Random Pic of the Month (November)

Lochalsh Village at sunset. Hotel in the foreground, the toll-free Skye Bridge in the background.

I love this picture, looking through the different layers. Awesome lighting, this time of day.

Dryburgh Abbey, Scotland – Part 2

Dryburgh Abbey is a wonderfully preserved ruin, and one of four major abbeys in the area, including Melrose, Jedburgh, and Kelso. However, it is the only one of the four that can claim the honor of being Sir Walter Scott’s final resting place.

Scott’s final resting place is very near his home, Abbotsford. It is well worth visiting for any number of reasons, but seeing the beauty here is reason enough.

 

Dryburgh Abbey, Scotland – Part 1

Many historic abbey ruins can be found all over Great Britain. But Dryburgh Abbey is one of the most photogenic and romantic of the ruins.

Super, great pictures everywhere you look. I love all the different shades and colors in the stonework, and then that vivid green grass is really something, too!

Random Pic of the Month (October)

Changing Colors on the Dalemain Estate in Northwest England.

Threave Castle

We have had the great luck to visit many, many castles over the years. Threave Castle is easily one of the most unusual. Built on a small island, it is only accessible by boat.

After parking in the designated car park, it is about a mile walk to the bronze bell, which calls Scot, the ferryman. Scot then takes you across to the castle via outboard motor.

The castle itself, though built in the 14th century and inhabited only until the mid-1600s, is in wonderful condition, with a Great tower with rounded ceiling, many fireplaces, and the stairs still access the Great Hall.

As it was a rainy day, we had the whole place to ourselves, which we enjoyed immensely.

You can easily see old doorways and fireplace openings.

Travel Buddy stands 5’2″. So that gives you an idea of the size of this opening.

The Tower, and looking up through it.

This was one of the more unusual castles we’ve visited, because of its unique setting. A definite recommendation if you’re in the area, which is near the town of Castle Douglas, in Dumfries & Galloway.

 

 

The Cemetery in Lockerbie, Scotland

On the 21st of December 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed in the air by a terrorist bomb. All 243 passengers and 16 crew members were killed, and 11 more people were killed by falling wreckage on the ground.

It has long been on my mind to visit the final resting place of these victims, who were randomly and horribly murdered through no fault of their own.

I finally got that opportunity last fall.

There was a small museum on the cemetery grounds that kept memorability from the tragedy, along with correspondence, maps, and photos sent in from the families and friends of the victims.

After seeing this very tasteful memorial, we were directed to where the remains were permanently interred.

I had the honor of seeing a play based on this tragedy, The Women of Lockerbie, by Deborah Brevoort, performed by The Actor’s Gang at the Ivy Substation in Culver City, California, 2007.

The play focused on the American side of the tragedy, the families of the victims, left with nothing to represent their lost loved ones, and also on the Scottish side, with the local women who mourned their own victims, who died on the ground. These local women methodically collected every scrap of clothing, every item that had fallen from Flight 103. They cleaned up the items, washed the clothing, and replaced it within the remains of the luggage wherever possible. These fragments were then saved in case the families ever came searching. Inevitably, some did.

It made all of the horror and tragedy not any less terrible, but additionally reached out to a level of acceptance and sadness and love.

Finally visiting the cemetery in Lockerbie kind of brought things full circle for me. We can never undo this sort of horrible circumstance. We can only remember, and vow never to forget, so that these poor souls will not have died in vain.

#250!

I am totally surprised to have reached 250 posts, already. I have a feeling it will take me much less time to reach 500!

Meanwhile, I anticipate a lot more of the same content. 

I have several posts to do yet on Wales, England, and Scotland. I also have a number of posts I may write on previous travels, both abroad and here in the U.S.

I have lots and lots of posts ahead on the genealogy findings both for my and Travel Buddy’s families. Despite the discovery of a wealth of knowledge in 2013, 2014, and 2015, I am even now still organizing that information for posting purposes.

I will be bringing back the Random Picture posts which I really like, since they allow me to share pictures I wouldn’t have an opportunity to do so, otherwise.

I also anticipate a return to a number of writing projects, and a few posts will likely emerge as I continue on that path.

Thanks to all of you sticking by me on this awesome journey. I really do appreciate you!

Betws-y-Coed, Wales

We had a wonderful opportunity to stay at an inn in Snowdonia, the section of Wales that hosts skiers in the wintertime. Tucked into the Conwy Valley, where three rivers come together, is Betws-y-Coed (roughly pronounced: bet-us-eh-ked), an absolutely charming and beautiful mountain village.

The accommodations we chose was the Pont-y-Pair Inn at the village end of the Pont-y-Pair Bridge, which is positioned over the Pont-y-Pair Falls. (Catching the theme, here?) It was in short distance of other restaurants, many shops, and easy walking paths, which we took full advantage of.

It all started when I wanted to eat dinner at a carvery, where they have several meats for you to choose from, sort of like a buffet, but the meats are really tasty and well-prepared. The only place in town that was serving this type of meal was the Pont-y-Pair Inn. So we ate, and realized they had rooms available, and so decided to stay. The breakfast was every bit as delicious as the dinner the night before.

Welsh for soup and sandwich.

The village itself was just adorable, with largely 19th century buildings. It would be fun to come back in the wintertime, just to experience the same in snow.

Scarborough, England: Part IV – The Grand Hotel

We stayed in the Grand Hotel, which was built in 1867, and had a wonderful view of the South Bay. The dining rooms, lounge, lobby, and private rooms all hearken back to a different time period, most ostensibly the 1920s.

If you were on the upper level, where the Grand Hotel was located, and you wanted to quickly reach the ground level, where the shops, restaurants, and entertainment was, you just took the funicular.

It’s so difficult to get to, I don’t know if we’ll ever return. But this was one of the top surprises in destinations we’ve ever hit in all our travels.

If you find the opportunity, GO. You won’t be sorry.

Scarborough, England: Part III – The Sea

The lighthouse was getting a well-deserved make-over, but is still in use, over 200 years later.

The long pier offered a grand view of the town’s South Bay. We watched the tide roll in and roll out from a unique side-view of it all, parked on the pier.

 

The North Bay offered great views of the surfers.

We had outstanding seafood, in part no doubt to the local fisherman.

The funniest thing about the picture above? My grandma’s parents were a Scarborough and a Fletcher. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction….

Next up: Scarborough, Part IV – The Grand Hotel