Scenes from Scotland

During long weeks full of work and never ending house stresses (The plumber from hell’s legacy, which started in February, lives on, with no end in sight.), I spend some of my down time daydreaming about past and future travel. It’s a nice way to (try) to fall asleep at night, and reminiscing about beautiful weather afar helps when what’s outside is less than ideal.

Our trip to Ireland and Scotland this past March seems like it happened so long ago, but I still have so much to blog about! I took hundreds of photos and soaked up lots of little moments. Here are just a few scenes from Scotland that stick with me.

Rosslyn Chapel was at the top of our list when planning a trip to Edinburgh, and the local bus system made it very easy to get there, about a 25 minute ride through the city, small towns, and beautiful countryside.

The Rosslyn Chapel is a very special place, and there is an old, good energy about it. It was founded I 1446 as a place of worship, but it is perhaps best known for its role in The DaVinci Code. Rosslyn Chapel is a place of peaceful daily worship, but it is also a place of myth and legend, which include the possibility of the Holy Grail being there.

We wandered the chapel and grounds and had a few eerie feelings, but mostly we enjoyed the architecture and stories about the building and its history. Photos aren’t allowed inside the chapel, but I forgot myself when I saw William, the chapel’s cat, snoozing on one of the pews. What can I say; I am a complete cat lady!

While waiting for the return bus to Edinburgh, we took a stroll through the town of Rosslyn, which is lovely and sleepy and very Scottish, surrounded by rolling hills and quietly milling with incredibly friendly people.

Upon our return to Edinburgh, we enjoyed a pub lunch and chat at The Black Cat.  I love a pub lunch, especially after the rain has just come tipping down. A toasted sandwich and hot curried carrot soup, along with a local ale, was just the thing.

Edinburgh is a gorgeous city, and with its hilly streets, cobblestones, and old buildings, it feels like a bit of a dark fairytale. Edinburgh Castle looms over the city, and it is a fascinating place to visit. More on Edinburgh Castle and the city’s ghastly history later; this girl went on not one but two ghost tours!

Edinburgh’s mild climate also meant that everything was green and dotted with flowers much earlier than in Boston. Prince Street Gardens was the perfect place for morning coffee and shortbread, and I spent most of the trip marveling over the cheerful daffodils, which had popped up everywhere.

This trip was my second to Edinburgh, but with it being only a short flight from Shannon, I can see us going again and again. I can’t wait to share with you some of the delicious dining experiences we had in Edinburgh, as well as our fantastic hotel and other favorites.

What are you reminiscing about this Throwback Thursday?