Whisky, Castles, and Scottish Charms: A Highland Adventure (I)
- Trip And Zip
- Feb 11, 2010
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 5
The few days spent in Scotland, in Edinburgh and Stirling, were exceptionally successful! I set off with high expectations (tourist cities, castles, remarkable architecture… Scotch whisky… 🙂, and I wasn’t disappointed at all. The information I had beforehand from a DK travel guide (Dorling-Kindersley—excellent travel guides!) was enough to quickly orient me toward the must-sees in Edinburgh. Scotland's capital is welcoming, the people are friendly, and there’s plenty to see, even in just a few days.
I started with the Royal Mile area in Old Town, Edinburgh Castle, and the Grassmarket area, then moved on to George Street, Princes Street, and Queen Street in the part of the city known as New Town. The juxtaposition of architectural styles between these two areas is fascinating. The Old Town preserves much of the medieval architecture, with Gothic elements, while New Town, as it’s called, was designed in the 18th century with a more structured and neoclassical approach. A unified view of the city can be obtained from the fortifications rising on a massive rock, located somewhere on the border between the two parts.
Of course, there are other neighborhoods, such as West End, but I didn’t manage to get there, focusing primarily on the historic center.
The weather wasn’t great for photography in Edinburgh, but some pictures turned out acceptable.
I also learned that what the Scots produce and drink is called “whisky”, while everyone else produces only “whiskey.” Locally, the word is widely used, even replacing the well-known “cheese” that people say to appear smiling in photos. “Whiiiiisky!”—and the photo captures cheerful people, even if they haven’t consumed anything beforehand… 🙂 In general, Scotland has a strong cultural appreciation for whisky and other beverages, which adds to its charm and tradition.
I spent many hours at Edinburgh Castle. The fortress is truly an imposing structure, situated on a rocky hill right in the middle of the city. I was pleasantly surprised by its excellent condition; the effort to preserve the place is evident everywhere. Besides the many museums, mostly military-themed or showcasing life in past centuries, the pride of Edinburgh Castle seems to be the Crown Jewels of Scotland—the crown, scepter, and… a piece of stone called the “Stone of Destiny”… 🙂 This last jewel holds enormous significance for the Scots, and its story spans over seven centuries, being both fascinating and, at times, amusing. I’ll try to delve into this story in a future post, as I found it characteristic of the Scottish spirit.
Within the castle grounds, there are many souvenir and book shops. One thing I also noticed in Ireland is that locals know how to turn their traditional symbols into a business, selling all sorts of objects adorned with Scottish emblems. It’s an entire industry aimed at souvenir enthusiasts, with the symbols of great noble Scottish clans proudly displayed on everything: mugs, keychains, T-shirts, and many, many other items. I almost left with a full-size medieval knight’s shield, emblazoned with Robert the Bruce’s crest… 🙂 However, the price was prohibitive, so I turned my attention to books—still about Robert the Bruce, one of Scotland’s two great heroes, the other being William Wallace… (to be continued).
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