Haggis, Irn Bru and Familial Ties

Jordan: We haven't bothered to blog in a while. We've been short on time in Glasgow visiting the family. They're a handful, in a good way. Instead of having nothing to do at the end of the day but blog, we're can hang out with everyone here, so the blog has taken the backseat. You'll be pleased to see we've caught ourselves up with the photos now and I will from hereon catch you up on all the to-dos of our trip through Scotland.

Firstly, I'll take you back to Edinburgh. We took a day tour to the Highlands and Loch Ness. Our Guide, Angus, filled us in on the entire history of Scotland, I wish I exaggerating. No, he was great. Poked fun at the English, at the inaccuracies of Braveheart and showed us some of the most breathtaking countryside on the planet. Basically the rockies/alps minus the snow-capped pyramids. Went to Loch Ness, had a run-in with the monster. Wasn't actually as big as want it looks like in the photos but she was a fair size. I tried to pick a fight with it but the local constabulary broke it up and we went our separate ways to cool off because she's endangered and I'm not legally allowed to fight the Loch Ness Monster. Seriously, she's officially on the endangered species list thanks to blind stupidity.

On the way back we toured through Glen Coe, lots of valleys and lakes and mountains, or lochs and bens, and had a whiskey tasting. I love scotch; scotchy scotch, scotch. Actually in a bar in our last night in Edinburgh an old man taught us how to 'really' drink Scotch whiskey. Pour a nice glass, or healthy dram, have smell and a sip and then add just a wee bit o'water to settle it down and flush out the flavours and enjoy the rest. A friend from the hostel met a fiddle player who was playing with his band at the bar, some good folk music and during a particularly lively little number, Kennedy grew a large pair of Scottish balls and got up in the middle of the bar and danced a few steps. I partook with the obligatory step-dance clap and the bar got into a wee ruckus without a single punch thrown. That will wait til Ireland.

In Glasgow, met the family. Ronnie and Irene we stayed with and they treated us quite warmly teaching us the ins and outs of the Scottish way, and their crazy language. Words like numpty and graut were my favourites.

We toured Glasgow in an open air bus. We checked out the Kelvingrove Museum and Transport Museum, which housed a replica of a Glasgow street from the 50s with old shops and cars. Felt a lot like Happy Days. Also met the rest of the gang Elspeth and Stuart and family, and Donald and Yvonne and boys. Had some delicious meals and cold beers and really did feel like being back home. Enjoyed Irn Bru today, a nuclear energy drink far more potent than Redbull, enjoyed Irene's lamb innards, or Haggis, and some more whiskey and lost of Scottish desserts.

Had a visit to Loch Lomond one day. Toured around St Andrews, checking out the Old Course. We took a guided tour of the Old Course walking down the first, around the 17th and second and back down the 18th. Great holes. We could also just walk down around much of the rest of the course if time allowed, it didn't. We weren't even able to putt on the Himalayas, or the undulated ladies putting green just off to the side of the first hole green. But Ronnie and Irene did while we checked out the rest of the town, which is quite lovely. Checked out the ruins, St Andrews castle and Cathedral, both destroyed and overlooking the sea, and had some lunch and ice cream. Loved St Andrews. No joke a group of two people went off the first tee. If I was willing to fork over £130 plus hire some clubs I could have joined their group on the Old Course. Next time I'll play the Old Course.

Then stayed at Donald and Yvonne's as the next day Donald and the boys took us to Stirling Castle. Toured Stirling Castle, then climbed Ben A'an. Started raining the second we got on the trail but continued up the mountain anyway. We almost got struck by lightning so our trek to the summit was cut short. We were soaked through to the skin by the time we got back to the car.

We fly to Dublin tomorrow, I had a lot to cover so I'm sure I missed a bunch. Scotland was great. I know I'll be back because dad and I are going to play the Old Course, just a matter of time.

And check back on previous posts to see all the new photos.