Scotland – My Scrapbook

agosto 28, 2009

Finally it’s time to face my travel and give you a short view of my holidays in Scotland, through pictures and sensations, to make it even more real! My friend Federica and I used to dream about this holidays at high school, and finally we managed to do it, after ten years! We have travelled with our friend Simona with us, in our mind and heart… she was supposed to come with us, as she was the third Musketeer at high school, but she was busy with something far more important: our sweet six month old niece!

A long journey: to save money we have avoid the direct flight Pisa – Edinburgh, choosing to land in Liverppol, getting a bus to Manchester and then a train to Edinburgh. But it was worth of such a long journey!

First of all, we have met a friend in Manchester and he showed us a great japanese Restaurant…

Samsi (www.samsi.co.uk): extremely good food at extremely good prices!

The other reason we enjoyed the journey is due to the romantic feelings  related to the train… very romantic, as in the XIX century!

And finally, Edinburgh!

I do belive Harry Potter was written in a café of this city: it’s amazing, breathtaking, unbelivable. You can’t never ever figure out what you’re going to see behind the next corner!

Following our Rough Guide, we have discovered this superb restaurant: David Bann (www.davidbann.com), an excellent vegetarian restaurant.

Excellent fresh products, I do recommend the Cheese Plate: Dunsyre Blue, Ardrahan Smoked and Cava, organic brie style cheese from Cannage Highland Dairy with home pickled veggies, apple and oatcakes.

Fife: on our third day of adventure, the real adventure! Our rented car broke down… Someone – the previous tourists or the employe of the airport – filled the tank with fuel instead of diesel… after three hours we were stuck in Lower Largo, birth place of the sailor who inspired Robinson Crusoe novel.. a trick of the destiny?

Heading north, towards Inverness, we visited Dunkeld & Birnam, where Beatrix Potter was inspired by romantic nature to write her Peter The Rabbit, and Blair castle. Then we entered the Highlands, place of heros and legends.

Inverness is a nice and lively town, but Lochness.. what a disappointment! I was expeting mystery and magic, but it was nothing more than turistic! But we really enjoyed Glen Affric, with mirror lakes and bright colours!

Then, the Highlands, listening in our car a bagpipe collection.. you really was feeling like in the movies!

Eilean Donan Castle doesn’t require a comment: just listen to Queen’s Who wants to live forever and you’ll understand! You’ll be carried inside Highlander movie!!

Skye: the sun, then the rain, then the most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen!

Amazing. Breathtaking. Glen Coe is superb. Your eyes are not enough to see everything, as there are so many detail that distract you: trees, streams, waterfalls…

Inveraray is a tiny town with white houses and black door and window frames. Nothing more to see, apart from the Castle and the light! Soft, suffused, pink.

Our last three days were in Stirling and Glasgow. Stirling is nice, but Glasgow gives you more than a reason to be visited: modern buildings, lively and beautiful West End, a huge commercial area and don’t miss the University! It’s just like Harry Potter’s Hogwarts!

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