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Scotland
Scotland
Drs Brian & Crystal Santin are off to Scotland!
At Glenfiddich - our favorite.
From Brian:
“…and we are off, again!” That’s how it felt as we started out on our destination to the other side of the pond. This time we headed to see the lands of some of my ancestors on my maternal grandmothers side in Scotland. After a solid night’s sleep aboard an overnight flight from Boston to Edinburgh, we landed in the country at 9am ready to kick off a 3-week adventure.
“…and we are off, again!” That’s how it felt as we started out on our destination to the other side of the pond. This time we headed to see the lands of some of my ancestors on my maternal grandmothers side in Scotland. After a solid night’s sleep aboard an overnight flight from Boston to Edinburgh, we landed in the country at 9am ready to kick off a 3-week adventure.
Not exact but close enough.
KILMARTIN'S STONEHENGE
Our first day included a stop at KilMartin's Stonehenge,
dating back several thousand years ago.
dating back several thousand years ago.
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OBAN and LUSS ON LOCH LOMOND
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Other places of interest in the first few days: Oban a ‘quaint harbor town’, the village of Luss on Loch Lomond had a German Village feel, and we met a fantastic couple from Chicago (of course, Liz, the wife went to U of Dayton). Most impressive was the landscape. Just remarkable and yet the pictures still don’t do it justice. Behind each turn is yet another towering Ben (mountain) and Loch. 4 days in and so much more yet to see!
ISLE of IONA
Onward to Isle of Iona; the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland.
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GLENCOE
Three Sisters Mountain peaks in Glencoe, Scotland
Then to the magical land of Glencoe with the Three Sisters mountains and the site of several movie landscapes (Skyfall, Monty Python, Harry Potter, etc). A brief but important stop at the WWII Commando Memorial followed by a visit to the Eilean Donan Castle on our way to the infamous Isle of Skye....more to come!
Eilean Donan Castle
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Isle of Iona harbor boats
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Commandos Memorial - commemorating WWII Commando creation and training camp in Scotland
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ISLE OF SKYE
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Tucked away in the middle of the Isle of Skye are several ‘Fairy Pools’ which were more like a raging river due to a solid morning rain. You cannot truly experience Scotland without a wee bit of rain as they say...
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The landscape continually proved to be ridiculous – each curve (often single-track, but with well paved roads) lay another astonishing valley between breathtaking mountainscapes.
The Scottish people really made the trip extra special. ‘We thoroughly enjoyed supporting the local artisans’. Typically we travel for up to 2 weeks abroad with just two carryon’s and two backpacks. In anticipation of bringing back home several relics on this trip, we checked a large suitcase virtually empty heading out but returned stuffed to the brink.
The Scottish people really made the trip extra special. ‘We thoroughly enjoyed supporting the local artisans’. Typically we travel for up to 2 weeks abroad with just two carryon’s and two backpacks. In anticipation of bringing back home several relics on this trip, we checked a large suitcase virtually empty heading out but returned stuffed to the brink.
For Crystal, an avid weaver on her Five ft Louet loom, a bucket list item was spending time with Roger and Andrea made infamous worldwide for their pedal driven loom at SkyeWeavers. Both of us got a chance to pedal the iconic loom!
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The Isle of Skye didn't disappoint. That's for sure. If you get the chance to visit, head to the farthest point west on the island – the westernmost location in Scotland. ‘Stunning, and yet no one goes there’.
RORY the RANGE ROVER
Despite my best efforts to bring @BettyAndDoloris with us (our ’54 Flxible bus and ’62 VW Beetle often seen parked at our GV home known as the #UrbanRanch on the corner of 5th and Beck St), ‘the kids’ remained stateside to keep an eye on our Australian mini-labradoodle, Whitney.
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Thus, Rory the Range Rover was adopted for the 3-week journey across the Highlands. The ride was exceptionally comfortable, and we were not sure if we would have made it across the Bealach Na Ba to Applecross without Rory. This is a top tier single-track technical driving experience in the northern hemisphere; 20-degree inclines on hairpin switchbacks slicing through two mountain passes. ‘For any car enthusiast, this is a Must Do experience. Unbelievable.’
