@bobbert

['net access has been non-existent. This was written on 07 Sep]

OMG the steering wheel is on the other side of the car and I’m having a hard time getting sorted. I’ll admit that in spite of all the simulation in my head, driving on the opposite side of the road as compared to the US was difficult for the first hour. Believe it or not, the most difficult thing is the realization that the rest of the car is to your left.

Bobbert driving across the Forth Bridge

See, its easy to get used to the idea that if you’re not physically in the middle of the road, (your ass is riding next to the centerline) but what’s difficult is the concept that the rest of the car is to your left. Now I know why most of the damage to rental cars is on the passenger side: Those of us used to driving from the right lane expect the rest of the car to be physically on our right. I can get as close as I want to something to my left and will have to work hard to hit it. Well that’s not the case here. Driving on the right hand side of the car, the remainder is on your left and our comfortable spacial awareness is out the window. I know I freaked out my brother a couple of times when I didn’t change lanes aggressively enough when passing on the motorway. Poor baby. It does take a bit of getting used to, not quite freak out time, but sometimes your mind just rejects what you’re seeing and says “No flippin way!” and you start second guessing yourself. Roads are in great shape and well marked–you just need to learn where to look. Signs tend to be smaller, probably because they have to shoehorn them into these older cities where landscape is already at a premium.

The River Tay and Perth

If Scotland is a 7 on a scale of one to ten, then Perthshire is a nine. Rolling hills checkered in green and gold, quaint cottages dot the landscape, a stray castle juts up into the air making it impossible not to like the place. The people seem very friendly and fun loving. The hay is being harvested here right now, before the next bout of wet weather. Perth is a quaint town on the river Tay. We’ve walked from one end of to to the other or I could say from Inch to Inch. There are two parks on either end of the city: the North Inch and the South Inch which have football fields and green space to run and play. Speaking of running, I haven’t. Oh well.

We have just two days here, tomorrow I plan to come into town and take some pictures then run down to Stirling and see the castle. There is also Stirling University and the William Wallace monument nearby. I hope the weather clears up a bit rather than the usual fall cloudy skies.

September 9th, 2008 | Category: Commentary, Photos | Comments (5)

['net access has been non-existent. This was written on 06 Sep]

. . . a kilt? Well if you’re a hardy sort, nothing but what you came into the world with. Others less acclimated to the capricious weather here in Scotland are inclined to wear something to keep the breeze in check. I would probably go commando–you know, when in Rome and all that… My cousin and the men in the wedding party were advised to go sans skivvys. No one really disclosed what came between them and their Sporran.

In typical Scots weather fashion, what was once sunny and bright by the next day, turned close and rainy. The bride and groom were fully invested in a wedding on Carlton Hill and in the true spirit of Scots, had it on the Hill weather be damned. I loved it: wind, a pattering shower, steely skies, a handsome groom and beautiful bride. No one minded one whit and I believe had anyone disented, they would have been cast off the Hill. The ceremony was short and heartfelt, presided over by a dear friend of the bride and groom’s. The reception was held at The Scotsman, former home of the newspaper, remade into a 4 star premium hotel. Anchoring one end of North Bridge and overlooking Waverly Station, The Scotsman is a classic pile in the old Edinburg fashon. It’s that old made new again that pervades Europe. We in America would tear it down and make something else there, ambiance be damned. (Hear that University of Dayton?)

Some waited for cabs to take them to the Scotsman for the reception while others chose to walk. The best view for pictures of Edinburgh Castle and Calton Hill are from the North Bridge off Princess Street. One of Kerry’s friends pointed out as we crossed the bridge and I completely agree. Had it not been raining, I would have taken a picture. So, how was the reception? Outstanding, of course! Great atmosphere without the carnival feel most wedding receptions seem have. The food was to die for: Haggis as a appetizer followed by Highland Venison, mashed taties, asparagus tied with a rasher. For dessert, a Baskin and Robbins ice cream cake flown in from London.

Mike, my brother is delayed in London and didn’t make the wedding. He’s supposed to arrive tonight by train but the flooding along the northeast coast of England and Scotland are causing the trains to revert to single track operations. He’s going to miss dinner with the Scotland contingent. Tomorrow, Sept 7th we’re taking a cab to the airport, picking up the rental car and driving to Perth. We’ll see how this goes.

September 9th, 2008 | Category: Commentary, Photos | Leave a comment

Internet access has been null so far, but I’m sittin in a pub having a bit of lunch and using their free wi-fi. I don’t know how often I’ll be able to update this thing until I find a hotel with net access. Trying to work out what pictures to post, visit with family, see the city, take pictures, has been daunting.

Not to sound like Yakov Smearnof but OMFG, what a beautiful country! Ok, os Yakof doesn’t have the cache that he once had, but no shit, Scotland, besides being the land of Scots, is a wonderful, green progressive place where men are men and women are women. WAIT, that doesn’t sound right. Ok so its an absolutely bootyful (yea, I know I mispeeled it) country that is verdant with all thing growing and a progressive people who have one foot in the future while one foot is in the past. Continuity is what I’m talking about friends, with a capital C!, Old buildings with new businesses in them.

The wedding is today, this afternoon in fact–hope the rain forecast for the afternoon holds off. Contrary to my previous post of a castle as the place for the wedding, it fact it will be at the top of Calton Hill, the second highest spot in Edinburgh after the Castle. Apparently the castle was not available. I ran up the hill yesterday and took some photographs. The colonnade is very Acropolis like and is scheduled for a cleaning this year.

Calton Hill collonade

So for now, I’m going to close. I’ve spent about an hour answering mail and trying to get this slow internet access to work. Don’t know when I’ll post again, but hope it’s soon.

September 5th, 2008 | Category: Commentary, Photos | Comments (3)