Rosslyn

Rosslyn Castle and Glen

Before we actually went inside Rosslyn Chapel, we walked down a path to the Castle. There was this cool, tree that we could get to from the wall on the path. Adam and I really wanted to climb it, but it was too slippery from all the moss. And I was scared of getting shot. Shawn was too scared of heights to climb it, but he tries to look cool anyway.


Later, Adam and I got our thrill, though. We are seen here climbing over the wall to the cliff below. I climb over to the other side and up into a little crevis where I posed for this picture.



This hole in the wall went straight up. It was too dark and I couldn't see up there, so I had to take a picture, so it would flash. The tunnel looked like it was closed off after a few feet. I wanted to climb up there and pose for the picture upside down, but I decided against it since I didn't know what had been up there. Or what had come down, for that matter.

Museum of Scotland & Royal Museum: Two in One

The Museum of Scotland was chuck-full of artifacts and information. There were five or so levels; each one representing a different time in Scotland's history. Beginnings, Early People, Kingdom of the Scots, Scotland Transformed, and Industry and Empire.
The Royal Museum is connected to the Museum of Scotland and it is ginormous! They had displays from all over the world and from all ages. It was so big I think we may have to take a second tour to see everything we missed.
I apologize. I may not have pictures for each of these periods, or I just forgot which ones go where, but either way, enjoy the little tidbits I picked up on my tour of these Museums...

SHIFTY EYES!
These robot-looking fellows were on the bottom level of the Museum of Scotland. They were sporting the jewelry worn at the time. I am not entirely sure why they look like weird robots that just got off the set of The 5th Element, but I'm sure there's a good explanation for it. All I know is that I wanted to imitate them.



VIKING BONES!
What used to be a Viking Resting In Peace, is now a display for annoying tourists in the museum. If I remember correctly they found these remains...uh...somewhere...in this same oval-shaped grave with a bunch of his belongings. So they recreated the grave in the museum. If you look to the right of the picture, you will see some supplies that the Viking was buried with. Like most cultures, they believed he would need these with him in the after-life. Little did they know, we would just dig him up years later and put him on display. What is the world coming to when a poor Viking can't even be left to Rest In Peace?

The picture on the right is of a large carving of a hunting scene. I found it particularly interesting because the description provided was titled "A female aristocrat." (as shown here). You can't tell from here, but there is a woman sitting atop the big horse at the top of the carving. I'm glad they felt the need to document such things. You go girl!

**Public Apology: I realize that the pictures and info here are not sufficient for your museum curiosities; however, this blog, for whatever reason, will no longer allow me to add any more images. There are plenty of interesting pictures and info I could have added, but it is just not possible at this time. Please stay tuned as I continue to work out the glitches. I will update ASAP. These hiccups are of no fault of mine, so BACK OFF! Thank you for your time and attention!

Super Bowl XL

Here is our wee Super Bowl party at Hard Rock Cafe. We left at 3am when the game was over. We are die hards! Too bad the team we were cheering for lost. Now, I won't name any names, but the intern who is not Trisha, Adam, or Kendra cheered for the team that was not the Seahawks. Lame! Ya know what else was lame? The commercials. We got stuck watching Scottish TV commercials. Yeah. We got jipped. Not that commercials are my favorite anyway. The last time (and only time) I watched the Super Bowl was the year with the Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson fiasco. And I was muy disappointed in commercials. What's the big deal anyway? I thought we hated commercials? Oh, yeah, we also got stuck watching lame Scottish/British/whatever announcers. At one point the poor lad forgot the score! It was sad how dumb they were. And then this chick interviewing a rugby player kept pretending like she knew what she was talking about. But she didn't. Scots have a great deal to offer culturally, but they should NEVER be allowed to do the Super Bowl. They are clueless.

Dunstaffnage Castle

You Are Here.

Okay, I really have no idea where I was pointing to. I just wanted a picture with the name of the castle on it because I knew I wouldn't remember how to spell it. It is definitely a tongue-twister. Dunstaffnage Castle is the first castle I have ever been to and I was psyched! I hope these measly pictures do it justice. It wasn't extremely big, but it was sure fun to explore.

Ta Da! The large fortress of a castle. And me. We learned this castle held many a famous prisoner. However, they are only famous here. We, Americans, have no clue who they are. I would tell you, but I'm not sure how appreciated the information will be.

Take a look on the inside:

This was a cool view looking out of a hole in the wall. I'm not sure if it is an intentional hole, like a window or not, but I like to think that they used it to see if the enemy was approaching so they could shoot arrows and throw rocks!

Dunstaffnage Chapel. Probably only used by those living in the castle. We all know peasant-folk aren't religious. There wasn't a whole lot left of the Chapel besides a few walls. So, I climbed on top of them.

To be perfectly frank, by the time I am finally getting this post up, I am royally sick of it. It has been acting funny the last few weeks, so now that it is working I just threw the pictures on and gave little or no descriptions. I apologize for the lack of professionalism, but, seriously, it's a blog. Nobody really cares that much anyway. Just think of my blog as more a picture book than a novel. I know it lost its novelty for me weeks ago!

Oban

This is a map of the Oban and Highlands Tour we took Saturday, Feb. 4th. It doesn't look like we covered a whole lot of space, but we did a lot of driving. It was a good enough combination of driving and stopping. Whilst driving you get to see a lot of landscape.

Meet Hamish! (pron. haym-ish) That name is so Scottish; it's ridiculous! I love it. This lovable Highland Coo (aka Cow) is part of the tourist attraction at the little village called Kilmahog.

Oban. Me in Oban. And Walking in Oban.

Fish and Chips. Me looking unsightly and eating fish and chips. The Oban Inn, where I looked unsightly and ate fish and chips.

These boots are made for walkin'

Boots. Boots. Boots.

That is all they wear, but now I fit in, so I'm not complaining. I think my boots are neat! If there is ever a way to amalgamate myself into the culture, Boots is it!
I should probably take a better picture, but this was the best I could do while I was by myself. Dont' be jealous. No. Do be jealous.

The Parthenon...in Edinburgh?!

On our way to the Parthenon on Calton Hill we stopped in this old cemetery. We found this memorial with good ol' Abe Lincoln up top! I don't know if you can read, but the bottom says, 'In Memory of Scottish-American Soldiers.' I don't know what the crap I'm doing, but the statue was awesome. We were glad for some good wholesome American company whilst in Edinburgh!

This is a shot of the cemetery where we found Abraham Lincoln. It was so peaceful and beautiful there. I can't help but imagine how much history lies here. I'll stop before I get all cheesy. Let's just say these old graveyards will make anyone think in cheesy-poetry-type-words.

This is the view from up top Calton Hill. That clock tower is the Balmoral Hotel clock, I believe. (honestly, I just looked that up online). I am standing right next to the Cannon Memorial.

Here I am shooting the cannon. Watch out Edinburgh! Actually, nobody should be scared at all. I'm a terrible aim.

And this is the beautiful view of trash you get when you look inside the Cannon. What is the world coming to? Haven't they read the signs?:

Keep Edinburgh clean. Bin your litter.

There is me looking off to the gorgeous view of Edinburgh below. I am standing on the steps of the unfinished Parthenon. Don't ask me exactly what the point of it is. I believe they were building a Parthenon as a memorial of some kind, but for some lame reason they didn't finish it. It's real sweet from a distance, but up close there is litter and graffiti. Especially in the back where it just...ends.

The Parthenon.

This is a good shot. Doesn't it look so funny, though, like it's only two dimensional!

Go Team Scottish Interns 2006!