Here we go with my second entry and it's a bit different to the last. I've been some what enjoying pacing through home at the Tamworth Country Music Festival with the blasting of mostly mediocre country tunes with a few feel good songs amongst it. The malicious heat has made me wish I had spent more time in the UK.
Which brings me to the today's topic for all of you. My brother and I have recently returned from a 2 and a bit weeks expedition to England, Ireland, Scotland and a day trip to Paris. It was extraordinarily wonderful and there are really not enough words to describe my excitement in gazing upon many of the historical monuments and being in the same room where once stood some of the most important people in history. I do admit I was so excited at one point, it might have been for Westminster Abbey or Stonehenge that I resembled a 12 year old girl 'fangirling' over One Direction or Justin Bieber. Throughout this magical experience I penned a travel journal that details my short time on the other side of the world with my travel buddy and listener for all the random historical facts I threw at him. I will share with you all from time to time some excerpts from the journal to engage and quench your hopefully similar thirst for history.
A winter's day in the Gaelic Countryside...
Monday 9th January 2017
I'll let you know now but this wasn't the home of Nessie but it was just as magical probably with its own creature slithering or flapping beneath the tar blue surface.Who knows what magical beings were hiding and seeking around the Scottish countryside that surrounded Loch Lomond? It is the largest inland stretch of water in Great Britain by surface area whose name sounds like something that should be in a Romanticist poem.
We begun the day by catching a train from Edinburgh to Glasgow then another to the quaint and seemingly lonely Scottish village called Balloch. As it was winter the village lacked it's apparently usual buzz of tourists walking around the Loch and the mass of fishermen that visit its icy waters. This day had blessed us with terrible weather with the stock standard overcast and the need to wear about four layers of shirts including a thermal, hoodie and jumper and two pairs of pants, which would eventually make the temperature bearable. A quick stop in the electronic toilet that although self cleaned it lacked a toilet seat. We then begun our trek down along the river which I think is called a glen and past the boats that cuddle side by side keeping warm in the Scottish winter. They brush against one another which seemed to be the only contact they have over the icy three months.
The trees were bare and broken with bruises and slowly break between the overgrown mossy shrubbery. There are no sounds to bounce between them except for the few birds that reside within their lifeless branches against the squelches and slips of winter's mud under my chestnut timberland boots.
Beyond this was the Sea Life Aquarium that was lacking in exotic animals except for yellow sea horses and small sharks, I guess we're in the Scottish Countryside where not much overly happens in the waters or maybe we simply didn't see it...
*Side note: The otters were cute and the aquarium had an amazing panoramic view of the Loch and the Castle on the hill (yes Ed Sheeran reference, had to).
From the aquarium we walked back around to the bridge in town, near the terrifying toilet. This is when the sky decided to hysterically cry, releasing waterfalls worth of rain upon us with only my jacket from Rivers to keep me dry. We scurried over the bridge and my jeans and tights were saturated right through and begun clinging to my leg hairs. Our saviour, a Scottish fish and chip shop. I dripped all through this lady's shop. That's not even the best bit of the story! I did it! I bought one haggis and black pudding fritter that came with a complimentary cup of sweet chilli sauce. If you're not aware of what these Scottish delicacies entail, let me explain. Just imagine a rissole but instead of good wholesome plain meat, it is all the bits of the animals, the entrails and organs that are usually left out. Now to make matters worse the Scottish have taken this beloved haggis and filled it with some blood (hopefully animal) to make the deceivingly named Black Pudding. Confession: I did enjoy the black pudding more than the haggis, maybe the red head myth of being a vampire is true. It was definitely better than the snails we had in Paris and was able to be paired with some hot chips and cup full of tartare sauce. Although, I could not sit there and eat it all; somethings can only happen in small amounts.
After this cultural experience, the sky had gotten over its issues and cleared up, but we never dried. Nevertheless, we walked into the Scottish 'Bush' and broke from the paved way in through the Celtic trees to find a open area that seemed unnaturally green and was probably worth more than I earn in a year. Upon this emerald greenery was perched a castle in the midst of construction. I wonder of the stories that lurk within its grey-stoned walls? The wind like that in my all time favourite Disney movie Brave, was ferociously commanding and followed us for the rest of our expedition. Whilst nature stood in a glorious dominance, Carl had been losing his footing and had been slipping the whole day until finally after I predicted, he imitated a drunk man's attempt at ice skating for the first time. For a moment he thought he could recover but instead fell and put a temporary tattoo of mud upon the perfectly maintained emerald grass. Holy god! I don't think I've cackled that much in a long time. He recovered and stumbled down to the water's edge all the while a sporadic Scottish fleet of walkers would walk past every five or so minutes with a canine companion. A quick nod or hello and a short chat with a lady who apologised for the weather on behalf of Scotland.
The train ride home was swift. Yet,we figured out that none of my cards were working and we only had $3.64 on my visa, which is about 1.80 pounds. So fearing that we would be without dinner I had a cuppa tea for dinner with a quick run to Sainsbury's to pick up some trusty 40 pence noodles to fulfil our hunger. A few phone calls to the bank and Mum it was all easily fixed. Some travel knowledge from me to you would be to remember all pins. Although we can't really complain too much as it was only half a night and we were in a hostel with an endless amount of tea.
All in all it was a refreshing day that celebrated the beauty of Scotland and the majesty of Winter. I think the rosary beads Mum stashed in our bags must have worked....
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