Why Does It Always Rain On Me?

As I mentioned last time, my friends Steve and Rachel made it up to Glasgow to pay Fiona and myself a wee visit. After having lived here for almost 6 months (!!!) I now get the same excitement showing off Scotland to my Canadian visitors that I did showing off Canada for Scottish visitors.

One of the great Glasgow daytrips is to take a 45 minute train up north to the town of Stirling. Now Stirling may be a relatively small place, but much like the rest of Scotland contains an amazing amount of history. Stirling was the site of many a battle between the feisty Scots and their auld enemies the English. Our old friend William Wallace – yes, Braveheart – led an army which defeated the English in 1297 at Stirling Bridge. In 1314, Robert the Bruce sent England’s Edward II packing after the Battle of Bannockburn. This was a key battle towards maintaining an independent Scotland, and is still referenced in the unofficial Scottish national anthem, ‘Flower of Scotland’ (“And stood against him/Proud Edward’s army/And sent him homeward/Tae think again”). On a side note, I think the Braveheart movie made Robert the Bruce look like a real wuss. In reality I think HIS story should be made into a movie. But I digress.

Anyway, we were in Stirling and had a chance to walk about town and see the castle which has an amazing view of the surrounding countryside. Our next destination was the Wallace Monument, which according to my guide book was only about 2 miles away from the train station. Unfortunately the guidebook meant 2 miles as the crow flies because it ended up to be quite the hike. The weather had been rainy off and on, so we really should have known better then to tempt nature by walking down country roads without any shelter. Sure enough, about half way to the monument, the skies opened up into one of those downpours that have no mercy for even the most prepared. Of which we were not.

Fiona and I had umbrellas, but this was not a rain that fell downwards. If I hadn’t known better, I would have sworn the rain was shooting out from the ground and the trees because I was soaked in minutes. Steve and Rachel, despite being good tourists and having bought bright yellow rain jackets, got equally as soaked as those clever Scottish raindrops seemed to find every possible opening into the clothes. Just as quickly the rain stopped, and we couldn’t help but laugh at the ferocity of the soaking. Welcome to Scotland!

The Wallace Monument was great, with a good account of the history of young William, and the coolest gimmick ever - the talking head (not to be confused with the Talking Heads). A hologram face is beamed onto a mannequin dressed as Wallace shackled to a chair, and it is rather spooky how realistic it looks.

Fiona also introduced us all to some swanky restaurants in the West End of Glasgow (University of Glasgow territory), including one selling £2.50 cocktails. Nice.

The MacMillans are now off to France, no doubt enjoying the pleasures of that most wonderful of countries (despite the pathetic American propaganda which claims otherwise). Fi and I tried to join them but not even the cheap airlines were able to cough up tickets that we can afford this time of year. I wish them well on their travels, and can’t wait to hear the stories!