What are we talking about today?

I'll get back to theme days once I find a groove of posting regularly. In the meantime, most of my posts are about some variation of books, bikes, buses, or Broadway. Plus bits about writing, nonprofits, and grief from time to time.

This blog is mostly lighthearted and pretty silly. It's not about the terrible things happening in the world, but please know that I'm not ignoring those things. I just generally don't write about them here.

23 April 2011

T is for Travelling

Okay, kind of a lame title, but I feel a bit guilty that I missed the chance for an "S is for Scotland" post. I was just way excited about a chance to write a cycling post... Anyway. Today, I make up for it by telling you about my favourite place on earth.

So, while most of the Cheeky travelling is done to visit our variously scattered relatives, we also visit Scotland from time to time. I call it "home" as often as not, and considering that life in Glasgow is the source of my odd accent, non-American expressions (and spelling, now that I'm thinking about it), and occasional confusion about which country I'm in, can you blame me?

So! I'll just go whole hog and turn this into a little Scotland photo album (photo selection is limited, because I'm not wrangling with the scanner when I have piles of homework to do, so all these are from our last visit in 2006):

As you can plainly see, I took this picture while we were on the road.
At the time (since we lived in Lubbock), I was totally in awe of the
technicolour green all around me.

We were headed toward these hills. Perhaps not this particular one.
 And we were also headed for the really scary-looking clouds in the background.

Loch Lomond. As in, "You take the high road and I'll take the low road."
That Loch Lomond.

You wouldn't know it was Scotland without seeing a kilt shop, right?

Scotland Street School Museum. Once a working school, now an education museum.
Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Definitely worth a visit.

I'm really embarrassed that I had to look up the name of this street.
This is the corner of Argyle & Union Streets, looking up Union.
It's one of the busiest intersections in Glasgow.
And I only had to look it up because the street name changes here; in the other direction,
Union Street is Jamaica Street. And that's the name I always remember.

Looking west from King's Park, near the center of the city.
That's the Sleeping Giant in the background.

A hill I walked down nearly every day when I lived in Glasgow.

So, this probably happens in other countries, too, but not in the US.
When the light is about to turn green, the yellow light comes on
again to let drivers know,then both red & yellow
go out when the green comes on.

The National Rugby Stadium. Also a venue for concerts and that sort of thing.

Edinburgh Castle.

The Scottish Parliament Building. Most people say it's hideously ugly,
 but I have to admit that it has grown on me
and I kind of like it. Of course, it helps that my tax money didn't pay for it.

And the debating chamber (I think) inside Parliament.
There you are-- a brief trip around Scotland. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very nice, thanks for the tour.

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

When I was little I wanted to move to Scotland. I've no idea why. Odd how a place calls to you.
Thanks for the tour.

Su said...

@mybabyjohn: You're welcome! I'm always happy to show off Scotland to anyone who is watching. ;)

@Giggles: I still want to move to Scotland! Gorgeous place, fabulous people, crummy weather... well, they can't have everything. :)

mshatch said...

I have Scottish blood from way back which must be why I love the bagpipes. That castle looked pretty cool, too :)

N. R. Williams said...

I'm jealous now. Scotland is my number 1 travel dream and I have $0 to take me there. I think the Sleeping Giant's cousin is snoring in Colorado. LOL We name our mountains funny things too.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium.

John Teal said...

I love Scotland too.. As a English man I'm lucky that its not far to head north and visit. We are off to St Andrews in a few weeks, your post made me get excited for our Holiday, thank you !

RJRmodels

Golden Eagle said...

I love the pictures!

Grandpa said...

Scotland is a beautiful country - one of the places I must visit.

That green patch can pass for my front yard.

Grandpa
Life on The Farm

Su said...

@mshatch: I love the bagpipes, too. Always have done, even before I lived there.

@NR: Alas, I also have no budget for a return trip anytime soon. But I definitely know how lucky I am to have been there as much as I have! And that's too funny that you have the Giant's cousin in Co! ;)

@RJR: Ooh, that will be a nice holiday! St. Andrews is lovely.

@Golden Eagle: Thanks! Me, too.

@Grandpa: Nice. I should add Malaysia to my list, then.

a runners' life said...

Scotland looks lovely. The hillside and castle would be great to see. Would love to go there one day.

Su said...

It's gorgeous! But then, I want to see Australia someday, too.