DAY SEVEN: Glasgow City Tour

Glasgow – with a population of more than 1 million residents - considers itself Scotland’s “most sophisticated city."  Not sure on what their designation is based, but it is certainly hugely diverse.

Glasgow has a history dating back to 500-600 AD – and nearly everyone can recite the genealogy of kings, queens and other historical figures who’ve lived in or built the city – including an impressive collection of statues and monuments heralding their accomplishments.  The city is made up of rows and rows of amazingly well-maintained red sandstone buildings; and, immediately next door, across the street or around the corner, are dramatic modern government buildings and stylish restaurants, pubs and clubs filled with locals and tourists … with loud and lively music.  Glasgow is also world famous for its shipbuilding industry; and, I’m sure Larry knows … is the birthplace of the Queen Mary.

Our afternoon was spent exploring nearby Stirling Castle, one of the largest and most important in Scotland, including gardens, dungeons and the chambers of the King and Queen of the time, described by Richard Franck (1658) as "Stirling where stands a beautiful and imbellished (sic) castle, elevated on the precipice of an impregnable rock, and which commands the vallies (sic) ... "  T. Garnett (1798) said "it was the favourite (sic) residence of the Scottish monarchs and still exhibits very noble remains of royal magnificence."  In 1847, author Hans Christian Anderson visited "Stirling's mighty castle, situated  on a rock which appeared like a gigantic figure of stone, thrown out from the level plain, and crowns the town."

After a week in Scotland, we are still trying to figure out the plumbing, which varies from hotel to hotel.  Every shower head has been different and very complicated.  In addition, the water in every faucet - no matter where we are - is not just hot, its SCALDING! We’ve also noted every hotel room has a mirror but no electrical outlet nearby … or a plug-in but no mirror, which makes doing my hair difficult and makes me “peely wally.”

As we leave Scotland, our tour guide Jamie noted we are not to believe anything about Scotland as portrayed by Mel Gibson in his movie “Braveheart” which she claims doesn't have a single correct fact from beginning to end.  She does give “Outlander" a thumbs up for being "kind of accurate” and she’s hoping the new movie “The Outlaw King,” about the life and times of Robert the Bruce, will tell a correct story of her country's early days.