More Scotland

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Hello! (Kate here)

So I'm blogging to you from Glasgow, Scotland. It's a fairly big city, and it's not-so-clean. I'm not a big fan, but the internet is free so hey, I'll take it.

Let's see if I can remember where I left off. Two days ago, we left Edinburgh and drove into the Scottish Highlands. Lots of sheep...really cute, and some funny looking Highland Cows. We stayed at a little Bed and Breakfast which was gorgeous (pictures to come when I burn another CD). Then we left there this morning and drove past Loch Ness and Loch Lommond into Glasgow. Nothing too exhilirating but the scenery is breathtaking.

Here are some things I've found interesting about Scotland.

1. Men wear kilts like it's no big deal. As I speak, a bunch of teenage looking youngsters and roaming about the hotel looked like they're ready for prom. Girls are wearing long dresses, and half the boys are wearing kilts. Funny!

2. Sheep are really cute, and I really don't ever want to eat them again. And they BAA at different pitches.

3. It rains here... A LOT.

4. Haggis isn't as bad as I thought it'd be, but it's still not for me.

5. They drink a lot of whiskey here.

6. Everyone is pretty nice...and they swear they speak English, but I can't understand them half the time and I spend a lot of time smiling and nodding...haha.

7. Music is a big part of their culture and I hear the same 4 or 5 Scottish folk songs at different locations every day.

8. It stays light outside until close to 12:30 AM and gets light again around 2:30 AM. Really throws ya off!!

Okay well I can't think of much else to write...or maybe there is just TOO much. The reason why there aren't much pictures on here yet is because I have to find a Kodak stand or camera shop to burn them onto a CD first...otherwise they are too big because most of them are RAW files. If you don't know what that means, just accept that they're too big and take too long to post straight from the camera. Expect a post sometime soon with all the pictures I need to catch you up on.

Hope all is well with you and I'll type to ya later!!!

<3 Kate

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Comments

[Randy & Sherry]

A little history of Randy's ancestors
Some of Randy's family history notes; My grandmother's name was McCormick. It is said that Captain James McCormick’s name is listed on a stained glass window of a Londonderry Cathedral and that the McCormick family has many graves on the Isle of Mull (not to be confused with the Isle of Man). The Isle of Mull is located on the west coast of Scotland near the body of water that drains from Lock Ness. It is said that a castle belonging to the McKlean’s has a sign over a portal that states that any McCormick entering there shall be given food and shelter. My grandmother's name was Trueblood. The earliest know ancestor of the bloodline was Arnold Trueblood who died in the Goale of Lincoln castle in Beckingham, Lincolnshire, England. This explain's my interest in the region, more from a cultural point of view than actually seeing sites. Sherry and I both have a rich ancestral history in Ireland and the UK. Hope you're enjoying the trip and taking a lot on notes for us. Can't wait to get over there ourselves and find that $20.00 you left for us.

[monique]

love reading about your adventures! and can't wait to see some more photos. It sounds like you are going all the time! Is there ever any down time for you both? Keep in touch, miss you.

[Rusty]

