Wee Walks In Scotland
Totally wowed by and in awe with Scottish landscapes—rugged mountains, serene loches, pristine woods, castles, architectures and villages oozing with ancient vibe……
Day I:
My first day of the homecoming trip this year!!!
The National Gallery visit today!!!
So many precious and historical and historic paintings 🖼️ on the walls of the architecture which itself is a piece of historical art!!!
The Jane Gray’s Execution, the Toilet Venus, so many pieces that preciously seen on screen or in books are now just in front of me and my eyes!!!
Definitely impressive, sensational!!!
Didn’t finish all the pieces there……and they cannot be finished in one day or one visit……
These days, a special exhibition hall is dedicated to Van Gogh!!!
Had a meal in the restaurant there--a plate of salmon and couscous salad 🥗 ……well……the prices there are much more inflated than the same or similar stuffs out of there!!!
Out of the Gallery, along the road where Captain Nilson faces downward, I stepped into the familiar Royal Horse Museum and St. James Park and Buckingham Palace and the tube station!!!
Got attacked by those pigeons in St. James park on my way back!!!
Have some nuts on your palm, and those pigeons will fly over you!!!
Got some solid rest in the afternoon!!!
Day II:
Typical British gloomy day!!!
On my way to Glasgow where tomorrow I, with other group members and tour guide Andy, will start the five-day Scottish 🏴 highland tour which is assured to be imbued with bounty foods and adventures, according to the What’s app group chats!!!
Well, before the train trip, I took a little, due to the heavy burden of my luggage 🧳 , visit the St. Pancras International Train Station 🚉!!!
Not found the grandiose palace venue ……
The train trip from London to Edinburgh last about five hours and then one more hour for going further towards Glasgow!!!
“See it, Say it, and Sorted it!!!” is what they advocate for any witness of something not good or unusual!!!
It’s been pitch dark/black around the hour of 5pm in this region!!!
Glasgow city centre is not big that you can measure it by foot/walking!!!
My hotel is just one block away from the train station--a direction from a kind text driver!!!
Well, the room is quiet spacious and quiet……but……the fire alarm is too easy to be triggered that some hot air from bathing can just did it!!!
DayIII:
It’s cloudy the typical Scottish weather!!!
The five days Scottish highland tour is on foot today!!!
Greeted at the appointed place, luggages snugged into the car, and the adventure was on!!!
Driving out of the Glasgow city, we headed to the first stop--the Luss, the Loch Lomond national park!!!
It’s a village at the Loch Lomond!!! People or inhabitants there have their way to decorate their gardens!!! And their way to memories those deceased!!!
These tombs and tombstones 🪦 can be dated back to different ages!!!
And go to the first rest log later the day!!!
The earliest one is the Viking one which has the up-side-down hull of a ship as the way to guard the deceased safe and sound over the water/voyage to the other end!!!
Had lunch at a restaurant with hunting and gaming and ancient vibe!!! The Scottish Haggis there is quite tasty!!!
It’s a dorm style one with private bad rooms but a shared bath room!!! And had dinner at the restaurant next door which is owned by a Danish!!!
Day IV:
The mountain climbing day—The Lost Valley!!!
The trail upwards into the hidden valley behind and between two sisters of the three!!!
Just getting lost by its magnificence which words cannot do the justice at all……
Before the climbing, a little detour at a monument of those dead in Jacobite revolt!!!
And after a meal at a bar, we were heading to the visiting centre where an indigenous Scottish cottage is demonstrated!!!
Day V:
Rainy in the morning……but clear and sunny day afterwards……
The Castle Urchadain!!!
A castle 🏰 on the bank of Loch Ness!!!
Then, the Loch Ness!!! A little round tour on a cruise ship!!!
Then, heading towards the second dwelling—the Old Milton, a mansion with large premise of green pitch!!!
And had a lasagna for dinner!!!
Day V:
Got the view from my window this morning……breathtaking……picturesque ……no wonder there are so many painters from Britain!!!
A little but solum visit to a cursed tomb!!!
The tomb was set centuries before!!!
The eight stones, once lost and refound from a nearby loch, were enclosed within an iron/metal case which is the protection from people’s touch!!!
People put coins on those stones to buy safety and avoid bad luck!!!
Surrounding area is dotted with tombs from different times and styles and a chapel!!!
Then a little beach!!!
The ducks there seem hungry all the time!!!
The next stop is the Green Loch!!!
There is a trial leading to the loch which will claim about ten to fifteen minutes’ walk!!!
The loch is not big but its green colour and clear water will not fail to impress you!!!
And back to the mansion, at the backdrop of firy sunset, a simple but beautiful wedding was held in a typical and traditional Scottish style!!!
And a Scottish piper’s performance almost stole the spotlight!!!
Ceremony is simple but meaningful and hearty!!!
Day VI:
The final day on this tour!!!
Packing at morning, and went off……
My first encounter is two loving Scottish coos!!! It’s coincidentally the hashtag CooDay online!!!
Then the first stop is a Ruthven Barracks!!!
Then, a waterfall!!!
Then, lunch time and another waterfall called Hermitage!!!
Day VII:
Just an overnight in Glasgow, and heading towards London by catching the train this morning!!!
As a quote from a bard scripted on the wall in a Scottish local gift shop:”As long as your feet are set on the land of Scotland, your heart will never leave there!!!”
The wildness, those rugged hills and mountains, castles, lochs, woods, ruins, moss on the tree trunks, little towns, really really capture eyes and heart!!!
It even drawfs my desire to explore London any more!!!!!!
But London……sweet home London……
Day VIII:
The day for leaving……
As the flight ✈️ is 9pm 🕘 ……I still have a whole day to explore my home city!!!
Well, take an all-day ticket and my tour by tube starts!!!
First stop is the Knightsbridge station!!!
I got the Christmas decorations on Harrods building!!!
Then, the Covent Garden!!!
It’s a shopping centre for almost everything!!!
And a little adrenaline rush there is I saw a Frenetic Service Police Car 🚓 ……Smell something bloody……
Then, the Borough Market!!!
It’s a heaven for foodies!!!
I tried a plate of Indian vegan curry; and a piece of toasted cheese 🧀 bread 🍞 !!!
The cheese is overwhelming!!! The crunchy toast and salty creamy cheese 🫕 and a bit onion 🧅 chops……just a mouthful of heaven!!!
Then, the Shakespeare’s Globe and some stops song the way!!!
The George Inn is the old and the last surfing galleried coaching inn!!!
A secret garden and graveyard hidden behind those buildings named “Cross Bomes” dedicated to those prostitutes exploited and dead namelessly!!!
The oldest prison in London—the Clink!!!
A piece of wall from the Great Hall of the Palace owned by Bishops then!!!
