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Train to Edinburgh
The Scottish Rail system. Cindy awoke with the cold still hanging on to her (despite taking the "wee dram of whisky" that was actually about 3 fingers worth the night before), but she wasn't about to stay in the house on her vacation.
Since Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is on the opposite coast from where we are in Oban, we thought it might be a good idea to take the Scottish Rail from Oban to Glasgow and then Glasgow to Edinburgh rather than drive. Also, the weather forecast was for cold rain and thunderstorms in our part of the country, while the forecast for Edinburgh was sunshine and warm temperatures.
We arrived at the Oban rail station at 8am for our 8:20 departure. We were fortunate to get 4 seats around a table and I had brought my laptop hoping to get some writing done on the 3 1/2 hour trip. The first leg, from Oban to Glasgow, was scheduled to be 2 hours and 10 minutes in length, then we would catch a connecting train to Edinburgh at 10:45am and arrive in Edinburgh at 11:30am. There were two things we didn't expect; that the constant rocking motion of the train would
Coming Out of...
...Waverley Station on Princes Street in Edinburgh. put us all to sleep and that the train would be late and get us to Glasgow 2 minutes after our train for Edinburgh left. The first was funny, the second was not. I also hoped that the train would have Wi-Fi for its passengers, but it did not. I'm dreaming of the day when, asked what her one wish is for the world, a Miss Universe contestant will answer, "I wish for free Wi-Fi around the world."
Since our train from Glasgow to Edinburgh left without us, we had to wait for the next one, which wasn't until 11:15. It was a crowded train, but we were fortunate enough to be first in line to get on and get 4 seats around a table again. On this short leg of the trip we resisted the siren call of the rocking train to nap, and instead enjoyed the countryside between the outlying industrial sections of Glasgow and Edinburgh.
We arrived in Edinburgh and were assisted greatly by a lady who heard us discussing the best way to get to the Tourist Information Center. I have to interject here that we have had many instances where we were helped
Even in Edinburgh...
...the Mouse is there. Disney store beneath the Royal British Hotel. or treated so very graciously by Scots we have encountered during our stay thus far. We've been made to feel welcome, even by folks who have nothing to gain by doing so. So if you're Scottish and reading this, we really appreciate your friendly manner and helpful attitude. Thanks!
Originally the plan was for me to visit The National Gallery of Scotland and the Royal Museum of Scotland while Cindy and her mom & dad took the Circle Tour Bus. When we realized we had a lot less time than we planned on before having to catch the train back, we decided we would all go on the tour and return another day to see the things we each wanted to visit. We left the station and the first thing we see on the street level is a huge Disney store across the way. The Mouse is everywhere. After going to the TIC and getting our tickets for the Circle Tour Bus, we headed off to find some lunch. We walked around the corner and found...McDonald's! Everyone else got a nice healthy salad, but I had to try the roast beef and "mature" cheddar cheese sandwich, something I've not
seen in regular McDonald's that I've visited in the states. It wasn't that great and their Coca-Cola bordered on tasting like a cherry coke. For me, it was a disappointing lunch, but it filled the need.
We went over to the area where the Circle Tour Bus was loading and got seats on the open, upper level of the double-decker bus. I've included a photo of Cindy with her mom and dad looking over the top to me below on the sidewalk. The tour was informative, interesting and enjoyable. We had a very personable and humorous tour guide who added a lot to the facts and history of the city.
After that, we split up and I returned to the train station entrance (where I had checked out an Internet Cafe earlier to make sure I could use my own laptop to upload the next post for all of you to read) while everyone else went and did a little shopping. I spent about an hour getting the post uploaded and then checking and replying to email before my 3 compatriots returned to drag me off so we wouldn't miss our train back to Glasgow. Cindy had visited
Tour Bus
Cindy, her mom and her dad wave from the upper deck of the double-decker tour bus. a pharmacist and purchased the equivalent to our Dayquil in the states. We laughed because the list of symptoms it would treat were described as "tickly cough" and "shivers".
We bought ready-made salads, desserts and drinks to eat on the Glasgow to Oban leg, but once we arrived in Glasgow, we decided to leave the station and go sit outside in George Square to eat our dinners. It was fun sitting on a bench, eating and watching a population that is almost as varied and cosmopolitan as what you might see in New York City. I also took the opportunity to drop off a book for Bookcrossing on a bench in the N.E. corner of George Square, behind the statue of William Gladstone. Its title is "Dear America; Letters Home From Vietnam" so Vanessa, now you know where your book was left and thanks again for letting me read it and release it.
Speaking of Mr. Gladstone, I've included a picture I took of his statue's head...covered in pigeon poop. How humiliating! I've also included a picture of a portion of George Square, which is about a city block in size and a great place to sit and
read, eat, people-watch or just chill. Cindy and I sat there making up stories of people who passed by us, "Legal secretary by day, high-priced hooker at night", "Going home to an empty house and a frozen dinner", "Hates his job, dreams of going mountain climbing" and on and on. Silly, but fun. There's also a picture of a portion of the interior of the Queen Street Station in Glasgow.
By the time we arrived back in Oban and drove to the cottage, it was around 9:15pm and it had been raining since mid-afternoon because of lightning storms in the western half of the country that day. Since our original plan for Edinburgh didn't work out quite the way we planned, we're thinking of returning by car and either driving up very early in the morning to see everything and return late in the evening, or possibly staying at a B & B in Edinburgh for one night so we can spend 2 days in Scotland's capital city. I'll let you know what we end up doing.
NOTE: Thanks to all who have commented so far. We really enjoy reading your comments and knowing you are reading about Man in Kilt...
...walking down the street. Note the "Dr. Who" phone booth. all our travels. Please keep commenting (and if you haven't yet please do, we'd love to read your comments!).
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gramma b
non-member comment
whats a book crossing?
why did you release a book? what does that mean...