I saw this on digg and made me think of you guys....
http://matadortrips.com/10-things-to-do-in-amsterdam-besides-smoking-pot/ Clear your head and get outside to explore Amsterdam like a local. Contrary to Pulp Fiction lore, there’s more to Amsterdam than hash bars. Coffeeshops are the shit for many an Amsterdam virgin, yet locals view them as tourist traps lacking in “gezelligheid,” or coziness, the cornerstone of Dutch culture. Smoking yourself into a coma at the Bulldog is just fine, but you’re going to miss out. Follow these ten tips and you’ll do Amsterdam like a local. 1) Immerse yourself in art. From Spui take tram 2 or 5 to Museumplein, where the Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum keep you occupied for hours. View Van Gogh’s life through art, from the Potato Eaters up through the last two months of his life in France. Holland’s Golden Age is the highlight of the Rijksmuseum. Don’t miss Vermeer’s Milkmaid. 2) Day trip it. For an excursion, the 15-minute train ride to Haarlem is worth the trip. Browse fashionable boutiques, visit the Gothic St. Bavo church, and walk to the Frans Hals art museum. For eats, kick back at the spacious Café Brinkman (grandcafebrinkman.nl) on the square, and to top off the day, have drinks at Café 1900 (Barteljorisstraat 10) on the way back to the train station. 3) Drink up. With more than 1200 intriguing pubs to crawl you’ll have more than your fill. Start at the Heineken brewery (Stadshouderkade 78) to see how famous beer is produced. Check out Café Belgique to taste smooth Belgian brews like La Chouffe and La Trappe Dubbel. Other standouts: gallery/bar Schuim (Spuistraat 189), Gollem, and In De Wildeman. 4) Night bike it. Amsterdam is most romantic at night, when the city is aglow from lit up bridges and canals. Start at Leidseplein and bike down Kerkstraat to the Amstel River, where you’ll find the Skinny Bridge in all its glory. Cut across Waterlooplein to Jodenbreestraat, which takes you into Nieuwmarkt. Pay a visit to the Waag, a pub/restaurant that once formed the city wall, or brown bar Café ‘t Loosje (Nieuwmarkt 32-34). 5) Club it. For pre-partying, head to Lux (Marnixstraat 403) Bitterzoet (Spuistraat 2), or Seymour Likely (Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 250) for live DJs. Join the dance crowd at Mazzo (Rozengracht 114), Club More (Rozengracht 133), and Paradiso (Weteringschans 6-8). For a laid-back vibe, check out Café Alto (Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 115) for local jazz acts. 6) Shop for treasures. Walk the famous 9 streets (theninestreets.com), to pick up cutting edge fashion and eclectic wares. Don’t miss Lady Day, which sells vintage and secondhand European fashion for a steal. Browse for a designer fragrance like Creed at Skins Cosmetics, investigate the Paul Frank Store , and get pampered at Spoiled, where you’ll be custom matched to a designer pair of jeans. 7) Do it like the Dutch. Nothing says typically Dutch better than a hunk of Gouda stuffed in a fresh bread roll. Savor this ritual by picking up a sandwich at Broodje van Kootje (Spui 28). Grab a newspaper at the Athenaeum bookstore across the way, and plunk yourself down on a bench in the square. For another Dutch favorite, visit the Pannekoekenhuis, a tiny upstairs restaurant on the second floor of a narrow canal house. Dive into big pancakes, served sweet or savory. 8 ) Indulge, Indonesian style. A former colony of the Netherlands, Indonesia now occupies Amsterdam, in terms of cuisine. The rice table (a smorgasbord of dishes) is the name of the game but you can opt for the Nasi Goreng (fried rice) at Sie Joe. For something more upscale, consider Tempoe Doloe, on the boutique-lined street, Utrechtsestraat or Puri Mas, located in the entertainment district of Leidseplein. 9) While the day away in a café. At Café Zeezicht (Hoofdweg 456), people watch on the outdoor terrace, sipping a Dutch style latte and nibbling on the best apple tart in town. Brown cafes, named for their wooden interiors, are good for mingling with the locals. Cafes not to miss: De Balie, Café De Tuin (Tweede Tuindwarsstraat 13), and Café ‘t Smalle (Egelantiersgracht 12). 10) Walk it. Start at the eastern end of the Albert Cuyp street market in the ethnically diverse neighborhood De Pijp. Peruse Dutch treats like fish, cheese, and chocolate among 300 stalls. Take a right on Ferdinand Bolstraat, then a left on Stadshouderkade. Take a right at Spiegelgracht for a stroll in the antique district. Turn left onto Herengracht to see splendid 17th century canal houses. Make a right at Leidsestraat and go up to Singel. Hit the Singel lunch Café (Singel 404) for homemade soups and baguette sandwiches.

[Kirsten]

That's so weird about when it gets dark and when it gets light. I'd probably never sleep there.