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Thursday

April 4 & 5: A failed attempt at camping & Medieval music!

Hello friends |

I beloved the Falkirk Wheel!

We’re currently inward Cupar , which is a flake of a tiny , nix town but close St Andrews.  We’re staying amongst an unbelieveably sugariness solid unit of measurement nosotros flora on AirBnB as well as they couldn’t last to a greater extent than dissimilar from Fergus.  They invited us to direct maintain dinner amongst them (making us a veggie risotto amongst some wild Scottish herbs as well as wild garlic.  It was incredibly tasty) as well as they laid us upward inward what used to last servants quarters inward the house.  It’s good kitted out amongst scented candles as well as a multifariousness of teas.  Needless to tell , they’ll instruct top marks when nosotros direct maintain to review them.

Nicholas inward awe of the Falkirk Wheel

The yesteryear duet of days direct maintain been hectic.  Yesterday morn , Nicholas went as well as picked upward our hire machine , which nosotros got from a little fellowship called Celtic Legend.  The guy nosotros emailed amongst was really , truly , 100% called William Wallace.  He signed his emails “Willie”.  We swung yesteryear the Great Britain version of Walmart to alternative upward a whole heap of non-perishables as well as in all likelihood 8kg of bananas , earlier nosotros started heading to our get stop: The Falkirk Wheel.

Not to pelting on Nicholas’ Falkirk Wheel parade , but I wasn’t wholly excited well-nigh the whole rotating bicycle thing.  It was pretty cool when nosotros really got there.  It replaces well-nigh eleven locks , which used to direct maintain 8 hours or as well as then to instruct through.  It takes iv minutes as well as uses the amount of ability to boil vi kettles.  “How?” you’re in all likelihood bespeak (maybe you’re not. I wasn’t until I saw the informative video).  Inertia.  For that argue , given Archimedes job inward the hole ‘inertia’ matter , the footling go boat nosotros went upward the bicycle inward was called The Archimedes.  We sat behind a pair of really annoying children who got the best spots inward the boat.  That business office was annoying.  Nicholas almost moisture himself amongst engineer-based excitement.  I abhor to encounter what’ll occur at Legoland.

We hung some at the Falkirk bicycle for a while.  I admired all the dogs , who were much ameliorate behaved than the children.  Nicholas watched the Falkirk Wheel inward amazement as well as took lots of videos , as well as then he could relive the sense over again as well as again.  I joked that he should’ve worn his GoPro on the 50 infinitesimal boat journeying upward the bicycle , through the tunnel as well as dorsum downward the bicycle , as well as he got a glint inward his oculus similar he thought it was a skillful idea.  I shouldn’t joke well-nigh such things.
Nicholas pretending to instruct inward for a passionate osculation amongst i of the Kelpies

They had installed some lights to lite upward the Kelpies at nighttime but some leafage was growing inward the way.  Foliage is as well as then cool.

After we’d finished at the Falkirk Wheel (read: I convinced Nicholas that instead of deliberating over which Falkirk Wheel postcard to purchase , he should but purchase them both as well as instruct going) nosotros headed to the Kelpies.  The Kelpies are huge.  There’s non a lot else to tell well-nigh them.  We didn’t produce a tour because nosotros had to pay also much for parking.  We ate inexpensive loving cup noodles spell everybody else ate really expensive H2O ice cream.

The Kelpies!

We stopped at a really beautiful hold off out on the agency to our army camp spot.

From The Kelpies nosotros needed to notice somewhere to camp.  We had enough of fourth dimension earlier sunset to notice one.  Scotland has much to a greater extent than relaxed camping ground laws than Commonwealth of Australia as well as we’d read the code , as well as then felt pretty good equipped.  We flora i spot that looked promising , but kept driving to a loch we’d seen on a map because nosotros thought that’d last much to a greater extent than picturesque.  It was.  We railroad train army camp as well as were but well-nigh to ringlet out our mats when some rangers told us to motion on because it was a reservoir as well as human excrement as well as all that.  Not ii minutes later they left as well as nosotros were pulling out pegs , the heaven darkened as well as nosotros saw the Sun dip behind a mountain.  Not promising.

This would direct maintain been our amazing army camp spot.  Sadness. 

We decided but to caput to the previous spot nosotros had seen.  It was a bog.

Driving off the mount as well as downward to Kilsyth nosotros started having a hold off online for motels.  Looking for a motel at 8.45pm on a Sat nighttime on a long weekend inward a tourist town isn’t promising.  On in all likelihood the 7th house nosotros called , nosotros got a winner.  It could’ve been the 6th house , which was the Antonine Inn.  On bookings.com the most recent review was 1 star , proclaiming “THE STAFF WERE AGGRESSIVE.” Nicholas as well as I had a skillful chuckle to this , thinking they’d direct maintain a bad experience.  When nosotros called the inn to enquire well-nigh the booking , the receptionist real abruptly said , “We don’t direct maintain bookings over the phone.  You’ll demand to instruct to bookings online.”  They really were quite aggressive.

