Edinburgh, Scotland

Going back in time, again, here we are in (June) Edinburgh, Scotland, continuing our whirl-wind road trip through the UK.

 

Our hotel was located just across the street from the old castle and it was a short walk up the hill. 

I am always amazed with how these structures are built right into tthe sides of rocks.

While the kids and hub took a tour of the Edinburgh Castle, I went on a tour of the Edinburgh Old Town Weaving Co.  Loved it. I think I spent most of my time just wandering around looking at all the different tartans and looking for familiar names.  None for my family, of course.

Here's a little video the kid helped me make this morning.  I filmed a short time in the Mill, being totally fascinated with the old weaving machines.  Of course, I had to add some wonderful Tattoo music.  Getting fancy here.  haha.

Along the Royal Mile, gorgeous old architecture. 

 

I spied this "young" gent making his way up to the main street.  He stopped to speak with the bagpiper who had been playing some lovely music.  I was inspired by the politeness of the bagpiper as he spoke with the elder.

This is one of my favorites, Ness, when I get to Edinburgh.  A twist on the older colors of Scottish woolens.

Of course, we had to walk Mary King's Close, as it is said to be a very haunted area in Edinburgh.  A close is an alley or stairway that leads to other levels in buildings and to the lower part of the city.  Here the kid waits to feel something.  grin.  Nothing.

This shows the lower area of the city.  The last time we were here, we stayed in the business district down "there."  Loved the name Granny's Green Steps!

And more spots in the old town.

And then we were back at the hotel.  Here the jumbotron is airing the Royal Ascot with Her Majesty The Queen arriving with the Duke of Edinburgh via carraige.  Fun stuff!

A quick check out and back on the road (again).

The beauty of Scotland whizzing by us as we sped back South towards Cumbria and the Lake District, our next stop.  Can anyone tell me why the UK does not put North, South, East or West on their motorway signs?  It sure would help us gringos.

Phew!  I'm tired, again, just thinking about it.

Welcome to Scotland

It was a very long drive from Stratford up to Edinburgh, Scotland.  Thank goodness we had made the nice stop in Harrogate for a good lunch.  Regardless, I think we were all happy when we finally hit the Scottish border.

We had been in the car for over ten hours so a stretch of the legs was in order.  So we stopped at this wonderful picturesque area.  The kid and I weren't talking by this point (there was a "gum" incident) but he suggested we go up this road and see what we could find.  And so we did.

What a brilliant idea.  Because we found the small fishing village of Eyemouth.

It was breathtaking, to say the least.

There is something very magical about Scotland to me.  Perhaps it's the Scottish roots.

 The beauty is awe-inspiring.

 

We watched as the clouds rolled in and the sun began to set.  The kids were still not talking to me.

 

And then we were back on the road heading to Edinburgh.  Ugh.  I wanted to be next to the fire in this farmhouse rather in the car with hormies flying every which way.

 

I loved all the green surrounding us as we drove.  I loved watching the North Sea and the sun setting.   I  kept my mind on the beauty surrounding me rather than the very long drive with two teenagers, hormones raging.  Oy.

When we finally found our hotel, we were absolutely delighted.  We arrived after the hotel restaurant had closed so we had the kids order room service while the hub and I went down to the pub and threw back a few.  We were still vibrating from the car ride.  I would have loved to have been a fly on the kids' room wall.  I bet they were as fit-to-be-tied as us.  But how can you stay mad here?  Look at the view!  The Edinburgh Castle was right outside our window!

 Loved this quote from President Ford.

But not as much as I loved the martinis. 

This was the pear & blueberry martini.  It tasted like cotton candy.  I could have stayed down in the pub all night enjoying these.

After a few calming drinks, we decided to head back up to our gorgeous room and order a little sumpn' sumpn' for our bellies.  But, before heading back up, I decided to prank the chillins.  I asked the waiter for a house phone and dialed their room.  (This was the first time we had separate rooms since we left London.)  I disguised my voice as a Brit and rang them up.  The cuz answered, and I told her it was the front desk calling and there had been numerous complaints about noise coming from their room.  I then asked for their parents. (I'm so bad.)  Of course, we weren't there, so I told her to tell them to ring the front desk when they returned. (SO BAD!!!)