TORRIDON
Onward and northward to the NC 500 (North Coast 500-mile adventurous path across the northern shore of Scotland) and the northern Highlands of Scotland. The couple spent a few days and nights at The Torridon a 5-star romantic retreat nestled in a picturesque valley. Being so far north made for some fantastic northern lights.
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BLOOD BROTHERS, NORTH ATLANTIC & THE HERMITAGE
Bucket list item for Brian: Blood Brothers, the musical (his all-time favorite). They caught the opening night on its nationwide revival tour while in Inverness
We took a moment to breath the fresh air and feel the cold waters of the North Atlantic on the furthest point north of their journey. We found Gertie the Goat, often seen grazing in the yard of the #UrbanRanch, a new bestie when they took a private tour of a reindeer farm. Jokingly, I suggested ‘importing Rudolph is underway’.
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Next up was fantastic hiking in The Hermitage, the oldest Scottish Pines in the world.
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EDINBURGH and WEDDING
Edinburgh Castle in the background
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Victoria Street
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Next up was Edinburgh and off to a dearest friend's wedding in Kelso. Life-long childhood friends getting together for our annual trip was a highlight. Always an unforgettable and hilarious experience!
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Brian and Roland
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Ready for a proper wedding
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Pre-wedding shenanigans
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Friends for 40+ years.
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Oh yikes!
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LEYLAND TIGER CUB BUS
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Would any trip for these two be complete without a Bus story?!? Just so happens that they stumbled upon a rare Leyland Tiger Cub bus owned and restored by John while in St Andrews. They quickly bonded as fellow Bus Nuts and I took her for a spin! Ha! Small world for those with a shared passion for these ole girls.
St ANDREWS, DUNDEE and SPEYSIDE
She won!
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The oldest golf course in the world.
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Onto St Andrews, Dundee, and Speyside while stopping for a quick 18 holes on the Old Course in St Andrew’s in which Crystal won! Antiquing is in our blood so a few ‘smalls’ were picked up and we enjoyed a wonderful dinner with Brian’s Scottish first cousins in Aberdeen. This marked the beginning of some family ancestry endeavors.
Bridge to Balmoral Castle
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If you know about Dundee's weaving history, then you know. #mecca
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Pinocchio marionette from the 1950s. It will be displayed proudly in the UrbanRanch
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SELLAR and MACAULEY CLANS, CROVIES, BANFF, and PENNAN
My great, great grandfather
George Sellar's grave. |
The original Sellar house. My dad is 100% Italian while my mother's side has a big Scottish ancestry streaming from the Sellar and MacAuley clans.
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George was introduced to us through my third cousin Sarah Jon Gaddis. He worked for Sellar's of Huntly (my relatives' company) for many years before taking it over. Such a fantastic guy!
Rounding third and about to head home, a very dear friend George gave them a private tour to see some of Brian’s Scottish ancestry, the Sellar and MacAuley clans, including his great, great grandfather's grave. We visited the original Sellar homestead amongst others. We also went to a few infamous seaside fishing villages Crovies, Banff, and Pennan.
Pennan, Scotland homes literally on the water...you should see the road leading down to them!
Crovie, Scotland from up above...the road down is even crazier than the road to Pennan!
Crovie, Scotland from sea level.
Three weeks, 1,493 miles driven, one amazing trip of a lifetime. The
landscape was amazing, the wedding was beautiful, the Scottish people are 100% the friendliest we’ve ever encountered, and the family connections made were the best part. Until the next trip! #callithappenstance
landscape was amazing, the wedding was beautiful, the Scottish people are 100% the friendliest we’ve ever encountered, and the family connections made were the best part. Until the next trip! #callithappenstance
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Cheerio!
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GO SCOTLAND with Drs Brian and Crystal Santin Issue XLVII
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