Sunday, July 09, 2017

Oh, Mary (Queen of Scots)!



Closing out our whirlwind European vacation with a couple days in Scotland -- including a day trip to Dumbarton Castle, which sits on a plug of volcanic basalt known as Dumbarton Rock and is where Mary Stuart lived for six months as a girl before sailing to France to make good on the Auld Alliance. This strategically important settlement provides incredible views of the Firth of Clyde as well as a wealth of history. 





Will be sad to see this trip end, but am eager to see Harvey, who we hear is not very happy that we've been gone so long.





Damian dared to have the haggis while I played it safe with meat and potatoes.



Our adorable waitress at Blackfriars brought us beer samples including two Glaswegian brews -- but the need for multiple security guards and the two brawls we saw en route reminded us that this city hasn't outgrown its roughneck roots Bill Forsyth taught me about as a teenager!



City has a crack problem ...



Pulling into the station ...





"You wouldn't tease a girl, would you?"



Was a tad disappointed when we checked into the hotel and the desk agent was Russian -- only to be told the accent was Scottish. (It was easier to communicate in Germany and Austria!)


Checked out Speakeasy, Underground and the Polo Lounge.  


Was tickled they played Sylvester's "Do Ya Wanna Funk" at Underground. But having a guy ask me to watch his jacket at the Polo Lounge then disappear was the funniest part of the night! After an hour, we finally had to move on with our lives ...

1 comment:

Stephen said...

Beautiful pics. Your beef and potatoes looks scrumptious.