Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2001 07:27:57 -0400 (EDT)
From: "David Gertz" <[email protected]>
Subject: STILL in Scotland...
To: [email protected]
Howdy all!!
Well I know your all dying to know what exciting adventures I have
been up to since I last wrote you all. I believe I last wrote that I was
leaving for Scotland. Well, to sum it up shortly...I LOVE Scotland!
I'll go into details as to why though.
Last time I left you hanging with my departure from England to the
north. My first stop was Dunfries, a small town just on the other side
of the border. Surprisingly Dunfries is quite a popular place for those
interested in literary history. The reason, I was shown, was because it
is the final resting place of Robert Burns. For those who don't know, Robert
Burns is a very famous Scottish poet (While I don't know his work, I know
he has a famous one about a mouse...how's THAT for culture!!). Anyway while
this was a nice little bonus to my trip the purpose was for me to have
a chance to meet some previously unfamiliar family; my Uncle Andy and my
Aunt Anette. To be honest, I was terrified going to meet them. Would they
like me? Would I like them? Normal stuff I'm sure. But these worries
left me the moment I spotted them at the train terminal. And I DID spot
them...I don't know how, but I knew it was family when I saw it.
Well we bonded over a Billy Connolly tape (of whom I'm a HUGE fan)
and discussed our respective lives. I even got to met their grandson...my..um...cousin??
Conner. He just turned 3 and reminded me very much of my nephew back home.
For those who don't know, I am very fond of my nephew and spoil him whenever
his mother allows...and sometimes when she doesn't. ;) So while it was
nice to have a good
strong feeling of family, it also reminded me how much I do miss my
family back in Canada. Anyway, before I get too sentimental I will move
on to Glasgow, my next stop.
Glasgow was the first BIG city I went to in Scotland (not to put down
Dunfries..but it IS bigger). This was just a short weekend stop however
to have some fun with pubs and clubs...then off further north to Inverness
and the highlands. Glasgow is a very interesting city and (I learned quickly)
a possible very dangerous one. I was walking around lost, a deliberate
thing I assure you...it's a great way to see a city. Anyway I was wandering
around and started to realize that while I knew I didn't know EXACTLY where
I was, now I had NO idea at all. When I inquired for directions a lady
was both nice enough to direct me to more familiar territory and let me
know that I would probably not wish to find my way back to where I was
again. What a nice lady! Everyone was really friendly actually...especially
when then found out I was Canadian. When that came out at a club, I ended
up with a whole group of friends suddenly. Well as I said it was only a
short trip and I managed to see a few sites before moving on to Inverness.
While Inverness on it's own is not an overly impressive city, it is
a great jump off point to other places such as the Isle of Skye and Loch
Ness. Don't get me wrong, I did like Inverness and had a great time there
with the friends I had made. It was also the first place I tried HAGGIS!!!
No, not the travel company. It's actually really tasty. And for those
that are getting grossed out, your not eating a sheep's stomach ok? It's
just cooked in it...then you take it out. Come on, sausages are made from
pig intestines so don't get picky!!
Sorry, got a bit side tracked there. I also took a day trip to Loch
Ness while in Inverness. Of course I HAD to. Actually I may have caught
a sight of the beast on film. We'll just have to see when the pictures
develop. The day tour we went on was pretty good. Not only did the guide
tell us the stories of the Loch Ness monster but also more history about
the area....of which I don't remember anything. But it was all really interesting.
What is really cool is that while Loch Ness plays up the story of 'THE
BEAST' for tourism, the locals impression on what it might actually be
varies very differently from what is shown in the media (I know...VERY
surprising isn't it?). I have to say that my favourite part of the
Loch Ness trip was the boat ride back to Inverness. The view was just incredible.
As we moved down the Loch, we could watch the hills behind us slowly disappear
into the mist and cloud. Very peaceful.
