Taking the high road!

8/12/15

   Our agenda this Wednesday morning was to finish packing our bags, pack the food we still had in the kitchen and bought at the grocery store the night before which was to supply our on the road picnic & snacks. Back home we called our road snacks goody bags, but here we would have to call them goody boxes. It took 2 good sized boxes, which was soon to prove a questionable addition to our personal baggage!

   Transporting 6 pieces of luggage, plus a stroller, a travel bed bag, 2 boxes of food, and backpacks, down 3 flights of stairs was for the most part assumed by our son, and placed on the sidewalk as we awaited our taxi. We were a bit concerned that we would be able to cram 4 adults, 2 children, 6 large suitcases, plus a stroller, a travel bed bag, and two good sized boxes into the taxi when it arrived. But to our grateful surprise, when we closed the taxi doors nothing was left sitting or standing on the sidewalk. 

   Next stop: Enterprise car rental

   The taxi proved to be more accommodating to carrying all of our luggage etc., than the van we had rented. When we had exhausted all of our ideas about how to fit everything in, we came to the conclusion that it just wasn't going to happen. Fortunately, the kind people at Enterprise (yep, just like the US) allowed us to store one of our big pieces of luggage in their office until we returned. We were relieved and surprised. 

SOME OF THE SCENERY ALONG THE WAY

 Hollyhocks apparently grow wild here, for it seemed that everywhere we went these lovely flowers decorated the landscape. 

Now, these hay bails lying patiently in the fields, made me feel right at home. Living in the back corner of hayfields as we do, we witness this kind of scenery often.

The view of the Firth of Forth bridge from the highway as we left Edinburgh.

IMAGES OF OUR TRAVEL

   We were packed pretty tightly on the first part of our journey. Not a lot of leg room as those two boxes I wrote of earlier had to be held in our laps–Bob held one and I held the other! This was only temporary, however, for eventually we pulled over to the side of the road and hauled out our picnic lunch. We ate as much as we could with the intention of eliminating the boxes and stuffing the remainder under seats, etc.

Shep, enjoying a snack, in the midst of tightly and creatively packed luggage!

Keeping this little guy fed and dry was about all that was required to keep him contented. Shep and Roscoe have grown accustomed to traveling and they do it well!

Note the side of the van that Bobby is on! I never did get use to this!

It was rather unsettling to see cars traveling down the wrong side of the road! And even more so that we were traveling down the wrong side as well!

Next stop? The surprise destination is to be revealed!

Farewell Edinburgh! 8/11/15

We left the museum and strolled through Edinburgh as we made our way to the Meadows, the park where we had taken Shep most often to play.

On the way, we passed the statue of Greyfriar's Bobby. Check out an earlier post 

http://boundforscotland.blogspot.com/2015_04_01_archive.html   for the history of this endearing monument.  I just had to document with this photo that I was there, live and in person!

Here we are on a section of the campus of the University
of Edinburgh. The campus of the UE does not resemble
university layout here in the U.S. Instead, its campus
is scattered throughout the city. So if you want to
visit the campus of the UE, be prepared to do some
traveling.

Bob & I tagged along and got
in some vigorous walking.

I took this picture to give you
and idea of the types of
buildings characteristic of
Edinburgh. Some of these
buildings have been here for
centuries! 

  After a brisk and interesting walk from the museum through Edinburgh we arrived at the Meadows, where we were to meet Maridith. She was to have stopped on her way back from the computer store to buy some eats and then meet us at the park. We were to connect via their cell phones. This was one time when the cell phones would have come in really handy, but alas Bobby's battery was low and he couldn't connect with Maridith.  The park was quite crowded so locating her was a bit complicated.

   Therefore, I set out to find her and by the grace of God I did. Fortunately, she had only been waiting about 10 minutes when Shep and I located her. I deposited Shep and walked back to the snack center where the guys were to direct them to Maridith. 

   The sweet and sour chicken and a noodle dish she had brought was delicious and took the edge off our hunger. This was only suppose to be a snack, so the guys set out to go and rustle us up some supper. But wouldn't you know it, it started sprinkling (common Scottish happening). We decided since the snacks held us over, we would go on back to the apartment. 

   We found this quaint little bookstore near where we were to hail the cab and rummaged around in it for awhile. Finally, we got serious about getting a cab and returned to the apartment. We made our plans for the next day's travel, and the guys went to the grocery store for the food we would need for traveling. Supper consisted of eating whatever was left in the cabinets and refrigerator. 

   The next day held great promise. Maridith and Bobby's plans were to surprise us by taking us to a place that Bob & I knew not of but would exceed our expectations! AND, they were right on!

LAST DAY IN EDINBURGH!

August 11, 2015

Today you will see a bunch of photos with captions to describe our final adventure of the historic and vibrant city of Edinburgh!

Here are only a couple of pictures of the National Museum of Scotland, since they didn't particularly like for people to take photos.

Lifesize and overwhelming. Since
we were this close to this elephant
I was relieved he wasn't alive

Again, glad this tiger isn't alive! Shep
was fascinated!

                                        

                                                              If you can enlarge this, you will ableto see how the view is laid out!

                                                             

Castle Rock–It was a cold and cloudy day
so my iPhone struggled a bit
to capture its grandeur.