When we returned to the room, she was straight away telling us that the front desk had phoned.  She looked quite scared.  Poor thing.  After letting it go on for about five minutes, the hub and I screamed "GOT YOU!"  hahahahaha.  When we ordered room service for us we added this fancy tiramisu for the kids.  Yes, this is room service!  Oh my.  Of course, we were all happily in love with one another after that.

Our saving grace in Edinburgh?  TWO rooms! And very nice rooms at that!

It Was a LUSH-Kinda Night

. . . . or was it a Calgon moment? It was so cold last night, I decided to draw myself a bath to warm the bones. And, of course, it was not your regular kind of bath. I figure it's such an ordeal to prepare a bath these days, for me anyway (and clean up the huge "soaking" tubs of today), I may as well make it worth my while. Ever since I found LUSH, I've been addicted to the stuff. I put in a bomb (for the effervescence), I put in a melt (for the oil), I put in a crumble of bubbles (just for the fun of it) and I kept the shower jellies close (for the cleanin'). I've always had a keen sense of smell and associate memorable "moments" with certain smells. Here's my smelly LUSH story.

The hub had business in the UK; and, of course, I had to go. Any opportunity I get to go to Europe, I jump at it. The trip began in London and then lead up through Nottingham and then further North to Scotland. We decided to be adventuresome and rent a car and drive it. I say "we" like we drove. HE drove. I co-piloted, all the way! They must see us idiot Americans coming. Two deer in the headlights, panicking at every roundabout for sure. "Stay to the left but watch the curb, watch the ditch, enter roundabout to the left, exit at 2 o'clock, OMG, we missed it, again!" Funny stuff. The hub was totally drained the first day of driving. After he slept on it though, it was a breeze. Funny how the brain works. Anyway, we make it to Edinburgh, alive. The hub had business in the Outer Hebrides with the Harris Tweed folks--the rag man that he is. (Take a read, there's wonderful history in all that wool.) Talk about trains, planes and automobiles; it was quite an ordeal for him to get up there. It was all business meetings, so I stayed in the city. Of course I didn't mind a day of shopping and sightseeing without the hub. (He refuses to sightsee, bah humbug!)

As I'm walking up Princes Street, this wonderfully scented waft of air hits me. I followed it right into LUSH. I was in heaven. This is MY kinda stuff. Again, the kid in a candy shop mind set shifted into gear. I tried to be "cool" and not too American as I'm buying everything in the shop. I can't tell you how many POUNDS of bath ballistics, soaps and shampoos I purchased. Having never seen a LUSH store before, I thought I better get it while I can. Let me tell you, when I had to lug my suitcase packed full of all this junk through the train depot and onto the train (we dropped the car off in Edinburgh), I wished I had been a little lighter on the purchasing. You think the story ends there? Uh uh. (My stories seem to go on for-ev-er, don't they!) Well, we get back to London and met up with some friends (Raphael!!) at Convent Garden. There, I encounter the "smell," the LUSH smell, again. I knew that smell this time. It's a very distinct aroma. Right there, around the corner from where we were staying, was a LUSH store. I didn't have to purchase a million pounds of the stuff in Edinburgh and then lug it all the way back down. Oh noooo, I could have waited and just purchased some right there in London. C'est la vie--live and learn.

After that, I would have to "get my fix" through Canada (shhhhhh). There weren't any stores in America yet so I had to be careful. Those costs added up quite quickly with shipping and handling from our Northerly neighbors. It was a lean couple of years unless the hub made a trip overseas and happened upon a LUSH store. He's so sweet. Poor guy, I can't tell you how many times he would stop and shop in order to feed my smelly habit. I've had LUSH from all over the world, thanks to him. Thank you, dear hub.

We didn't get a U.S. store until about four or five years ago. Of course, a year after I moved from DC, one opened in Georgetown. Needless to say when I go "home," I stock up. And, another needless to say, when we were in NYC, I stocked up, as you can see for yourself. They are constantly coming out with new products. My latest fav are the new "shower jellies." It's kind of like a thick soap goo in a small tub. A couple of them are straight out of the jello factory, I think. You have to stick your fingers in the tub and pull out the stuff. It reminds me of finger painting in the bath, ha. I also enjoy when their "paper" arrives in the post. It's a very fun read; almost as fun as their products. But the smells, aw the smells.......they all transport me back to Edinburgh.....sigh.