Travel diary Scotland day 14, 2016: A day not going to plan. Edinburgh though.

**Disclaimer: I write and upload the same day, often after a long and exhausting day. I often don't have the focus to re read and take out the typos, grammatical and vocabulary errors. Beware!** 

Halloooooo!!

The end is near. The day after tomorrow I'll be heading back to London. But before that, I do get to spent some quality time in a beautiful city called Edinburgh.

Planning not going to plan
Just like the other days of my trip I had a planning. Things that I certainly wanted to do and see in a way that would be most effective to lose as little time as possible. But it all came to nothing and it all started with the fact that the dining room of the guest house I'm staying at is way too little. Only 5 tables when there are 8 rooms and breakfast is served between 8 and 9. At 8.15 I stood downstairs, but no seats were available so I had to head back up to wait for a
**Disclaimer: I write and upload the same day, often after a long and exhausting day. I often don't have the focus to re read and take out the typos, grammatical and vocabulary errors. Beware!**
table to free up. I lost already half an hour of my planning. Eventually by 9.30am I headed out towards city centre. Unfortunately it was drizzling/raining on my way, so my idea of walking up Arthur's Seat in the morning didn't seem to happen. I've had my fair share of walking/hiking in rain this holiday ;) So I needed another plan, which turned my day upside down. It turned out to be quite productive in the end, but regrettably I can't go in to deep on here too much. What I can tell is that I roamed countless shops in search for a bookmarker that I had seen on my trip last year. Of course, without success. I also sat on the Royal Mile for quite a while, just enjoying the sun that had come out by then and thriving in the fact that I was back in Edinburgh.

Arthur's Seat
After a tea and piece of chocolate cake in a little cafe on the Grassmarket with view on Edinburgh Castle, I headed towards Holyrood road and Holyrood Palace as they are featured in the second book in the Outlander series Dragonfly in Amber. But when I arrived at the palace I found out that it is closed between 27th June and 10 July. Reason? Her Majesty the Queen, Lizzy, is currently staying or is about to stay, in the palace. So I had to settle for a visit to the Queen's Galary only, which turned out the be the exact same exibition as the one in the Queen's Galary back in January. Ah well, it was about the Dutch artists in the time of Vermeer (1600-1700 ish) which is one of my favorite periods in art. By the time I walked out it was 5pm and as I was so near the Arthur's Seat, I figured I might as well go up. And oh my, happy I did that! Windy as hell up there, but the view was worth it.

Legend has it that once a dragon roamed these skies and terrorised the area, eating life stock. One day he ate so much, he went to sleep and never woke up. This is just one of the many stories. No one really knows how the hill got its name. What is known, is that it once was a volcano. Pretty cool hein?

By the time I arrived back at the foot of the hill, it was time for dinner and then head back to the guest house.

That is it for the day before last! Thanks for reading!
xo - Sara

Travel diary Scotland day 13, 2016: "The Holy Grail 'neath ancient Rosslyn waits" - Robert Langdon, Da Vinci Code

 **Disclaimer: I write and upload the same day, often after a long and exhausting day. I often don't have the focus to re read and take out the typos, grammatical and vocabulary errors. Beware!**

Halloooo!!!!!!!!!

Please note I'm super tired, so it'll be a short 'un.

After visiting the Robert Burns museum and my 'quick' visit to the Brig o' Doon, I realised that I needed more time in Alloway. So as soon as I had checked out I drove back. I've visited the Robert Burns momenument and the gardens. I also spent a little more time at the bridge.

One cinnamon hot chocolate coming up
Around 11am it was inevitable to continue with my day. You might not know, but the book series "Doon" by Lorie Langdon and Carey Corp is the only reason why I went to Alloway to see the bridge. Hence my picture with the book and bridge.

When I walked of the Robert Burn's cottage yesterday, my eye fell on this little cafe. Unfortunately it was closing by the time I walked in, so I had to return today. No cinnamon hot chocolate on the menu nor were the strawberry scones, but the staff was so kind to just add some cinnamon onto my hot chocolate. I was something I had never tried before, but I know what I'll be drinking in December ;)

The Holy Grail 'neath ancient Rosslyn waits
And the film locations just keep coming! Unfortunately it is prohibited to film inside the chapel, but it looked all so familier x)
And that is! thanks for reading !
xo - Sara

Travel diary Scotland day 12, 2016: Found and walked the Brig o' Doon

 **Disclaimer: I write and upload the same day, often after a long and exhausting day. I often don't have the focus to re read and take out the typos, grammatical and vocabulary errors. Beware!**

Halloooo!!!

Just quickly, in case you've missed the previous 3 posts:

Travel diary Scotland day 11, 2016: "How tiny the Glens make one feel..." - Lady Edith Crawley, Downton Abbey: A journey to the Highlands
Travel diary Scotland day 10, 2016: I had my freaking burger in Aberfeldy!!!
Travel diary Scotland day 9, 2016: Nope, I didn't travel through time...

It seems to be a re occuring theme: every time I'd like to check out, I end up having a 30minute or longer conversation. This time it was about Brexit and about the fact that Germany would have the same outcome if they were to held a leaving referendum. It's frightening. Anyway, lets not talk politics but history ;)

Today I drove to Dumbarton Castle near Glasgow. It is quite isolated and isn't nearly as touristy as say Stirling Castle or Doune Castle. The reason why I wanted to visit this castle is because, yes, 3 guesses, it has something to do with Mary, Queen of Scots. At the age of 6 in 1568 she was taken to France to live at French court as her life was in danger as long as she'd stayed in Scotland. She wouldn't return until 1560 (ish), but she does revisit this castle in 1563. So yeah, Mary has walked these grounds. Pretty cool hein?

