Last day in Scotland! Last day in Scotland! I don’t waaaaaaaaaanna go!
I had an early train to London, but I managed to get up at 8am to do a couple museumy things before I left town. First I went to the Edinburgh Museum which was STELLAR. They had the stuffed corpse of the Dolly the cloned sheep on display, and I was more than tickled that they didn’t even bother pulling off the poop dingleberries she had stuck under her tail.
Dingleberry Dolly
Next I paid too much money to visit Gladstone’s Land–a 15th century house left untouched for centuries. It was 5 stories tall, but visitors only have access to 1.5 stories. What a rip-off! I was done seeing it in 20 minutes, but then I struck up a conversation with one of the volunteer historians who was 80, deaf, and hysterical. He had the BEST stories, but I had to rush out to catch my train.
I had specifically requested the “Quite Car” on the train so that I could sleep during the trip. Of course–OF COURSE–an African woman in a huge headdress with 4 tiny kids had parked in the middle of the traincar and was letting the kids run amok–screaming, crying, shaking chairs. She spoke loudly on the phone in French for half the trip. I seethed. I was out of my seat about 6 times preparing to confront them, but each time I stood up I looked around at the other passengers who seemed oblivious to the noise. Hmm. If I’m the only one bothered, then maybe it’s earplug time.
Once in London, I transferred directly to the tube and took the hourlong train to the airport. At the airport I transferred to the Hoppa Bus which takes you to local airport hotels. The bus cost 4 pounds and took 2 minutes to drive me to my Inn. Disembarking I grumbled, “I coulda walked”. And walk I did, after dropping off my luggage in my room, to a local pub with a thatched roof and hundreds of years of history. It was called the White Horse. It oozed character–low ceilings, dark wooden beams, locals talking about neighborhood gossip. I loved it.
The White Horse
Tomorrow Mom and Christy arrive!! I can’t wait!!
