Cheers! from the U.K.

To talk about every single thing we did in Scotland and England would not only bore you but also wear out my fingers.  And though I have alllllllllllll the time in the world right now to go on and on and on about this adventure, I'll spare you the details.

In fact, I'll only cover a few themes that seemed to follow us through Edinburgh, the Highlands, and London, two themes that completed our pilgrimage to the land of our ancestors:  sites dealing with our favorite movies/shows and favorite literary people/works.  As well, I'll cover some major events that were going on while we were there.

Movies/Shows:

• Braveheart
• William Wallace Monument

That's cute.  (a real challenge)

• Stirling 

Stirling Bridge which collapsed during a battle between
Scots and Englishmen.

Stirling Castle

• Statues at Edinburgh Castle

Next to Mr. Johnson are Mr. William Wallace
and Mr. Robert the Bruce

• Game of Thrones
• Doune Castle

Apparently lots of scenes were shot here.
Eric could tell you more.

• Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail
• Also Doune Castle

• Sherlock
• 221B Baker Street, London according to BBC

"You home, Sherlock?"

• 28 Days Later
• Westminster Bridge

The empty bridge from the movie.

"Hello!  Hello!"
The emptyish bridge when we were on it.

The bridge was closed to vehicles since
a  global warming parade/protest
was going on that day.

I took advantage of that.  Here's me protesting.

Literature:

• William Shakespeare!
• Portrait

Shakespeare in the National Portrait Gallery

• Globe Theatre/Julius Caesar at the Globe!

Our groundling tickets.

St. Paul's Cathedral across the River Thames.

Pre-show puppet show.  Highly entertaining.

I couldn't take any photos on the inside.  It wasn't allowed. :(
But here's a picture of the outside during intermission.

• Harry Potter
• Grave site inspiration for Rowling

A tour guide of a walking tour we went on took us to a
cemetery in Edinburgh that J.K. liked to take strolls in.

McGonagall

Moodie

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named

• Elephant House

The place where Rowling wrote the books.

• Platform 9 3/4 

Gimicky.  But still worth a picture.

• Robert Louis Stevenson
• Writer's Museum

This museum featured the three major writers
of Edinburgh:  Stevenson, Scott, and Burns.

• Deacon Brodies Tavern

William Brodie, who the tavern is named after, was the
inspiration for Stevenson's Jekyll and Hyde.

• Sir Walter Scott
• Scott Monument

• Loch Katrine

"Lady of the Lake" is based on this loch.

• Sherlock Holmes
• 221B Baker Street (the real one...kind of)

Major Events:

• Great War Centennial
• Tower of London

• Scottish Referendum (decision to split from the UK)
• Aye!

Charming concerned citizens that enlightened
us with how Yes was the only logical way to go.

Adam Smith voted Yes.

So much gusto.

And yet...nope.

Maybe next time, Scotland.

William Wallace doesn't approve of this decision.