Edinburgh, Scotland - Castle and Military Tattoo

8-2-07 We woke up in Scotch-Corner, had a nice breakfast, and boarded the bus for today’s destination – Edinburgh, Scotland. On the way we made a stop in Melrose, where the heart of Richard the Bruce was buried, and then in Jedburg, where we had a nice lunch at the Ships Wheel Pub. In our group some of us had Soup with crusty bread and others had soup and sandwiches and others had BLT’s. We also had some nice pastry items from a local bakery.

After lunch we stopped at what is left of Hadrian’s Wall, a barrier built by the Romans to separate the Scots from the Celts and then we began our journey through the hilly lowlands of Scotland. The pastures were the greenest I have ever seen and we saw many, many sheep and cows too. I would really like to someday buy property and have a house right there in Scotland, that’s how much I liked it.

 

Upon our arrival in Edinburgh we did a quick drive through the town and headed to the Edinburgh Capital Hotel, which is very nice and also has a pool. At night our groups were on our own to get into Edinburgh for dinner, so using the bus we were to go and return.

 

Most of the groups went in and had dinner, went shopping and returned. I was lucky to be part of the group going to see the remarkable Edinburgh Military Tattoo. This annual event sells out in January, but Randy was able to get 12 tickets for the rehearsal show at half price, so since I was part of his chaperone group I got to go along with some of the other scouts and adults. Evan Altamirano and I decided to purchase kilts, which we did and then changed into them somehow while waiting in line to enter the Military Tattoo.

The event takes place at the base of Edinburgh Castle and there are bleachers for 8,500 people. We had great seats looking directly at the castle and saw the many different military bands, bag pipe bands and horse guard bands. There was even an all-girl High School band from Taiwan that had perfect military precision with flags and rifles.

   

The event also honored Scouting’s 100th anniversary and had Scottish Scouts participate in the closing ceremony, which included all of the performers and finally all went dark except for a lone bag piper from the top of the castle. It was very dramatic and will be something I am soon not to forget.

By Alec Hughes

Comments

[Sean Henri]

Scotland is looking a lot more green than I remember!

[Felicia Hughes]

Alec, LOVE the kilt! See what you can discover about your surname, Hughes; find out if there is a Hughes "plaid!"

Enjoying so very much all the pictures and the scouts' diary entries! What an incredible trip!

[Andrea Pokladowski]

Alec!

Who knew you'd look so good in a skirt? I am loving the spectacular scenery and the commentary as well. So happy for you all that the weather has turned beautiful in the British Isles...

[Felicia Hughes]

Have to tell..the day the troop left for the trip, Byron and I stopped at BJ's and there was a guy in line wearing a UTILIKILT!...right here in Derby! Talk about serendipity. So get ready guys, it's the new look.

[Pam & Mark]

Alex & Jimmy,

I'm sure you both will look so cute wearing your Kilts while marching with Storms on Memorial Day!!!

[Maria]

My God Scottland is BEAUTIFUL. You all are so lucky to be there ENJOY!

Love you guys,
Mom

[ScotlandFriend]

Those are some fantastic images that you've captured, including the area around Hadrian’s Wall. Very gorgeous countryside.

[Oncen]

Wow, this is just phenomenal. Damo Suzuki is my fartvioe Can vocalist, so these performances are great to hear. Thanks so much for sharing these. I didn't really know anything about Can until around 1996 I would guess. and then around 1998 all their classic albums got reissued in the US, which was like getting access to a gold mine for me.

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