Tuesday, May 19, 2009

At Home In Scotland

I'm glad that I have the photographs, because somehow the entire adventure seems like a dream. Was it real?

Sir Walter Scott memorial in downtown Edinburgh


Stained glass window looking over the tomb of King Robert the Bruce


Dunfermline Abby was the birthplace of my 15th (and favorite!) Great-Grandfather, King James I of Scotland.


The tomb of my 18th Great-Grandfather, King Robert the Bruce, at Dunfermline Abby


Stonehaven is taking proposals for speed limits on their highway... so, what do you think? I think 100 is fine!


Viaggiatore meets a Scottish lion, guarding the grounds at Edinburgh Castle


Statue of King Robert the Bruce at Edinburgh Castle


Edinburgh Castle


Bagpipes


Edinburgh


Stirling Castle and a memorial to King Robert the Bruce


Stirling defense


The Jetson mobile parked at Stirling Castle (yes it only has 1 door and 3 tires)


Path to Stirling Castle


Springtime in Scotland


Park anywhere you like, any way you like.
Really.


A beautiful Scottish sunset on the road back to Edinburgh


Flodden Field in England, where the Battle of Flodden took place, and where one of my Great-Grandfathers, Duncan Campbell, died in battle on 9 Sep, 1513, along with 10,000 others.


A river bridge between Melrose Abbey and Flodden Field


Melrose Abbey where the heart of King Robert the Bruce, my 18th Great-Grandfather, is buried.


I wanted a rainbow in Scotland and I got one! Welcome to Peebles!

"A noble heart may have no peace if freedom fail" inscripted on the memorial over the resting place of the heart of King Robert the Bruce, my 18th Great-Grandfather


Melrose Abby, where the heart of King Robert the Bruce rests


Bridge to Scone Palace


Scone Palace, crowning site of Scottish Kings


There is a garden star shaped maze at Scone Palace; this fountain is at its center


An albino peacock in the gardens at Scone Palace


The Stone of Destiny in front of the chapel at Scone Palace, where four of my Great-Grandfathers were crowned Kings of Scotland


The ocean in Stonehaven on a stormy rainy morning


Mr. Black in New York


The Empire State Building


My friend Jackie asked me to bring her back a Scottish gent...


Triple Deckers...



Friday, May 15, 2009

There And Back Again... Paris & Versailles

Ahhhh.... April in Paris...


Round and round we go...


Keeping time...


Mr. Black and I made friends! Please meet Louis


Viaggiatore made lots of new friends, too!


Where the light is pink in Paris...


Bon Apetit!


The Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles


Viaggiatore met this new friend at the Louvre


Angels abound...


Sunlight through stained glass at Notre Dame


A bridge over calm waters


Guarding the bridge... Viaggiatore loved meeting all the Parisian Lions!


Standing at attention on the Seine


The Sacred Heart


Flowing Seine


The only sphinx in the Louvre with an intact nose


Saint Michel defeating the devil


A close look at the Eiffel Tower


Ways to get from here to there


Con Te Partiro... just for us!


Aphrodite of Milos
She was made between 130-100 BC! She looks mahvelous!


The lions at Versailles were small but very friendly!


Thursday, May 7, 2009

Passport Stamps

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
~Proverbs 4:23, NLT

Monday, May 4, 2009

Star Wars Day

Happy Star Wars Day!



May the Fourth



Be with you...