I took this picture obviously from the window of the plane. I wanted to be ready to take pictures of my first sight of Scotland. However, as we continued to fly over water and land masses, I began to suspect this was not Scotland. Depending upon the flight path, this could be a picture of northern Ireland. Do you see those cliffs in the lower right side of the picture? Looks like Ireland to me!
Looking more like Scotland, for the ocean is giving way to land. An emotional moment for me. I wrote the following in my journal, "I have gazed upon Scotland with my own eyes for the very first time, from way up in the air, from the window of the plane!"
As we descended, the patchwork pattern of the fields below came into sight. It surprised me to see so much more farmland than urban. I mean Scotland has been around for a very long time and it just seemed to me that as the population grew they might eventually run out of land for they are only an island country after all! Most of the population of Scotland is in the central belt where Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, and Perth. But over the years due to The Clearances during the 18th & 19th century and also due to the Potato famine thousands of Scots were displaced. So much so that there are now more Scots living outside Scotland than inside.
Notice the wind farms scattered below! Kind of interesting to look at really. Some people don't like them for they seem to think that Scotland's countryside is being ruined by these gigantic windmills. However, some don't seem to mind considering the renewable energy source they provide. But around 50% of the wind farms of the UK are located in Scotland. Guess they feel that's a bit much and the beauty of Scotland is being sacrificed for the whole of the UK.
Again from the window of my plane, I am getting my first glimpses of Scotland. Just over the wing you can see the famous Firth of Forth bridge. I understand this bridge is considered an iconic structure and symbol of Scotland. The building of this bridge began in 1882 and was completed in 1890 (whew, that means that it's 125 years old and it is still in operating condition). But to the Scots, I bet they don't consider that bridge to be so old. After all, there are castles still standing in Scotland that are around 500 years old and some in ruins dating back to the 1100's!
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| This is Barnbougle Castle near Edinburgh. Built in the 13th century & rebuilt in 1881. |
We haven't even landed yet and already I was seeing castles! I took this picture from the window of the plane as it flew over what looked to be a castle there on jutting out into the Firth of Forth. I did some research after I got home and I think it was highly likely that I was looking down upon Barnbougle Castle. I have inserted a picture I found on the internet!
