Day 38: Scottish Countryside

One of the best things about train rides is the opportunity to see a part of the land that you will not see when you are flying in. Sometimes trains go through places that even cars can't get through.

I arrived in Scotland at the best time, I've been told that Scotland has maybe three weeks of summer and the rest of the time is cold and wet. But it's that moisture that makes Scotland so beautiful.

The trees are of different shades of green, sometimes even on the same tree. The crops come in varieties of green that go from a deep green to a bright almost neon bright.

And I've been lucky the last few days because some of it has had beautiful sunshine and big fluffy clouds.

I was easily distracted from my hot, sometimes crowded train rides. But there were times when I felt privileged to see the passing landscapes of Scotland.

And on the trips, I would find myself singing inside of my head "...by the Bonnie Bonnie banks of Loch Lomond!"

I'm sure the other riders don't see the things I see because they see them every day, but therein lies the problem. Maybe if on or commute, regardless where we are, we should chance a glance out the window more often to see a bit of the scenery, because the internet isn't going anywhere but the scenery is flying past you.

Day 36: The Castle and the Unicorn

I took the high road and I reached Scotland before you! Where the highland air did wonders for my sleep and my cough. I didn't remember any coughing fit last night and I was ecstatic to realize I slept over 8 hours. Considering I was averaging anywhere from 4 to 6 hours while I have been going in Europe, 8 hours of straight sleeping is a miracle.

As I read about the heatwave hitting Paris and London, I'm glad I'm in Scotland where the temperature hovers in the mid 60s. It's wonderful to feel the clean air of the highlands.

It is green, bright green fields, dark green leafy trees and blooming bright flowers! I can see how people fall in love with Scotland. 

After my relentless and intense sightseeing in Europe, I've taken the time to take a deep breath and just slow it down a bit, after all in just 7 days I'll be back in Chicago.

Today was Stirling Castle at Stirling, Scotland. The drive through the Scottish country roads was thrilling and frightening. Thrilling because I loved the dips, the curves and the excitement of a road new to me. Frightening because it's the UK where people drive on the other side of the road and I had to keep from screaming every time another car came towards me from the other direction. I'm so thankful my friend Laura did the driving, I would have been a wreck constantly driving on the wrong side.

Well before we arrived in Stirling, I could already see the castle. It sits on a large rock that stands in the valley like a plateau. The castle was around before Columbus was even born. That it is still standing is amazing. Every castle I visit, I learn something new and I like to imagine what it might have been to live back then. 

Of course it would probably be more as a stable boy or a kitchen girl, which I can believe had to be a harsh and short life. But as is in all history, the rich and the powerful live well.

Most of the rooms were tall large rooms with echoing steps. Then I entered the Queen's rooms which was covered by tapestry and suddenly the room was hushed and a felt a little cozier. I've noticed that the beds are rather small and but the canopy made it very cozy and inviting. 

In seeing the large fireplaces in each room, I realize how cold winters must have been for them so I can see where a canopy bed was a necessity. 

Having seen Versailles last week, I couldn't help but make comparisons. The French were much richer, considering the size of the palace and the amount of gold and crystals expended on the place. But there was a friendlier, more approachable ambience to Stirling Castle. I could almost imagine the citizens crossing the inner close towards the kitchens and the grand hall.

What I really like about Stirling Castle was that in the vaults, they converted them to interactive rooms for the children. There was a music room for  children to play with different instruments, a place where they could discover the colors of the times as well. My favorite was the room where they had customs for kids to try on to see what they would look like in the past, too bad they didn't have any for adults.

The view was spectacular, showing the gardens, the town of Stirling and the Old Town Cemetery. I'm constantly fascinated by the cannons that surrounded the castle walls. I don't know why, but the image of them standing at attention on the wall seems so poignant, now that the wars the cannons served are over. 

The care that shows on the castle and its grounds are obvious in the way the grounds are meticulously kept. Today the smell of fresh cut grass permeated the air and the moisture in the air combined to an almost magical air around the castle. 

The flowers on the grounds were obviously well tended and expressed that care with their beautiful blooms.

I learned that the unicorn is one of the symbols of the Scots, a magical creature from myth and legend. One of my favorite childhood books was Peter Beagle's "The Last Unicorn". How could I resist a country that could hold the unicorn in such high regard? 

Day 35: Travel Day

I bid good bye to Paris today and as I made my last walk down Boulevard St. Michel, I walked slower than my normal pace, as if I were dragging my feet. Or it could have been because I had acquired a few items in Paris that made my backpack heavier. But I did enjoy my time there, I enjoyed the sights, the sounds, although I could have done without the constant pee smell. 

The Chunnel had been shut down yesterday because of a workers strike, but I hoped it would be ok today.

I got to Gare Nord on time but the "Londres Hall" where you have to go to take the Eurostar to go to London was packed! The people who were delayed from yesterday also can on the train today. Because there was so many people, the line to check in was stretching to down the up escalator and down to the main floor. There was one man only who was sort of the information officer and when people would ask him if this was the line for the 910a train, he would say yes, then assure the people that they just stand there and not have to walk to the end of the line.

I noticed some people flinching at that, but I seem to have absorbed his Gallic shrug because I wasn't the least bit annoyed by it as I might have been previously. I still didn't like the pushing and the shoving, the jumping in line but I mentally shrug.

The Eurostar was crowded but I got lucky and had a nice solo seat by the window. Why only the business class got free wifi, I don't know. But I always thought 1st class trumped business class. But as I've learned in these travels, this is Europe.

I fell asleep, just exhausted, I drooled, odd that I'm doing that now. Perhaps the length of this holiday has taken a greater toll on me than I realize. Between the heat, not only of the weather but when you cram a lot of people into a small space, it's like a convection oven, the heat goes round and round.

I fell asleep when we were entering the Chunnel, so I couldn't tell you how long it was, I don't remember my ears popping as it did when I road the bullet trains in China when they hit a tunnel. But before I knew it, we were pulling into St Pancras station in London.

St Pancras had an area showing off the departure schedule to the rest of the UK. It was cool, giant wall and a bunch of people looking up. 

I stood in line to get  ticket for one station. It was literally the next station from St Pancras. I could have walked to Euston station according to my GPS on my phone. But it was very hot and a heavy pack on my back wasn't helpful. So I found Kings Cross and stood in line to buy a ticket for the underground. Instead I bought the wrong kind of ticket, I bought a bus & tram card. 

So I had to go stand in line at the ticket office which only had two people working for a line of at least 30 people. But I had to change my ticket, and I also saved myself 20 pence. 

I eventually got on the right train, but not before my ankle decided it didn't like me anymore, it actually crumpled as I was placing weight on it while I was walking down the stairs to Euston station.

So with ankle throbbing, throat drying up. I ended in Euston station where everyone looks like they are all waiting for a train.

Another waiting game. Today was nothing but hurry up and wait. I found a seat to save my seat, but when an elderly woman came by and stood before me, I have up my seat to here.

Then the notice for the platform information was unbelievably short. Despite the PA having said over & over, do not run for the platforms at Euston Station, people run.

Then the train car I was in was barely blowing cold air on us. So for 5hours I sat uncomfortably in a warm coach to Glasgow.

It too was packed. I didn't know Scotland was such a tourist haven. But I made it, I always do and now I'm so tired my eyes are crossing as I type this on my iPhone.

So as try as I might, this is actually a short post.