Has anyone visited Scotland?

[Further]

I'm going to Edinburgh Scotland in May for a conference, and a few extra days just to check the place out. I've never been there any suggestions?

 

[THE HCP]

Been there and it is beautiful. We hit a lot of places out in the country and highlands. But Edinburgh will have enough to keep you busy. If you get a chance head to St Andrews and the Northwest Coast, it's amazing!

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

Edinburgh castle is quite nice. I don't remember much else other than that, and that the Italian guy in the hostel kept shaking the fucking bunk beds all night.

 

[THE HCP]

A couple pics.....

 

[Stevenson]

I was there last September with the wife and teens. I have traveled a lot all over the planet and it turned out to be one of my favorite places. The people are charming, the history interesting. Edinburgh castle was great and you can get some excellent cashmere on the road below it. Tip: Cough up the extra dough for higher quality. Itchy scarves suck.

We then went to the coast, to St Andrews, for a wedding. That whole area too was remarkable. The stonework, history, people - just wonderful. The food sucked, as advertised though.

All in all, Scotland rocks.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

VISIT THE MACALLAN

 

[Run BJM]

Visited Edinbrugh for a day or two while touring through the UK the summer before last. Went to the castle but didn't go in, we opted instead for the Scotch tasting museum thing close by (cheap college students). That was cool but I wouldn't say it was a must-see thing. Hiked up to the top of this big ass hill next to the city center which was cool, can't find my pictures of it right now though. Ate plenty of dope haggis and bar food.

Don't have a ton of suggestions as all we really did was wander around the city center hitting any old bar, restaurant, shop, etc. that caught our eye.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Play golf somewhere. Anywhere.

 

[mook]

Nice. I'm taking the family to England this summer for 6 weeks. I'll have to work for at least 2 of them, and we'll spend a lot of time in Kent (it's where my wife is from). Want to spend some time in Cornwall too (wife says it's very similar to the Oregon Coast).

I hadn't really considered a trip up to Scotland, but really it's not that far out of the way. 5 hour trip by train from London to Edenburgh. Longer by car.

Personally, I'd rather go to Amsterdam instead. But I imagine the castles and stuff in Scotland are more kid-friendly.

Of course, there's always Bruges. I've wanted to go there ever since I saw In Bruges.

 

[maxiep]

Deep fried everything, Twinkies, Snickers, pizza slices, etc. Also, try to learn Glaswegian. Consider it an adventure.

 

[maxiep]

Climb the Ben Nevis. It's easy.

 

[Further]

I'm getting excited!

HCP, nice photos.

BlazerWookie, I don't golf. It would be a waste for me.

Mook, I was so close to going to Amsterdam after the conference for a few days. I love it there, but I have also been there several times and decided to spend all my time in one place to make it more relaxing. And I think Scotch should add to that relaxation.

I have a friend who lives there too, so I should have a couple nice nights out with her and her husband.

 

[mook]

Yeah, in my younger years I was all about seeing as many places as I could. These days I tend to hunker down in a few spots more.

Both strategies have some merit, and not just on vacations. I'm a big believer in trying a little of everything at the start, because as Donald Rumsfeld would say, you don't know what you don't know. I call it my Buffet Strategy. Put a little of everything on the plate the first time, see what's good, and then when you go up for seconds you dive in to the few dishes that really satisfy.

The Buffet Strategy works for everything--vacationing, beer, porn, hunting, chess, fishing, sex, pop tarts, cars, women, literature....you name it. Except for children. Unless you're Shawn Kemp, you generally have to stick with the first couple of those you get.

 

[HailBlazers]

A couple pics.....

$hit looks fake!

 

[Further]

$hit looks fake!

I think there are some elfs peaking out of that castle.

 

[THE HCP]

It does look fake huh? Beautiful Dunnottar Castle.

 

[THE HCP]

There is a great course in Montrose. About 75 years older than St. Andrews. I played it by myself and had a blast. Cheap, not crowded...... had some beers with the locals in the pub .