Scottish soul.. From Edinburgh to the Higlands, our tour of Scotland

A week in the land of the "brave hearts" to know a little 'style and Scottish culture. The accommodation is typical and dignified, quiet in the central and Pilrig Street, a stone's throw from the castle and other local attractions.
In addition to the various tours around the city, we wanted to venture in the North, to the legendary Highlands, in a truly marvelous.

 

Let's go!

I am flying over layers and layers of clouds of iridescent colors: they are so excited! I'm about to land in Scotland romantic!
With a comfortable flight we arrive in Edinburgh the Rayair a beautiful summer morning: I have always dreamed of being in these northern lands, and I have fed more than a little book that told the story, describing characters and spaces, blood!, Persons .
With my husband and my children we get regularly in line for a taxi and we jump on a black, beautiful, classic English cab!, In a flash that brings us to 92 of Pilrig Street, where you will find our hotel, the '" Edinburgh House ", a typical stone building with a small garden in front and another on the back, with beautiful bay window overlooking the street flower.
The system time and we are back on the road to look for a red bus to take us downtown.
We head on Princes Street, where there is an efficient tourist information center, with lovely girls who try to interpret the 'more awkward English and are a treasure trove of useful information about places, transport, various precious.
The weather is typically Scottish, with frequent rain, more or less strong, so our first purchases ... two umbrellas! J
The souvenir shops are beautifully made with strictly in kilts and bagpipes in the background of the music!
Of course, discovered a library and I can not make me miss! It is love at first sight between me and Waterstone's Bookstore: polished wood floors, well-sorted piles of books, practical shelves and a children's department where I find my beloved Gruffalo! There is a whole section dedicated to its creator, the Scottish Donaldoson Julia, so I have quite a lot 'to do! J
Also in the same library there is a Starbucks with a fantastic view of the city right on the piece de resistance: The Castle!
I do not ever go from here: excellent tea, scones at will, full of books, notebooks, colored, with great views, comfortable sofas ... but it's time to draw closer to the base!
We head to the bus stop, where all are strictly in line!, And take the 11 in which leads us directly to our hotel.

I had heard that the cost of living is quite expensive, especially due to the unfavorable exchange rate with the pound, but I must say that I did not get that impression at all, perhaps because everything is functional and practical, starting with the transport - always clean and punctual ! -, Then annihilate also like something more!, Or perhaps for the various possibilities to spend less for food: there are several ovens that offer delicious sandwiches and cakes, fast food outlets, supermarkets - open until 11 pm! - With a wide variety of foods ...
Even many local pubs and there seemed very expensive, with a maximum of 15 pounds a head we always got there.

At 23 there is still light outside and it's nice to look at the sky with its clouds changing from the large window of our room!