We stayed upward far also belatedly watching the Da Vinci Code as well as looking at places nosotros had been on our trip , similar Rosslyn Chapel.

The Wallace Monument (looking quite foreboding inward the fog)

Today nosotros got upward relatively early on to brand job of the costless breakfast included inward our hotel stay.  All that haggis as well as blood pudding inward the bain marie really puts i off their mushrooms as well as beans , to last honest.  Only inward Scotland.

Ignoring the fog , nosotros laid out for the Wallace Monument , jumping some fences to cutting across the roads.  It was also really foggy as well as already filled amongst tourists.   We decided against paying the fee to instruct upward the monument , considering how foggy it was.  You’d hardly encounter anything from the top.
I'm loving all the daffodils.

Such mist.  Very monument.

Nicholas using The Wallace Monument equally the backdrop for his prog stone album cover.  He thinks he looks similar he's air guitaring.  I intend he looks similar a terrible tango dancer.

Did I refer I beloved daffodils?  Did I refer at that spot was fog?

We were also neat to instruct to Stirling Castle.  To celebrate Easter long weekend , Stirling Castle had been turned into something of a Renaissance fair , amongst falconry as well as 16th century dancing as well as hurdy-gurdy playing.  I was most excited for the dancing.  Stirling Castle was pretty beautiful as well as the weather condition turned out to last amazing.  I fifty-fifty managed to instruct a whole solar daytime without whatever thermals – but a t-shirt. 

This owl was also tired to bargain amongst the tourists at the falconry session.

These ladies were the superlative of fashion (once)

We watched some really cool displays as well as I made friends amongst an owl.  We ran out of fourth dimension to encounter everything at Stirling Castle , in all likelihood because I was also busy dancing amongst ladies inward wonderful dresses , but that's ok.  There was a fatty human playing all kinds of foreign as well as wonderful instruments.  He directed us to his YouTube channel as well as says he also does weddings.  I'll proceed it inward hear if I e'er instruct married inward Scotland.  https://www.youtube.com/user/JimTribble/videos

Nicholas is a jester as well as I'm mortal dressed similar a Flemish painter

Stirling Castle (the forepart sentiment was obscured yesteryear an H2O ice cream truck , as well as then you lot instruct this i instead)

We walked some as well as tried on costumes as well as lazed some inward the Sun as well as eventually headed to the lovely solid inward Cupar where nosotros are now.  Nicholas is watching James Bond: Skyfall as well as looking at Glen Coe , where nosotros volition last inward well-nigh a month.  I’m looking at our pictures as well as non watching Outlander , fifty-fifty though I’d similar to be.  Tomorrow nighttime nosotros really DO army camp , as well as then wishing us luck!

We also drove yesteryear a town called Dollar as well as then nosotros stopped to direct maintain a painting demo amongst the Dollar Sign , because we're tourists.











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April 2 & 3: A cemetery for dogs & cracking the da Vinci code

Hello friends |

Nicholas getting inward touching on amongst his Scottish Heritage

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few times nosotros had intended to larn to Edinburgh castle , but this was the twenty-four hours it all came to fruition. We got upward squeamish together with early on , walked downward to the castle together with started off amongst a tour.  The guy's hollo was James together with was , manifestly , business office of a long trace of piece of employment of James' to pass fourth dimension at the castle.  It was a pretty brief touring , going over some Scottish history that he claimed he wasn't quite hence good versed in.  We didn't know whatever amend hence nosotros couldn't right him.

We had a flake of a compass out of the Scottish jewels which were non quite every bit spectacular every bit those at the Tower of London , but I was pretty fond of the staff.  Scotland is cool.

Next , Nick together with I popped into the Great Hall , where a real Scottish looking lad was giving weapon demonstrations.  Nicholas was lucky plenty to endure picked (or , I was obvious plenty that I wanted him to endure picked) to endure rugged upward inward Highlander chic. He had the laurels of beingness a Scottish pigfarmer named Hamish from but exterior Inverness , recruited to struggle inward the Battle of Culloden (like inward Outlander).  I recall I enjoyed it to a greater extent than than he did.  That’s ok amongst me.
Nick beingness kilted upward (it takes a human to wearable a dress)


You tin flip the tartan over your caput for a handy hood inward mutual frigidity weather.

Our handy guide demonstrating a peachy means to stun your opponent if your weapons don't produce the trick: but disrobe.  "Because if there's i affair to a greater extent than intimidating than a horde of large , hairy , angry men chargin' towards yous , it's a horde of large , hairy , angry naked men."

Just downward from a tiny niggling chapel in that location was a cemetery for soldier’s dogs.  This made me particularly deplorable but also happy because it reminded me but how much the Scots beloved their dogs.  There are dogs everywhere inward Scotland.  On the strange occasion yous come across places signed that state they demand to endure on a atomic number 82 , but most of the fourth dimension they but roam costless , trotting along yesteryear their human’s feet.  It’s amazing.  It’s the best.  I beloved Scotland.

The cemetery for soldier's dogs.  RIP Scamp.

