United Kingdom Travelogue, Part IV

We leave the quaint town of Chester and travel through Lancashire heading for the much-heralded Lake District. And we were not disappointed as we enjoyed the scenery as always and arrived at Windemere (Some say Lake Windemere, but our guide on the steam train ride pointed out that a "mere" was a lake so saying Lake Windemere was redundant. Sort of like E.R. room and ATM machine).

We climbed aboard the previously mentioned steam train that would take us through the countryside to the boat dock at Windemere. The fragrance of fresh air was co-opted by the memory jarring smell of burning coal. We detrained at the dock to take the Swan lake cruiser; alas it was under repair so Phil found us another quaint boat to take us along the lake that inspired Wordsworth and many others. We met our bus and then went a little farther to Lake Grasmere (now why doesn't the rule apply here?) This small village with its shops and small churches was a pleasant backdrop to William Wordsworth's life. Indeed, he is buried in the churchyard in the family plot with his ever-present sister nearby. Oh, his wife as well made the cut it seems.

We now were eagerly anticipating our drive across the border to Scotland where our first stop was Gretna Green. I probably would never have heard of Gretna Green before arriving here save for the sensational Simpson murder trial, where we all were privy to Nicole's residence at 825 Gretna Green Way in L.A. Now this Scottish Gretna Green does not have the bloody history, but does have the somewhat interesting distinction of being the British version of Las Vegas. It seems that the English passed a law in 1753 that no one could get married under 21 unless with parents' consent. Scotland did not abide that rule and allowed boys of 14 and girls of 12 to marry on their own, and Gretna Green, being on the border, and the blacksmith shop being the closest thing to a church (?), became the place to elope and has been a tourist attraction since 1887. In fact we witnessed the results of a wedding of a soldier and his lass as we gawked around the place.

I also saw my first Belted Galloway cow in Gretna Green. Sort of the Oreo cookie cow, which are now being raised in Wisconsin by the Ho-Chunk Nation (formerly the Winnebago Indians).

We moved on after visiting the Scottish shops where one could buy an number of Scots coats-of-arms, tartans, kilts, sporns, and other regalia. Diana, being of the McLeod clan (Lewis branch, Isle of Skye) by way of her maternal grandfather found one of each item to buy, nearly. I found some fudge (Scottish fudge, I am sure).

Before we went to our hotel in Glasgow we dined at the Corinthian, an elegant restaurant in an ornate, high-ceilinged former bank. The food was good, complete with haggis (the Scottish treat) and we happily shuffled on the bus to our hotel for the night.

Tomorrow we will see a few sights in Glasgow and then head to the Scottish highlands, the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, and Glencoe.

Back in the USSA

Other than our luggage making it home an hour later than we did, the trip to the U.K. was a great one. I do not believe that much can surpass seeing Stonehenge closeup, or standing on the grave of Sir Isaac Newton in Westminster Abbey. Even those with only a wisp of an interest in human history would be moved by seeing magnificent architecture created almost 1000 years ago.

We were blessed in many ways on this, our first trip together to Europe. I had been to England decades ago and Diana had been to Austria, Germany and Italy with her Mom sometime in the 80s I think. We were fortunate to have a good group on our Trafalgar Best of Britain Tour, and then only 17 other souls in the 50 passenger coach. I am sure Trafalgar made no money on this one, but we sure had a good time with such an intimate group and a great Tour Director. We also had the best weather I have ever heard of for England, Wales, and Scotland. We had sun each day for 17 days and the rainy period was only minutes long and then only sprinkles on the coach windshield, oops, I mean windscreen. We carried our lucky umbrellas everyday so although a little heavy for talismen, they seemed to work.

The hotels were mostly OK but the food was nearly inedible at times. I had read that English food had improved but we must have missed the one place where it did. OK, I am a little harsh here but when our Aussie friend had to comment to the waiter one night, "Hey mate, you got a chainsaw for this meat?", it spoke to overall state of the cuisine. We had haggis in Scotland twice and liked it both times. Everyone should try it when there. Just don't ask what it is.

Seeing the Roman baths, Hadrian's Wall, and lots of other very old things was inspiring. A walk though the walled city of York was to be taken back to the 12th century except for the names on the shops (GAP, Gucci, and many others). I don't know if this is a compliment or not, but the city reminded me of what Disney might have done recreating York in Orlando.

More to come later, but we are now recovered from a little jet-lag, and also recovered from our trips in the London Tube where a disembodied voice constantly reminds us to "Mind the Gap".

We'll Wave to the Queen

I had ambitions to write enough blogs to keep up while we are gone on our "holiday" to Great Britain. Alas, "the best laid plans of mice and men, often go astray" and with a large editing job due, and with lots to read about Great Britain, and on and on, I just did not get the articles written ahead. So I will apologize, loyal readers, and I will promise to do better when I return from England, Scotland, and Wales.

I am sure I will keep up with the U.S. goings-on in the London Times and will have lots to say on my return. And unlike many others from our beloved country, we promise to behave in such a way to help enhance America's reputation abroad. I will not wear shorts, nor my Hawaiian shirts, and Diana will not ask a Scottish Highlander what he wears under his kilt.

We will promote America as the great place it has always been despite what those people say. We will at least try to eat some of the local specialties (spesh-e-al-ities as the Brits say adding a syllable that is not there), however, I won't ask what really goes into Scotland's haggis.

I will revel in the English history, the precursor of our own, and be awestruck by such edifaces as Westminster Abbey and Salisbury Cathedral, built 800 - 1000 years ago. We may also visit Scotland Yard, see Agatha Christie's "The Mouse Trap". and follow in the footsteps of Jack the Ripper. And if I see the Queen, I will do my best version of the Windsor wave and bow in great respect. Tally ho...