flow (http://www.scapaflow.co.uk/).
Our ferry landed at Burwick (pronounced Burrik) and we boarded our tour bus and met our guide, Jack. Here he is staning outside the wall of the orginal church for which the city of Kirkwall was named. Kirk being the Gaelic work for church.
We stopped at the Ring of Brodgar first. (http://tinyurl.com/23wtxjd) It is a 4000 year old ring of standing stones built by the Picts. Considering that it was excavated and built by people who had no metal tools, it is pretty amazing. Being able to stand in a place of such wonder and mystery was inspiring.
We heard a lot about the history from Jack and we saw some Viking graffiti scrawled onto one of the stones. We reloaded the bus and headed for Kirkwall to tour the city and have some lunch. Kirkwall is the largest city on Orkney. Actually, it is one of only two cities in the entire place. Jack took us around the streets and gave us another history lesson. Then we were set free to wreak havoc on a few pints and a plate of fish and chips. I also picked up bottles of Orkney-made scotch. One from the northernmost distillery in Scotland, Highland Park and another top shelf scotch called Scapa. They are both very tasty.
After lunch we went to see Skara Brae (http://tinyurl.com/hkh6b). This is a Pictish settlement from 3700 BC. It is right on the coast of the Bay O' Skaill. As you walk toward the ruins there are several stone markers that lead you through major events in history all the way back to Skara Brae. There is also a replica of one of the houses to walk through. The ruins themselves are off limits as they are very old. Again, I was struck by the amazing things that ancient people were able to do. Follow the link and check out the history about this place.
This is a picture of the top of the settlement. It was built underground to protect from the elements.
On the same sight as Skara Brae is a manor house called Skaill House. (http://www.skaillhouse.co.uk/) It was interesting as well. The house was owned by a family that owned the land where Skara Brae was found. Descendents of the family lived there until the nineties. The house is now owned by someone else and is often rented out as a vacation house or wedding space. Photos cannot be taken inside, but it was quite impressive. Check out the website for pics and info.
After the tour went back to Lybster via ferry, bus, and whiskey.
There was more music and Grouse that night.
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