Well we arrived back in Inverness safe and sound and the next day I
headed even FARTHER north to a Haunted Castle in Carbisdale. Now, I
thought I had seen some isolated communities but nothing compared to
Carbisdale Castle (yet). From the train station to the castle is about
a 15 minute walk UP a hill. And if you happen to need any groceries...get
ready for a 5 mile hike. Or, you can purchase some simple food stuffs from
the hostel reception. Suprisingly the prices were pretty reasonable considering
they could probable charge you whatever they wanted. "Yes, that'll be £3
for the tin of beans please". The complete isolation had made me a bit
nervous at first, but while it IS a very large castle it is still a very
warm atmosphere. Taking advantage of the isolation I decided to go
for a hike in the woods using a simple orienteering course. Fortunately
I didn't get lost though I did manage to get from one trail to another
without ever knowing how. I could go into great detail and tell you all
the things I liked about the area but this email is already massive and
I haven't even covered Edinburgh yet. I do have to say that I was lucky
enough
to be there on the night that they were giving Castle tours at midnight.
One of the staff at the hostel took it up as a hobby to explore the history
of the castles ghosts as well as the castle itself....including the various
works of art, some considered priceless. If you go...make sure Sandy's
working the night shift!
All right anyway after getting recharged in the small communities for
a couple of days it was back to the big cities, this time hitting Edinburgh
at the start of the Fringe Festival. OH my GOD...It's like someone opened
a gate on the first of August and suddenly there are people EVERYWHERE!!
Despite the crowds I did get to do and see a lot in Edinburgh though I
stuck mostly to the old town and not the new town
which is mostly just shops. I took a tour of the Edinburgh castle and
was quite impressed both by the structure and by the fact that it's actually
resting on top of a dormant volcano. I learned that an old name for Edinburgh
was Old Smoky, making me wonder if maybe the volcano isn't as dormant as
they think! Anyway, with the Fringe festival on I had to take in a few
plays and shows...especially when getting handed free tickets! In three
days I think I saw about 8 or 10 plays. The best was one called 'Ghost
Stories', a one man production that had everyone jumping and giggling with
tension. The WORST was actually one that had seemed the most promising...Dracula
performed in a vault setting...like a crypt. After about 45 minutes the
group of us (there was 5 at the time) ran for the exit trying not to interrupt
the play but unfortunately causing others who appreciated the play as much
as we did to also bolt for the door.
Apart from the plays and performers all over Edinburgh, they also had
a lot of ghost tours that I decided to explore. Is anyone sensing a pattern
here? Yes, in pretty much every city I try to find a ghost tour to take.
It's actually a great of learning some of the history of the city that
I'll actually remember. Being told in a dull voice that THIS cathedral
was erected around...lalala...unfortunately won't stick. However,
take me to the same cathedral and tell me that someone was believed to
be buried underneath it after going missing...and during the night you
can still here their moans...NOW you've got my attention and I'll remember.
I'm not saying this is a good thing, I'm just saying this is how I learn
about a city. The one tour I remember the best was where we went into a
cemetery at about 11:30pm to see both Greyfriar's Bobby's grave, AND the
inside of a crypt normally kept locked because of a poltergeist that has
attacked about 30 people on those tours in the past year...including our
guide. He was voted 'Most likely to abandon his tour'. It was pretty amusing.
I'm not saying I believe in it and I'm not saying I don't...but if anything
should
happen to show up on my film...well I don't know what I'll do with
myself! *lol*
Anyway I finally managed to drag myself away from Edinburgh yesterday
and made my was to Glasgow with a stop over in Stirling. Stirling is
where they have a monument to William Wallace(played by Mel Gibson
in BraveHeart). I wanted to stop here both for the history and just to
see if it was true that at the base of the monument they have a statue
OF Mel Gibson from Brave Heart. So sad. Incidentally if you ask either
the English or the Scots...they'll both tell you BraveHeart was a load
of crap! *lol* But good for Stirling's economy none the same.
Well I'm back in Glasgow again, trying to look up family before I head
off to Ireland. I can't believe I've been traveling for three weeks already.
By now I think I was supposed to be almost to Denmark. I've already
called my cousin to correct that. I'm starting to realize that there is
no way I'm going to see all the places I wanted to see in 2 months.
Definitely not in 2 months ;).
Anyway I think this email has gone on for quite enough. Be sure to
look for the paperback version available in 6 months. For those who are
traveling, stay safe. For those back home..well..also stay safe.
And to everyone, know that while you may be far from me, you are not far
from my heart (There's the poet creeping out again). Hope to hear from
you all soon.
Cheers,
David (Glasgow)
P.S. I'm working on a little surprise for you all. It it works it'll
follow this email shortly. If not...oh well. :(
