Farewell, Scotland! | Dear Readers 2
by Elouise
Edinburgh Castle, high above the city
This week D and I have been looking at photos/slides taken in 2015 during our 50th wedding anniversary trip to Scotland. It was fabulous! We flew out of Philadelphia on September 1 and spent nearly 2 ½ weeks in Scotland. Here’s one of my Scotland posts. A tiny peek into a stunning trip. Don’t miss the panorama below, taken from Edinburgh Castle. Click to enlarge (2 times if needed).
For the record,
- D drove us safely over 650 miles on the ‘wrong’ side of the road without any scrapes or bruises. Every now and then he had just a bit of what he called ‘terror on the road.’ Especially on the narrow, winding back roads we enjoyed for most the trip.
- We have over 2000 photos to help us remember this fabulous trip.
- We left our pedometers (Fitbits) at home, which is most unfortunate since we climbed up and down the equivalent of at least one mountain each, and walked over 100 miles each in cities, towns and forests.
- We ate breakfast most days like royalty (thanks to our Bed & Breakfast master chefs!), learned to depend on TESCO and The Cooperative Stores found all over Scotland, and enjoyed more versions of yummy carrot-red lentil soup than I knew existed in this world. Usually served with an enormous, thick slice of heavenly bread.
We spent time in Edinburgh, North Berwick, Stirling, Glasgow, Oban (Isle of Mull and Iona), Grantown-on-Spey (Cairngorms National Park), Huntly (George MacDonald’s home), and Aberdeenshire (Castle Fraser).
Most amazing and somewhat strange was being together and doing only what we chose to do on any given day. The weather was mild, sometimes chilly damp and windy, but overall stunningly beautiful.
Here are several more photos from the first day of our trip. Enjoy!
First, a panorama looking down from the Edinburgh Castle to the City. Click on the photo to get a closer look. Can you see the ferris wheel?
Here’s a flag of Scotland whipping around in the wind above the Castle. Note the wind-worn edge.
Now we’re down on the street, walking away from the Castle.
This colorful window garden caught my eye–one of several in a small, quiet courtyard just off the busy street.
This magnificent organ was in the church where John Knox once preached. No, I didn’t get to hear it being played–one reason I have to go back some day!
Finally, here’s a little street beauty from a residential area just below the Castle.
I hope you all had at least one or two happy adventures during the last few weeks. If not, here’s hoping you survived whatever other adventures came your way.
Elouise
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 18 September 2015, lightly edited and reposted 11 May 2022
Photo credit: DAFraser, September 2015, Edinburgh, Scotland
Loved this, as we are preparing for a trip to Scotland in June. A week in Iona and then travel about with a singing group Natalie is part of. No driving for me, D is braver than I!
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Yay! I hope you have a wonderful time. It sounds like you hit the jackpot–a great trip, no driving, no sermons to write, nothing required except being there. Iona is fabulous. We looked at our Iona slides last night. And yes, the no driving is probably the best part of the deal! Congratulations to Natalie as one of the singing group, and to you for marrying her! 🙂
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Love this! Good therapy.
Ah, I owe Drs. “D” and Elouise a huge thank you for Dr.’s written work on Ecclesiastes! I’ve greatly enjoy going through parts of each of your books (5? total).
The latest news is that the type and length of time I was on the IV drip left me with 40% of my hearing. My hearing aides came Monday. What an adjustment,
Thinking of you both often and pray for you.
Shalom, Lorraine
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Hi, Lorraine! Thank you for this kind comment. Things have been a bit complicated lately, though I’m hoping for a smoother ride once I get my priorities straight! I’m glad you’re enjoying D’s book. I’m not glad you lost 40% of your hearing during surgery. I never would have guessed that could happen. I hope the hearing aides are as stylish and helpful as they could possibly be! 🙂
Thanks for your prayers. Whatever old age is about, it isn’t what I expected. Some parts better, some parts worse. Up one day; down the next. Yet the sun, rain or clouds keep showing up every morning–right outside my kitchen window. The best time of the day, with Smudge often asleep on my lap while I eat breakfast and watch the show outside the kitchen window. Two days ago, a young Cooper’s Hawk landed on the back porch rail, scanned this way and that, then bolted off to learn about life outside the nest.
Blessings, peace and prayers. Elouise
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Oh, what a beautiful place! Thank you for sharing your photos and memories with us! 🙂
(((HUGS))), prayers, and ❤️
PS…We have good friend from Scotland who spends part of the year there and part of it here. I love asking him questions just to hear him talk. That accent! 🙂
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It was (and likely still is) stunning. I get all teary when I look at our slides. It struck me as a country I might enjoy living in permanently. As for your good friend, I hope you still get to hear him talk! There’s nothing quite like it. 🙂
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Scotland is still on my bucket list. Thank you for the great photos.
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You’re welcome, Gwen! I hope you get to go, and that all the beauty is still right there waiting to be enjoyed. 🙂
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Awesome. It’s amazing how pictures can just take us right back to enjoy the moment.
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Yes, indeed! Thanks for the visit and comment. I get all teary looking at those pictures. Such a conglomeration of beauty, history and struggle.
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Scotland is such a beautiful country to visit and photograph and I’m glad to hear you had a great time exploring it 🥰 thanks for sharing and have a good day 😊 Aiva xx
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Hi, Aiva. Thanks for your comment! I’d go back in a heartbeat if I could.
Elouise 🙂
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