Chris & Kelly's Travel Adventures

Day 8:  Thursday, Aug. 17

Glasgow, Scotland

Sandy & Mickey's Excursion

The ship docked in Greenock, very close to the city of Glasgow and Prestwick airport (there was a statue of Elvis, because his flight to Germany refueled at that airport).  Dundonald castle is pictured above along the south/west coast of Aryshire.  They passed through the town of Troon (famous for their golf courses, film locations for Highlander & Braveheart).  Other nearby towns boasted the birthplace of Robert Burns and a Viking Statue. 

First destination was Culzean Castle on the Firth of Clyde.  Culzean castle was built and owned by the Scottish Kennedy Clan (no relation to the American/Irish Kennedy's of America).  In 1945 the Kennedy family gifted the castle to the National Trust of Scotland to avoid inheritance tax, but on the condition that the apartment on the top floor of the castle be given to General of the Army Dwight D. Einsenhower for his role as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces during WWII.  He visited there a total of 4 times in his lifetime, once as President. 

AYR

Information & Irritations

Scotland uses British pounds & pence (pennies) for currency. The UK symbol is the lion, but the Scottish symbol is the unicorn.  It common for find both symbols side by side on flags and in castles.

Since Brexit, prices have skyrocketed in Scotland.  Heat that used to cost 80 pounds three years ago is now over 300.  The same is true for food. 

Lunch was confusing as we are used to ordering food then finding a table, it was backward for us today.  The lady refused to let us order until we had a table # to give her!  The food was wonderful- burger, fries, steak & mushroom pie and Scottish brewed cola.

Today one was of many problems with bathroom issue's that were to come .  Either the bathroom on bus was locked or there was no paper.  Today we couldn't find a public  restroom.  One required a gadget of some kind, barber shop directed us to the bus station, bus station sent us to a tea shop, but we were required to buy something. Who has time for sightseeing, all we do is search for a place to pee!

The bus station guy had a lovely accent, and he guessed I was from Arkansas almost before I got the word out of my mouth.

We listened to lovely Scottish music on the return bus trip.