Tree planted by HM the Queen. Lizzy ;)

Again, the castle wasn't big, so in less than an hour I had seen everything and I was standing outside again.

Rather than have a proper sit down lunch I bought something at a local M&S store and ate in my car. Whilst I was finished my salade, it suddenly hit me. My trip is coming to an end and I don't want it to. I don't want to go back to the office on Monday. But do I ever? (no) Nearly wanted to cry.

But, no time to have a proper breakdown as my next stop was awaiting in Alloway. The Doon-series by Lorie Langdon and Carey Corp are the soul reason why I wanted to go to Alloway and see the actual Brig o' Doon. So yeah, I had to take some pictures ;)

As Alloway was also the birth place of Robert Burns, I've visited the museum (part of the National Trust) and the cottage where he was actually born. I knew that he wrote Auld Lang Syne, which features in numerous movies, but he also wrote A red red Rose, which is featured in Made of Honor! And I thought I wasn't going to cover that film during my trip this year x)

Who would have thought; hein? A piece of Robert Burns in Sex and the City? x)

Anyway, tomorrow I'll be discovering Alloway for a bit. Should be interesting!

Thanks for reading (as per usual ;))

xo - Sara

Travel diary Scotland day 11, 2016: "How tiny the Glens make one feel..." - Lady Edith Crawley, Downton Abbey: A journey to the Highlands

 **Disclaimer: I write and upload the same day, often after a long and exhausting day. I often don't have the focus to re read and take out the typos, grammatical and vocabulary errors. Beware!**

Hallooooo!!

Well this was an exciting day! I wanted to visit Inveraray Castle last year, but unfortunately it didn't work out with my schedule. However, this year I made sure I made the time to stop by.

Inverarary Castle was used as DunEagle in the Christmas special for Downton Abbey: A journey to the highlands. Does the below look familiar?

Lady Edith Crawley: How tiny the Glens make one feel...
Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham: [swatting flies] That is the thing about nature, there's so *much* of it.

The castle itself isn't that big. Well, the part you can actually visit isn't. Half of the castle is still actively being used by the current Duke of Argyll and his family. How crazy is that? "Yeah, I live at Inveraray Castle". Imagine that being your address? "You'll see it when you get there" x)

It took me about an hour to visit the entire part that is open to visitors. After that I walked around the grounds for a bit and took about a million photos.

Not only the exterior scenes were shot here, but also some of the interior scenes. If you look at the dinning scene where the bagpiper announces dinner, you'll recognise the golden statues of ships ;)

Because the castle wasn't as big a I thought and it was the only thing I had planned for the day, I ended up with a lot of time on my hands. So, what's better than to do some shopping? Last year I deeply regretted not buying a 100% woollen jumper, which I can tick off now ;) I've also bought some Christmas presents. It is nearly July, it is time to start thinking about Christmas!

I had (late) lunch at the castle café and decided to drive back to Crainlarich via Oban. Just to get in some more of the beautiful West coast scenery.

Because I didn't have any internet access, I had time to actually watch a movie rather than writing blog posts. What better movie to watch on your trip through the highlands than the Disney Pixar movie Brave? Absolutely love that film ^^

And that is it for Monday. Very Downton Abbey filled day. Nice change from Outlander ;)

As always, thanks for reading!
xo - Sara

Travel diary Scotland day 10, 2016: I've had my freaking burger in Aberfeldy!!!

 **Disclaimer: I write and upload the same day, often after a long and exhausting day. I often don't have the focus to re read and take out the typos, grammatical and vocabulary errors. Beware!**

Halloooooo!!

Sunday was very relaxed as well. I did a little hike and then had the best burger in the world!

I drove to Strathyre to start a 4hour hike on the Hill of the Fairies. It sounds a lot more promising than it actually was. Unfortunately the weather turned on me half way through my hike and the paths weren't fantastic either. At times it was just a path of trampled grass and more than ones I couldn't find it! I really had to use my imagination. So when the time came for me to start my descent on the other side of the hill it was raining constantly and the path was completely gone. Even after waiting a few minutes and walking back for a few meters I just couldn't find it. So I decided to descent the same way I had ascended. It was a shame, but I saw no point in trying to scramble through in the rain. So instead of a 4hour hike, it turned out to be a 3hour hike. The views were beautiful though. Well, before the clouds took the summits that is. Nearly every time I looked up the summits at Loch Lomond were covered by a blanket of clouds.

I was sitting in my car eating my sandwiches after my walk and I was looking on the map to see where I could go next. It was only 2pm. And my eye fell on Aberfeldy. In a little under an hour I would be back again at the little town I discovered by accident a bit over a year ago where I had the best burger in world! When I couldn't make it on the day I had intended at the beginning of my trip, I was so sad, but it seems it turned out just fine ;) Travel diary Scotland day 5, 2016: I am Merida, firstborn descendant of Clan DunBroch. And I'LL be shooting FOR MY OWN HAND! - Merida, Brave (2012)

I even sat at the exact same table! A lovely full cirkle ^^ Lets included a little throw back ;) Travel diary Scotland day 7, 2015: Mrs Rowling, are you home?

I was a bit scared that it wouldn't be as good as I thought it was. I wasn't very hungry yet and sometimes your mind enhances the idea of something that might not have been as great as it actually was. But my oh my! I highly recommend Habitat in Aberfeldy for a good lunch!!

After that little trip I went back to my room and watched Twilight: Breaking Dawn part 1, just because it was on the telly ;) A Sunday as it should be: quiet and relaxed.

Thanks for reading!
xo - Sara