11 Hours on one tank of diesel (40 gal). Amazing. However, the trip was only supposed to take us 6.5 hours. Our first lesson re:UK traffic. Second lesson: they are crazy. They zip in and out, cutting you off, even when there’s plenty of room ahead of you. Third lesson: people actually obey the speed limits here. As in, everyone drives 2 MPH’s below the speed limit (except for some of the aforementioned drivers). Fourth lesson: everything in this country is metric, except for their speed limits. Fifth lesson: Roundabouts are your friends (I thought that I’d hate them). Sixth lesson: These cities are NOT traffic friendly; traffic lights are poorly timed and need to have sensors installed, road lines need to be repainted, and traffic lanes made straight and MUCH more clear. Building the cities before vehicles were invented is no excuse. Seventh lesson: nothing is pronounced the way it’s written, so don’t ask for directions. On about the trip.
So Glasgow was a bit of a disappointment. If you’re not into art, or shopping at chain stores they have plenty of in London, there’s not much to do. Maybe we needed a local guide. I can’t remember who recommended it to me, but if you have to choose, stay in Edinburgh. However, it was an excellent home base for the surrounding areas. And they were filming a Brad Pitt movie in George Square, which they turned it into Philadelphia. They had to change street signs and everything. I sure hope it rains a lot in Philly ;)
Saturday we drove to Edinburgh, spent the day wandering around town, up to the castle, up something or else park hill, around various Fringe Fest stations. The crowds of people were very energizing, as well as the bright sun that broke through the clouds. We had planned on doing a tour of the castle, but decided to save our money, since we were going to Culzean (pronounced Culane). Amazing time, amazing sights.
Sunday was my favourite day of all. We spent most of the day at Culzean Castle. It was Knight and Princess training day, so the place was overrun by little ‘uns, but it also meant there were lots of treasure hunts around the grounds, demonstrations, and people walking around in traditional garb. I wanted my Knight certificate, but apparently I was too old to participate. Harumph. Next year, I borrow someone’s kid. However, they couldn’t stop me from looking for the little Lego man hidden in each of the castle rooms. What a great idea! They even move them around for people who come back several times a season. Gives the adults a chance to do their thing while keeping the kids out of their hair. And the castle was only a small portion of everything they had to offer! The stables had been turned into a cafe, the village into a visitor info centre/shops, there was a walled garden, an ice house, a gas house, a deer park, and who knows what else. It was perched on the edge of a cliff, with waves crashing below, and was surrounded by forest. Gorgeous.
We got back to Glasgow that evening just in time for service at the Baptist church next to hostel we were staying at. Baptist churches must be really big here, because they’re the only ones that I consistently keep running into. I was a bit embarrassed to walk in in my jean shorts, considering it was a cathedral style building, but needn't have worried. In fact, they were the closest church to Bethany I’ve experienced here so far. People were super friendly, casual and open, they raised their hands during worship, and even laid hands on each other and prayed a blessing when we would do our greetings back home. And I had the impression that they lived what they preached, and that church was definitely not just a Sunday thing.
Another huge highlight was finding a little local pub called Ben Nevis. We were looking for a more authentic experience, and I was looking in particular for some Scottish music (downtown is covered in trendy bars full of tourists). Murray, the bartender who looked like he wasn’t old enough to be working there (I’m starting to feel old I think), was super knowledgeable, and told us a bit about the different types of whisky, and gave us a sampling of three different kinds. Jason, I would like to happily report that NONE of them tasted like I was chewing on a cedar plank, unlike that stuff you tried to feed me. AND people started wandering in with their instruments. One girl even handed her fiddle over to me for a bit.
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