Stirling
Categories: uncategorized
Date: 13 July 2007 18:40:43
Stirling was a nice relaxing break. It is a beautiful town and our hosts were very generous people.
On walking around one day we noticed some policeman and some blocked off roads. After questioning a shop-keeper, we were informed that the Queen was about to be driven down the road. I went back to the flat to get my camera and stood on the side of the footpath with the other people that had gathered. I nabbed this as they drove passed (she was wearing bright pink and green):
During the week, we eventually made our way to Stirling Castle and the sites inside this magnificent place:
It was a good day but I had a few issues in the way that Heritage Scotland views history and archaeology. I do see the benefit in some of the things that they do but they seem to believe in stripping through all the accumulated history and archaeology to the bare core and then 're-building' it to the way it was 'originally'.
Just before we left, we went to the Stirling Highland Games. We spent the afternoon mostly watching tug-o-war, but also caper tossing and other such activities all accompanied by a variety of pipe bands. I was down like a shot when you were allowed to participate in the Scottish Dancing:
(that's me in the red 'Turkish Delight' t-shirt).
Last Monday we caught a flight back to the Netherlands and I have started work again. I picked up my visa for Ghana so things are quite on track for my July 31st departure.