Guest Blog by Dan - The Angel's Share

SCOTLAND

Great scenery. Great accent. Great booze.

Great trip.

This was my third time in Scotland – which is three times as many times as I've been to most places in Europe. I keep coming back for a few reasons – some sentimentality (it was the first place I went besides London on my first trip abroad); some practical (beautiful nature, charming cities, really nice people); and some scotch-related (I love scotch).

We flew to Edinburgh on a Friday, still tipsy from our “Will & Kate Commemorative Champagne” toast(s) at Hyde Park earlier that day. Saturday morning we traipsed around town some, then hiked up to “Arthur's Seat”, a big volcanic rock formation just outside the city center, with commanding views of the city and water. The water is known as the Firth of Forth (it's just a bay), but Firth of Forth is a much better name than “Edinburgh Bay” so I'm glad they went in that direction.

Dinner was at a pub – haggis, neeps, and tatties for me (translation: sheep guts and two other more normal things); and a burger for Selena (typical American). Washed down with a few pints of Belhaven's Best, which would probably be the best in many places outside of Belhaven too (wherever that is). It's good beer, is what I'm saying.

For Sunday, we had a bus tour booked. It took us up to the highlands, to Stirling Castle (where all the “Braveheart” stuff went down), then to Loch Lomond where we ate lunch beside the loch (lake). Rumbling up and down through bumpy roads took quite a toll on poor Selena's weak stomach, which she partially emptied just before lunch. She came off better than a Swedish lady on our tour, who forced the driver to pull over in the middle of nowhere so she could wretch on the side of the road. You can't trust Swedes on a bus tour, is what I've always said.

The last stop on the tour was at Glengoyne Distillery, a small scotch whisky distillery not far from Glasgow. We got a couple free drams and a great tour from a Scotsman named Arthur, whose verbal charm was only exceeded by his plaid pants. It actually was a really interesting tour, less slick and corporate than you'd get at a larger place. Sadly, Glengoyne is made without peat smoke, which is what gives scotch is distinctive smokey (and delicious) flavor. So kind of like eating pizza without any cheese – what's the point?

On Monday, we toured Edinburgh Castle (loads to see there – a really impressive site). Then we hiked up to Calton Hill, which is another volcanic hill just outside of town with commanding views of everything. It also has a collection of monuments – some to Scottish philosophers and poets (David Hume, Robert Burns) and one odd one which looks like the front of the Parthenon in Greece, minus any actual building behind it (just columns). Great spot for pictures at least.

And that was that – except for the bargain on scotch I got at the duty free in Edinburgh Airport. That was truly a sweet (and smokey) way to end a great trip.

For pictures click here