First day in Scotland! Let me start of by telling you that Scotland is said by saying "Scot" strongly and land soft. It almost sounds harsh. I have to tell a story, that slightly embarrasses me but too funny not to share. As you look at the picture above the guy was waving around like a blowup. I pose with him thinking I'm in Scotland, how crazy! Later that day as we are sitting at our dinner table I am looking out the window at the port to see that guy walking! Yes, there was a person inside the whole time. Silly me, my grandma had a good laugh about it.
We drove through the town of Glasgow and saw the Winter Garden which is a very large greenhouse with a cafe. Outside there is a large water fountain. The area is know as the People's Palace and they area has museums and exhibits. We didn't spend time there only enough to use the restroom and stretch our legs. We stopped at Glasgow Cathedral and we were able to go inside. I decided not to go in with it being so bright out and knew that it would be dark inside. I didn't want to attempt and cause anxiety. Charles our guide escort talked me into it saying that the lighting was not bad at all. I struggled getting in since my eyes were adjusting but it didn't take long for someone in our group take me by my arm and help. This was also a bad day for my eyes. There are days that I wake up and my eyes are tired and unclear. It seems like my eyes decide when they want a day off, which is never the right time for me. I was glad that I went in to see the gorgeous stain glass. It was worth the trip on the step and the bump into a postcard stand. :)
The main attraction today was Sterling Castle. Sterling Castle rested on a hill with a statue of Braveheart in front. Outside the castle gates you could overlook the valley of Glasgow. Sterling Castle is a symbol of Scottish independence where several Kings and Queens have been crowned. The castle had a very modern look on the outside, but inside there is so much detail in art and architecture. There is a story that the kings had a lion, which no one ever saw, as a gift being king. We saw the den where it is told the lion was kept. There was a building that was a gold color and I thought it was ugly. Turns out when the castle was first built that was the color. Whoops! The great hall was burnt down in a fire and was rebuilt to look the same. The arched beams where even held with pegs, many many pegs, instead of what we would use nowadays. They didn't want to lose the original look of the castle.
Link to Sterling Castle:
http://www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk/
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