I bailed early on from Edinburgh Castle , leaving Nicholas to facial expression at the state of war museum department yesteryear himself.  I walked yesteryear a huge plain of daffodils (daffodils are everywhere inward Edinburgh) to the High St , where I was having a handling at the Lush Spa.  In illustration you’re non aware , I move at Lush together with I beloved Lush (Lush is Love.  Lush is Life).  In some countries (ie non Australia) , they receive got spas that are amazing inward everywhere together with similar tiny English linguistic communication province cottages that odour amazing together with serve yous tea together with jammy dodgers.  I had a handling called Synaesthesia , based on the status , which 2 of the founders have.  It was totally immersive together with smelt hence proficient together with the massage was also hence good.  I beloved Lush.  It was a proficient day.

 The 1 o'clock gun hence yous tin synchronise your timekeepers onboard!

Edinburgh together with Arthur's Seat 

This whiskey is thirteen 600 pounds.  POUNDS.  We did some whiskey tasting though.  It was gooooood.

There are lots of pictures of Nicholas inward this post.  Here's i of me.

We were thinking close heading to a pub for dinner , but were hence relaxed from our spa that nosotros caput dorsum to Fergus’ identify to lookout adult man some Outlander (I watched Outlander.  Nicholas read Sherlock Holmes , fifty-fifty though he totally wanted to lookout adult man Outlander).

The side yesteryear side twenty-four hours was Good Fri , hence a reasonable twenty-four hours to see a religious establishment.  Cue: Rosslyn Chapel.  The conditions was pretty poor together with nosotros had to run for our bus.  The staff at the Chapel were incredibly sugariness niggling erstwhile women.  One annoying affair close Scotland is that most places solely give yous concession access if you’re  a) actually erstwhile , b) disabled.  Students don’t count.  At the Chapel , I asked if I could larn concession entry amongst a pupil carte du jour , she asked if Nicholas together with I were both students , nosotros said solely me , together with she waved her paw together with gave us 2 pupil tickets anyway.

Then she said , “Now , today is Good Fri hence in that location volition endure quite a few people inward in that location praying.”

We nodded , expecting her to inform us that nosotros needed to endure serenity , pay our respects , etc.

“Just ignore them.  They’ll complete upward close three.  Have a proficient twenty-four hours ,” she said.  It wasn’t what nosotros expected.

We went within , were handed a pair of sound guides yesteryear some other friendly erstwhile lady , together with started making our means roughly the Chapel.  It actually is an incredibly detailed carved Chapel.  This was all real beautiful together with in that location were some cool stories behind some of the carvings (all the information could endure found inward pictures together with videos exterior the Chapel: it was real high tech) but in that location was also a cat.  The cats ever win inward my book.

The Chapel

Standing exterior the Chapel

So many daffodils inward Scotland right now!


I’ll tell yous i affair close the Chapel earlier I tell yous close the cat.  There was a pillar that a stonemason had made , together with he requested his apprentice brand another.  Basically , when the bricklayer went away for a piece , the apprentice made i that was a meg times amend together with , when the bricklayer returned , he was hence mad close beingness upstaged that he hitting him over the caput amongst a stonemasonry tool together with killed him.  Here’s a less bastardised version of the same floor I found on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosslyn_Chapel#Apprentice_pillar

Back to the cat.  One Lord's Day , a identify unit of measurement from the town of Roslin wandered to the Chapel together with their niggling dark together with white kitten followed them.  They left.  The truthful cat found the identify plumbing equipment together with stayed.  Perhaps ironically , or perchance they changed it afterward they adopted him , his hollo was William (William St Clair was the founder of the Chapel).  Another friendly together with tiny erstwhile lady distracted William from the pats Nicholas together with I were showering him amongst to give him biscuits.  She started telling us a host of stories close the quite large tuxedo cat.

On i occasion , a lady was getting married inward the Chapel inward a beautiful designer gown amongst a long train.  They asked her if she wanted them to relocate William for the service together with she said he was fine to remain inward the pews , where he unremarkably liked to sit.  As she processed downward the aisle , William decided to accept a ride on her develop together with hence curled upward for a slumber during the “I do”s.

On some other occasion , he brought inward a one-half eaten rabbit together with dropped it yesteryear the altar during Eucharist.  I couldn’t brand this materials upward if I tried.

You can't accept pictures within the Chapel , where William was , hence I pinched this i off the internet.

After Rosslyn Chapel , nosotros felt a flake obliged to come across a few landmarks together with monuments that nosotros hadn't had a jeopardy to come across yet.  I couldn't tell yous what they were for or who commissioned them or what they were called.  It was actually mutual frigidity together with I was feeling a flake coach sick from the trip to Rosslyn.  Here's a yoke of pictures. (I wrote this earlier I looked through the pictures together with in that location were real few of the monuments together with but a lot of me , which shows yous were Nicholas' priorities were)

Me inward front end of Edinburgh

Holyrood Palace (which nosotros also never had fourth dimension to see)

One of the aforementioned monuments












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