A couple of years ago our châtelaine, Nicole, her cousin, our friend Belinda and I hopped on a plane for a girls' trip to Scotland. Recently I came across my photos of the trip. And sifting through them, I was reminded of this: the Scots have a twinkle in their eye. Quirky customs and a cheeky sense of humor are in full display. See the photo of the weather forecasting station above, for the perfect example, which we spotted on a fence in a scotch distillery we visited.
The Scots are friendly, funny, no-nonsense sorts of folks. And I guess you need a sense of humor to live in a place with weather that we might politely call, frickin' freezing. We had the good fortune to have sunny, 70 degree days during most of our visit, but we were repeatedly told that we were lucky to have arrived during the "three days of Scottish summer." And walking along the North Sea in Saint Andrews was about as bone chilling as a June day can get.
Really, though, Scotland should be on your bucket list. It’s a wild and gorgeous country. And, as I hope my photos will show you, the Scots aim to make you smile.
The name of this restaurant says it all, and simply.
"True Scotsman" is the term used for a Scot wearing a kilt with nothing under it. And kilts are everywhere…
…Including on this apron for the ladies. Note the sign says, "Men's version also available." Wonder what that looks like?
A fanciful garden gnome
I will take a pass on the" fish tea" (though, as it turns out, it means fish and chips with a pot of tea and buttered bread so you can make a 'chip butty', which is a fish sandwich).
LOL
We stood on this very spot on the Loch Ness, and looked (in vain) for Nessie
We spotted this cow on a street in Edinburgh. But where was the other half?
It was right around the corner, on Cowgate street.
The decor in a Scottish castle, oh my.
Whimsy in a bakery shop window.
They have some funny looking cows. That's Nicole keeping one of the friendly and hairy Highland cows at bay.
A see-through building on the North Sea.
They take their baked potatoes very seriously.
Haggis is defined as "a Scottish dish consisting of a sheep's or calf's offal mixed with suet, oatmeal, and seasoning and boiled in a bag made from the animal's stomach". You've got to wonder about a country that would bake this up in a pie.
A Scottish dog, with lion-sized delusions of grandeur.
A peacock joined us at the table next to us at lunch.
In the COMMENTS:Julie, that sounds like the perfect French day. And Carolyn, too, has a very poetic description of market day in Beaune. Susan J, I’ve never been to Mexico but it sounds like I need to visit. Paula, I love the description, “la douceur de la vie”. To Parisbreakfast, it’s true the American chains are stealthily invading France, but they are (so far) not nearly so numerous as in the States, and even fewer are in the French countryside. Tom, I’ve also found it to be true that there are lots of social gatherings in the countryside—and they can be quite long, the French love to bavarder! Nathalie, bonjour à vous, Tino et Titi.
21 thoughts on “Fish Tea, and Other Oddities”
What a hilarious trip to Scotland. Thanks for the vicarious outing…
What a hilarious trip to Scotland. Thanks for the vicarious outing…
What a hilarious trip to Scotland. Thanks for the vicarious outing…
Hi Lynn, love your memories of Scotland, but just one correction: a chip butty or buttie is a sandwich of chips (french fries) in buttered bread. You have it along with fish or just as a calorific snack on its own! No wonder the Scots have a high rate of cardiac problems.
Hi Lynn, love your memories of Scotland, but just one correction: a chip butty or buttie is a sandwich of chips (french fries) in buttered bread. You have it along with fish or just as a calorific snack on its own! No wonder the Scots have a high rate of cardiac problems.
Hi Lynn, love your memories of Scotland, but just one correction: a chip butty or buttie is a sandwich of chips (french fries) in buttered bread. You have it along with fish or just as a calorific snack on its own! No wonder the Scots have a high rate of cardiac problems.
Did you try the Bridie cakes, disgusting, although I do like Haggis which tastes a bit like andouillette or a half and a half (pint of beer with a whisky chaser). Love Scotland, nearly moved there instead of France, then Dee mentioned midges, noseeums in us English. Thanks for the memories, great pictures.