An online photo of Castle Rock! Much better

We took the elevator to the top of the museum. Edinburgh was laid out before us in full view. 

I could hear bagpipes coming
from somewhere down in there.

Burr! We had to don jackets when we
stepped off the elevator that carried
us to the top.

W

  

 Shep steals the attention
       from Castle Rock.

A funny thing happened on the way to the museum!

August 11, 2015

   The plan today was to visit the National Museum of Scotland. Maridith, however, would travel to a computer store to drop off her laptop. (While at home, she had spilled water on it, and since there was no place around there to get it repaired they had brought it with them.) Afterwards, she would join us at the museum for a snack then return to the computer store. This gal amazes me! I might have attempted independent travel through this unfamiliar city but only with great fear and in-trepidation. Not so Maridith!
   After a thorough examination of the map by Bob of the route we would be taking, we walked to the appropriate bus stop. Upon close examination, we realized we were at the wrong stop. Adjusting our plan, we walked a little bit further to the next stop.

Don't worry about figuring this out, we didn't do much better!

   As we were standing in line at the bus stop, we were discussing our route and the time the bus would arrive that we needed to get on. We figured we had a little extra time, so I walked down to the coffee shop nearby while Bobby checked out a nearby shop. As I pondered over what type of coffee I would order, Bobby hurried in and pulled me out of line, for the bus was arriving sooner than expected. Good thing I hadn't placed my order!

   Apparently, an older local couple who had overheard us discussing bus arrival times, had alerted the guys (after I had left) to the fact that we were mistaken about the time. So Bobby rounded me up and just in time too, thanks to kindness of that couple. 

   Now here's the funny part!

   As we were preparing to get off the bus a little ole Scottish lady overheard Bob & Bobby discussing, with little regard for how easily they could be overheard, where we should be getting off the bus. Out of her kindness and familiarity of the area, she suggested the spot we should disembark. However, Bob wasn't accepting her advice, for he had the map that he had earlier studied in his hands. Bob, in a polite way sort of disagreed with her, to the point that she became rather insistent.  Bobby wound up being the go between in the course of this polite argument.

   Well, we got off where she instructed due to Bobby's insistence. As he was trying to manipulate the stroller, rather awkwardly, towards the door, I asked if he was sure the break was released. To which the little ole Scottish lady, who was obviously disgruntled with Bob for arguing with her about the correct stop replied (only in my hearing) "Probably not!"And I wouldn't be surprised if she added, "Arrogant Americans" when we were out of earshot!

   

Eating delicious scones at the museum's cafe!

   Upon arriving at the museum, we made our way to the cafe where we were to meet Maridith. This is when cell phones come in real handy. As soon as Maridith was seated with us, I filled her in on the bus incident! She laughingly asked me, "They were arguing with a local about where to go?" When one is so confident in what they think they know, it can happen!

Anniversary & Homemade fun!

August 10, 2015

This is a momentous occasion! Our first time to babysit with Shep & Roscoe!

Getting out the ole iPad.

Right handy when you're babysitting!

But good ole home made books from cousins back home are the best!

More good home made stuff!

Celebrating their anniversary in Edinburgh, Scotland! Wow!

This is a charming little pub where Bobby got a reservation for he and Maridith.
I believe the name of the place was The Canny Man's.

Originally, these flowers were in the same vase. Anniversary flowers to Maridith from Bobby.

Shep loved the books his cousins made for him.

He told me all the colors and shapes and numbers on this one.

He is really happy, I assure you!

Dancing, playground, & Univ. of Edinburgh

I think I finally got the video placement figured out. When you get finished with the video it will bring up another You-tube video movie to watch. I haven't figured out just how to stop that!

Today is August 10

   The day started out early for Bobby, Shep, & me. We left early enough, around 7:30 a.m., to find a bit of breakfast before taking Shep to spend his energy at the playground.
   We by passed one place for we were confident we could find a little coffee shop closer to the park. This proved to be a mistake for the closer we got to the park, a place to pop in a get breakfast & coffee the more scarce such a place became. Finally, we found a stand where we were able to purchase a couple of coffees and muffins. Not what we had in mind, but we made do.
   A fun thing happened as we made our way to the park. A man playing an accordion caught our attention. His music softly drifted through the air casting a relaxing spell on those listening. Bobby asked me if I remembered how to do the two step and as the music drew us into its spell, we began to dance. It reminded me of the time we had stopped off at a small Peruvian village on our way to Machu Picchu. There was a small band performing for the villagers and anyone else (like Bobby and I) who wanted to dance. Lovely experience, lovely memories.  After a few go arounds, Bobby picked up Shep and the 3 of us happily twirled around accompanied by the lilting  melody of the accordion player.

I tried & tried to post videos of
the above, but to no avail:0(

Our next stop was the playground at the park. It wasn't too crowded as yet, so keeping a watchful eye on Shep, we turned him loose to enjoy himself. Sometimes it wasn't quite as obvious as to who was enjoying the playground the most!

                                   UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

 

Our next stop was to visit the language school where Bobby will be attending. After checking out some things at the information desk, we went outside and snapped this photo.

Armor always attacks the curiosity of a young boy! While Bobby was ordering us a snack, Shep checked out the metal knight!

Commemorating the author of
Sherlock Holmes, Univ. of
Edinburg!

We have quite an impressive connection as a country with the University of Edinburgh!