The Old City

The day looks gloomy, but full of light. We prepare quickly: I can not wait to have breakfast! I love the breakfast at the hotel! J
At one time I missed a lot Italian coffee, but I must say that I learned to appreciate not just the British, who willingly and drink plenty of dunking toast with jam, cheddar, honey ... in a sweet and sour mix that I allow myself just in holiday!
With the beautiful bellies full, we move to our first stop today: the Scottish National Galery.
We opt for the dayticket, which allows you to run all day - £ 3.20 pounds for adults and £ 2.0 for the children -
In short we are on site and we enjoy this gallery - whose entrance is FREE! - Which is really remarkable for care and variety.
We are proudly displayed by local artists, to tell the story of this friendly people, but also sections with my beloved Impressionists and other most popular with the Italians: Leonardo, Raphael, Titian ... I feel very proud of my being Italian, in these cases !
As I said, the exposure is very accurate and is very pleasant to wander through the various rooms, stopping occasionally to admire the paintings of settling strategic sofas.
At the exit there is quite a bookshop, a room available for workshops for children and a beautiful bar where you can rejuvenate admiring the verdant park that combines the newest part of the city center with the oldest, where the Castle and the Royal Mile, the road a mile long which is a symbol of Edinburgh and linking the castle to 'ancient Palace of Holyrood, current residence of the British royal family when in these parts.
After crossing the park, dotted with romantic wooden benches with dedications of love, driving along a spectacular ascent offering views equally spectacular and brings us to the Castle.
They're setting up the stands in view of a parade where the Scots are very fond of the show ... it adds to the show: it seems to be on the Quidditch stadium Harry Potter!
The castle is a true medieval village, with many buildings collected in a spiral around the tower with the king's apartments, where there is the legendary treasure of the crown, complete the "stone of destiny", a large boulder from the fascinating history: it was from time immemorial, the throne of the first king of Scotland and later embedded in the richest and most elaborate thrones.
It was "used" for the coronation of the kings, even those Englishmen who, when finally conquered England, Scotland, carried him to London, Westminister Abbey.
Only in 1996 the Queen Elizabeth II has decided to return to Scotland, provided that the "pay" to the English on the occasion of the new coronation.
Really a nice story, the kind that I like!
Within the walls of the castle is all a bustle of guys in kilts, so that we do not anymore.
The thing that leaps out is the care with which he is held this place, as well as the Galery we visited in the morning. Not only is care and cleaning, but explanatory panels, thematic exhibitions, reconstructions, in order to tell the story in many different ways, all valid, so that everyone can choose what he prefers and deepen.
Even as a teacher, I welcome that and I did a little 'to remember the historical museum in Dublin, which we visited last year, attached to Christ Church Cathedral, the museum is a mindset that we should try to plagiarized, given our wealth historical and artistic!
Let's take a break for lunch in the restaurant which is located on the main square: there is a cannon that shoots at one o'clock! That's Gianicolo shoots at noon! Who copied who?!?
There are many places to see and to shelter from the rain and the other: the chapel of Queen Margaret, the prisons, the apartment of the king, the shrine of the dead soldiers during the First and Second World War ...
We go out after several hours and we head towards the Royal Mile, the Royal Mile through the Old City leading straight to Holyrood.
The street is really nice, with its intact medieval style and lots of souvenir shops, some - alas! L - with shoddy true ... but it seems to be inevitable: when I think of the shops near our home in St. Peter's Square, I get the chills!
Walking through this beautiful street we find the Cathedral of St Giles, the heart of Midlothian - which seems to spit out ... good luck - which once was the site of executions, a shop where the aroma of cinnamon is still Christmas, and even the Catholic Church St Patrick.
It is also well late afternoon, but the sun is still high! We try to come close to New Town to find a place to eat something before returning to the hotel. Take the 35 bus, our strong day tickets and cross the bridge that leads us to the beautiful gardens of Prices Street, as are green! The whole 'Rain is also to serve something!
In Hanover Street there is the Italian restaurant "Bella Italy2 and we decided to venture out ... the kids miss the pasta!
In fact, no complaints, except for the background music with Gigi D'Alessio, evidently considered a tipical italian singer ...
With bus number 11, this time it looks like that of Harry Potter, eventually we arrive at our hotel! What weariness! On TV there is a special on Harry and Katy in Canada and soft! J

On the footsteps of Da Vinci Code

It is the day of the Templars, we can not wait! So mega breakfast, bus No.11 then No.15 on Princes Street and Rosslyn ... here we are!
Hour's drive to get there, among green fields - I have already said?! ... - And stone houses with slate roof and large bay windows ... seems to be in the books by Rosamunde Pilcher! I love her novels!
Our goal is a bit 'a yard, imagine that since the release of The Da Vinci Code on there has been an influx of people unthinkable in these parts!
The chapel has a very surreal atmosphere, is full of different symbols, clearly some religious, some are difficult to interpret as monsters and exotic plants: there is also the bassolirievo aloe vera!
There are buried, in fact, several knights and the grave of a temple there is a fresh red rose ...
Wherever there is an atmosphere of reflection and meditation.
Outside the clouds chase each other endlessly, and we barely had time to take refuge in the only restaurant / hotel in the area before unleashing a veritable storm complete with hail!
We eat very well - in the face of those who denigrate the cuisine here! - And in a very warm and welcoming!
Time comes, as read from the table at the bus stop, with Swiss precision, we take the 35 for the return.
Meanwhile, the sky breaks out again, but it does not disturb, indeed enters the atmosphere even more romantic of these parts; emerald pastures sheep wander from the dense black nose and horses mane ...