Did you try the Bridie cakes, disgusting, although I do like Haggis which tastes a bit like andouillette or a half and a half (pint of beer with a whisky chaser). Love Scotland, nearly moved there instead of France, then Dee mentioned midges, noseeums in us English. Thanks for the memories, great pictures.
Did you try the Bridie cakes, disgusting, although I do like Haggis which tastes a bit like andouillette or a half and a half (pint of beer with a whisky chaser). Love Scotland, nearly moved there instead of France, then Dee mentioned midges, noseeums in us English. Thanks for the memories, great pictures.
Oh how I love this post! Beautiful and fun photos. 🙂
Oh how I love this post! Beautiful and fun photos. 🙂
Oh how I love this post! Beautiful and fun photos. 🙂
Lynn,once again,another totally wonderful post! Even though I found myself remembering it,especially those beautiful and fun picturs(!),you again had me wrapped in smiles of enjoyment!!
What a terrific trip filled with happy memories!
Thank you for taking us along with you!
My book suggestion this time is “The Flowers of Provence” by Jamie Beck(who also authored An American in Provence).A good size for nightstands,it is total eye candy for the senses…just as the name implies,page after page of glorious blossoms.If you are feeling the least bit disquieted or out of sorts–or even just craving some beauty–perusing this wonderful volume absolutely fits the bill .
Lynn,once again,another totally wonderful post! Even though I found myself remembering it,especially those beautiful and fun picturs(!),you again had me wrapped in smiles of enjoyment!!
What a terrific trip filled with happy memories!
Thank you for taking us along with you!
My book suggestion this time is “The Flowers of Provence” by Jamie Beck(who also authored An American in Provence).A good size for nightstands,it is total eye candy for the senses…just as the name implies,page after page of glorious blossoms.If you are feeling the least bit disquieted or out of sorts–or even just craving some beauty–perusing this wonderful volume absolutely fits the bill .
Lynn,once again,another totally wonderful post! Even though I found myself remembering it,especially those beautiful and fun picturs(!),you again had me wrapped in smiles of enjoyment!!
What a terrific trip filled with happy memories!
Thank you for taking us along with you!
My book suggestion this time is “The Flowers of Provence” by Jamie Beck(who also authored An American in Provence).A good size for nightstands,it is total eye candy for the senses…just as the name implies,page after page of glorious blossoms.If you are feeling the least bit disquieted or out of sorts–or even just craving some beauty–perusing this wonderful volume absolutely fits the bill .
Loved this post. I haven’t visited, but my brother and belle-soeur absolutely loved it. We just returned from four weeks on your side of the pond. ‘Twas a wonderful four weeks and we plan a return in the spring. I hope you are staying dry these days. It has been quite the weather season for you folks.
Loved this post. I haven’t visited, but my brother and belle-soeur absolutely loved it. We just returned from four weeks on your side of the pond. ‘Twas a wonderful four weeks and we plan a return in the spring. I hope you are staying dry these days. It has been quite the weather season for you folks.
Loved this post. I haven’t visited, but my brother and belle-soeur absolutely loved it. We just returned from four weeks on your side of the pond. ‘Twas a wonderful four weeks and we plan a return in the spring. I hope you are staying dry these days. It has been quite the weather season for you folks.
Lynn, what a great trip! Lots to smile about in this post! I spent a little time in Scotland during the summer and loved it.
If you haven’t read “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus, you must! It’s a great read … funny and unpredictable; a nerdy scientist finds herself the host of a televised cooking show. I loved it!
Lynn, what a great trip! Lots to smile about in this post! I spent a little time in Scotland during the summer and loved it.
If you haven’t read “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus, you must! It’s a great read … funny and unpredictable; a nerdy scientist finds herself the host of a televised cooking show. I loved it!
Lynn, what a great trip! Lots to smile about in this post! I spent a little time in Scotland during the summer and loved it.
If you haven’t read “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus, you must! It’s a great read … funny and unpredictable; a nerdy scientist finds herself the host of a televised cooking show. I loved it!