Scotland's Finest

I visited Commando Memorial which is dedicated to the men of the original British Commando Forces raised during WWII.

 It overlooks the training areas of the Commando Training Depot established in 1942.

 Hairy Cows were all over the Scottish Highlands. They are marvelous looking creatures.

 Every time we stopped the bus to see something it always made me catch my breath. I kept thinking, 'I didn't know place like this existed.'

 So the piles of rocks placed on this mountain were done by families or groups as a way of saying 'I was here'.

 Selfie: Epic Fail.

Susan 'photographer extraordinaire' B.

More Castles

Ever since I moved to this country, I find myself hang out at castles more than I ever thought I would. Who would have thought you can get bored with castles? I guess nothing really compares to England castles. Everything else is just a brick building with a moat.

This picture does not do the view justice! Man this place was so beautiful it was hard to believe it actually existed.

This is part of Doune Castle. It's not used or lived in anymore and you can tour it, but we were there too early in the morning. It hadn't opened for the day yet.

So, it's tradition to not wear underwear when one is sporting a kilt. Whilst in Scotland, I researched this (read: I asked a Scotsman) The reason is this: Kilt's originate back to the 16th century. Underwear had not been perfected then as it has today by Victoria Secret. The reason they don't wear underwear today is because they didn't wear underwear then.

Here is a great story. Seen here is Tracy with Stevie. Stevie is one of the tour guides that drives that bus in the background. Last year, Tracy led the same trip with a different group of Richmond students and Stevie was their tour guide. Sometime during their guide through the Scottish Highlands, Stevie decided he was going to pick up a couple of hitchhikers. This made Tracy and other Americans super nervous. In the US, hitchhikers=serial killers, but in Scotland everyone is family. Anyway she told us this story not knowing Stevie was driving around other kids on the same tour that we were taking and then we happened to bump into him at Doune Castle.

Here I am at what remains of the Inverlochy Castle.

What's up homie?

We ate at this pub, Drover's Inn. Super good food. Look how excited Tracy was!

When you first walk into the pub, it's decorated with taxidermy.

Susan "I see London, I see France, Scottish don't wear underpants" B.

A Wee-Bit-O Scotland

I love Scotland! It was the most beautiful country I have ever seen and the Scots were so nice and I absolutely love their accents. Even more than I love English accents. It was cold weather but it was bearable and after Denmark, I was prepared. The hostels that we stayed in were both really nice. I would have like to stay in Edinburgh longer but we were only there for a night and then we took a tour bus pretty much all over Scotland. Once we checked into the hostel in Edinburgh, we walked around briefly, had dinner and then after dinner myself and two other students did a haunted walking tour.

This is a statue of David Hume. He was a philosopher. Anyway, his big toe that I am rubbing is shiny and gold in color because students often rub it before exams for good luck.

The Royal Mile or High Street is where we explored and where David Hume is located.

 Church.

 Adam Smith was another philosopher. Both sculptures were done by Alexander Stoddart.

 This is the Heart of Midlothian. There is a tradition to spit on the heart (yup, I did) that started because it  is just outside what used to be the prison where public executions were held. People had so much disdain for the prison they would spit on the heart. Presently, spitting on the heart is suppose to bring you luck.

 Here is David Hume again. As you can see, someone has put knickers on his head.

 We visited Edinburgh Castle (one of many). 

 Skyline from the castle grounds.

 Most of the students on the trip minus two people, one of which was a boy. So we had ten girls and one guy on this trip.

 This is Tracy. I adore her. She is the faculty trip leader and she made it REALLY fun.

 Some spooky shots from the haunted walking tour.

 We visited a cemetery, some dark alleys, stood outside a haunted building and a vault.

 I did not see or feel the presence of any ghosts.

 This is the haunted vault. It doesn't look scary because I used a flash and there is a colorful tarp.

This was our tour guide for the evening. She did a great job. She made me jump a couple of times. All in all it was a good first night to a great trip. More to come soon!

Susan "I hang out at castles now" B.