In the heart of the real Scotland

The sky is still moving, but there's a novelty: the window early in the morning, I saw a gray squirrel emerge from the trees! What a nice surprise, a real and unexpected gift! Looks like a good omen for the adventure today: We are planning a day trip by coach to Loch Ness and Hightlands!
The driver - of course superpuntuale! (The matter of punctuality continues to amaze me, who knows why?) - Comes up from the hotel and take in the other, makes us take a nice tour of the city, showing us and telling us things that otherwise we would never have seen and heard.
English has a very expressive and tries to talk slowly to be followed by everyone.
The view out of town, is a real show, always different, but with inner harmony at times moving.
The hills are replaced by the mountains, high and mighty, but with how smoothly rounded and covered with moss and grass green course.
Green is the predominant color with dozens of shades, tones bordering on brown, ocher, red ... it's an endless show, then enhanced by the many elements that comprise it, is a continuum of beauty that is diversified in waterfalls, stone walls that surround the sheep pastures with twisted horns, placid rivers and rushing streams, stone bridges, houses with big windows that let you peek inside, brown or spotted cows Pacios ...
All under a sky in constant motion, endlessly changing shape, color, direction ... still hear all the flavors of Rosamunde Pilcher!
The driver continues to tell of the battles for independence, inter-clan fighting and in this regard, we stop at Glencoe, scene of a fierce battle and a spectacular view of course.
By one o'clock we are at Lochness, ready for our cruise on the lake, in search of the mythical monster!
It starts to get to the capital of the Highlands, Inverness, but we can not get off, the clock is ticking, however, we stop in a small Victorian town, famous for its salmon fishing, Pitlochry.
The final stretch is accompanied by soft music and a bit 'of information on traditional Scottish attire.
The rain comes and goes, but luckily it's sunny in Edinburgh!

To the seaside

This morning we take it a little 'more convenient: the day yesterday was exciting, but challenging!
We decide to go to the sea, in Leith, the port of Edinburgh.
The weather looks nice and the sun is really hot: it is nice to walk along the beach and watch the seagulls and cormorants that dive and go back.
The Firth of Forth is a fjord that extends to the open sea and gives just the idea of adventure and travel. I am reminded of Stevenson's Treasure Island and ... was not the case here!
At the port the ship is moored the historic Britannia, which is a real attraction: we were all members of the Royal Family!
Unfortunately, the erratic weather brings us a little 'of rain, so we take refuge in a mega shopping mall, the Ocean Terminal: what a mess! There are too many opportunities to spend!
The shop Navy of Britain is a real show: Harry and Kate are everywhere! A true piece of England here in Scotland! Very fascinating!
On the way back we allow a large area around our tree, full of interesting things, like the park and the cemetery. I am fascinated by Celtic cemeteries, with simple headstones, sometimes bent by cold and long, green lawns, the serene atmosphere and not at all gloomy for this ... will be one of the places in Rome that I love most non-Catholic cemetery in Testaccio Who knows?
We want to enjoy the atmosphere of the library and Waterstone's why we go to Princes Street.
This library is really a dream! J ... and we do not miss even a little 'wild shopping at souvenir shops to stock up on gadgets scottish!

Departure

It starts ... We prepare everything and we will book taxis that will take us to the airport by noon.
So we can still enjoy a morning of exploration of "our" area to reveal a little 'everyday life: the elementary school, police station, the Tesco - how many times I've found in books and movies!
Our mood is a bit 'sad but not sad: Scotland we liked a lot and it is said that there will come back one day or another!