More from Scotland...2nd post.

We left you last time at the end of September in Glasgow at the Barras Market – still one of the most fun places we've been (speaking for myself, says Susan). Since we are so close to Loch Lomond, we have been exploring it and finding out-of-the-way places (with great ice cream). Lomond is the largest “lake” in Scotland and the roads don't go all the way around, so it can be a challenge to see just how much of it we can see without being in a boat.

A Food & Drink Festival on the shore of Loch Lomond

We did get out on a boat once -

It was quite a lovely ride

And in the last post we mentioned hearing a talk by the creator of the Kelpies near Falkirk. Well, we finally got to see them in person, and they are breathtaking. They are massive and full of energy – you almost expect them to snort any minute. And we had a short tour of the inside of one to get a look at the structure – very neat!

The Kelpies are only known as "Head Up" and "Head Down"

People do seem very small next to them

Inside of Head Down

We took a sojourn down toward Ayr (on the West coast a bit South of Glasgow) to visit Dundonald Castle (the inside stone work is just amazing) http://www.dundonaldcastle.org.uk/

A model of an ancient fort in the Dundonald visitor center

The amazing vaulted ceiling and brick work in the great hall

And, had a good visit with the guide –  everywhere in this country that we have visited, the guides are very friendly, open to all sorts of questions, and seem to have all the time in the world to chat...gotta love it!  Dundonald Castle was built on the site of much earlier fortifications (Dun means hill fort) by Walter FitzAllen who was steward to King David I and ancestor to the Stewarts.

Just a few miles away is the 13^th century Crossraguel Abbey

http://www.maybole.org/places/crossraguel/abbey.htm . . .

Crossraguel Abbey tower remains

Crossraguel Abbey ruins

another beautiful ruin where, after talking with the guide for some time, he shared with us that religious divides run deep even here in Scotland – he is working in a “catholic” ruin for Historic Scotland, but is a practicing protestant and some of his fellow protestants stopped talking with him when he took the job...amazing, huh?

























We also stopped to see Souter Johnnie's house which has a very beautiful thatched roof (he's a Robert Burns character) in nearby Kirkoswald - how many people can you get into a bed? http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Souter-Johnnies-Cottage/

Kirkoswald thatched roof building

And had a wonderful – fresh lobster - late lunch The coastal areas of Scotland are known for the fantastic seafood and the preparation is more often than not, quite wonderful. Fish and chips at a Chippery, especially close to the shore, are always fresh and yummy, some even available with gluten free batter. And yet, so many Scots are thin! Go figure.

David has been mowing the small lawn in the back of the house. The sun and warm weather has been wonderful and very unexpected – folks accuse us of bringing the great weather as they have had a really miserable cold, wet summer. It's getting colder now and the trees are turning, there is much more rain expected, but it just makes being in the house – or in the car – more delightful.

We are always on the look out for funerals and weddings when we travel, and within the space of a couple of weeks we managed to see both. We joined up with friends, Kendra & Jim Golden to tour the Isle of Skye, a beautiful trip in a beautiful place. Whilst driving up a one-track road, up a mountain, to see some geologically interesting formations, we came upon not one, but two cemeteries and remarked about how really out-of-the-way they were. On our way back down this one-track road we managed to pass a hearse on it's way up with a coffin in the back, then a whole string of cars filled with mourners followed. Fortunately there were fairly frequent “pull-outs” so we all made it to where we were going. We spent the night in a B&B, had a super meal in a local pub and listened to some really good “Trad” music played by some folks who were playing just for the fun of it.

Approaching Skye

Crofting Museum on Skye - it had just closed for the season

We met up with the Goldens again to tour the Borders area – several ruined abbeys, the Robert Burns center, Broughton House in Kirkcudbright (say Kirk-coo-brie) home of E.A. Hornel one of the Glasgow Boys artists and one of Susan's favorites. On the way, we stopped at Gretna Green to check out the blacksmith's shop where many weddings are held (it's a great history, check it out at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gretna_Green ) Kendra and Susan noticed a couple – about our age – arriving in wedding dress, took their pictures and got asked if we would be witnesses – we were really privileged to have this experience...David & Jim were in attendance too and we have lots of photos of a lovely ceremony.

The Happy Couple and their witnesses

I'll stop here and Dave will insert some photos...a popular motto in Glasgow these days is “People make Glasgow” and it's true. We've always love the Scots folks and are loving them even more now...polite (even the signs say “Please” and “Thank You”), calm, understanding, kind, helpful, and on and on. We are loving our time here. We are so very lucky!