More adventures in Scotland

Ted. For the final post on our visit to Scotland, I thought I should tell a bit about some other cool things we experienced. 

We attended a show at Glasgow’s Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre (you can watch a video at sharmanka.com). This sound and light spectacular featured animated sculptures created over the past 50 years by a Russian émigré. The Rube Goldberg like structures had this old engineer mesmerized. 

We also spent a day at the Bridge of Allan Highland Games. There was quite a contrast with the games we attended in Glenfinnan back in 1977. This event was much bigger, with thousands of tourists. I saw very few Scots in kilts. Also, woman now compete in all of the events. 

Tossing the caber

A gutsy wee lassie entered the drum major competition

As a long time reader of Ian Rankin novels, I finally got to try an Irn Bru (pronounced "iron brew"). Scotland loves this beverage so much that this is the only country in the world where Coke is the 2nd most popular soft drink! And now, like my hero, Inspector Rebus, I love it. 

Once again, recreating a bit of our honeymoon, we visited the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, now the world’s largest performing arts festival. This time, we saw a performance by some of Judy’s “grand students.” Over the last 48 years, this festival has become enormous and the streets were packed but we were able to find a peaceful retreat - Makars’ Court. 

There we found the Writer’s Museum and learned more about the great Scottish writers Scott, Burns and Stevenson - I’m not sure why Rankin wasn’t included ;). In the tiny bathroom of a nearby café, I also saw the coolest toilet ever! 

I was thrilled to see my first ever Spitfire at the Kelingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow. This one had actually been flown in the Battle of Britain!

And then there was our time at Strathblane Falconry (see strathblanefalconry.co.uk). First of all, I should explain that I love watching raptors and my favorites are falcons. In the US, it is possible to watch falconers handle raptors in a show, but it is not legal for untrained folks to handle them. There are no such restrictions in the UK so we were able to book a private session with Graeme and his birds at his facility just 4 miles from Milngavie. We got to hold 4 different birds and "fly" a barn owl and harris hawk.

Judy with a gyrfalcon

I am sure that we will have many more adventures before leaving Europe in October but, for me, this time with the birds was definitely a high point of our three weeks in Scotland!