“Dum Spiro Spero” – “While I breathe, I hope”. ~ St. Andrews motto

In honor of Scotland's official National Day…

St. Andrew's Day, celebrated on November 30th…

we shall ponder…

my Top Five Reasons to Visit St. Andrews, Scotland.

1) Our visit in June with a special teen-age visitor in tow justified a tour 

of the oldest university in Scotland…

University of St. Andrews…

founded in 1413.

 Graduation was looming the day we were there,

as were dark clouds,

so campus was quiet.

2)  There's the whole birthplace of golf thing 

and St. Andrew's importance to the game.

It's pretty important.

3) St. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland 

and the town itself was strongly influenced by religion.  

The St. Andrews Cathedral…

built in 1158, is today beautiful ruins left behind 

after Catholic mass was outlawed during the Scottish Reformation.

St. Rules Tower actually predates the cathedral 

and lucky for visitors had a stone spiral staircase inserted in the 18th century. 

I stopped counting at 50 something 

because I was too concerned with what would happen if someone was on their way down.

There would be negotiations involved.

 Research has divulged 156 steps up

and 156 steps down.

4)  St. Andrews Castle is a beautiful spot for a stroll...

or a rest...

amidst the grounds of a focal part of the Church of Medieval Scotland...

 and home to the bishops and archbishops of St. Andrews.

5)  St. Andrews, the town itself, is quaint and easy to meander about.

Ren Man and I are partial to seaside havens 

and the West Sands Beach in St. Andrews 

was the opening scene of the movie, Chariots of Fire.

More recently known as the place where Kate and Will met,

you find tourist wandering around town snapping photos of where they had coffee, 

or lunch,

etc., etc., etc.

Our favorite spot for a lovely view of the sea while dining on fresh seafood,

is the aptly named…

The Seafood Restaurant.

Happy St. Andrews Day!

"…a thin place where only tissue paper separates the material from the spiritual." ~ George MacLeod, founder of the Iona community, describing this holy isle

A smaller passenger ferry…

map source:  www.sandymckay.com

 transports visitors to the wee island of Iona west of Mull,

unless you are one of its 177 residents 
allowed to drive their vehicles on and off the island.

During the Early Middle Ages
 a monastery is believed to have been built in 563... 

by an exiled monk from Ireland…

Columba, or Colm Cille.

Iona survived multiple Viking attacks with its Celtic crosses still in tact…

and continued its spiritual history when the abbey was built in 1203, 

until its destruction during the Scottish Reformation 
when the Duke of Argyll gifted the ruins to the Church of Scotland.
Services are still held in the Abbey.

 A few years after the abbey, a convent for Benedictine nuns was built in 1208…

 and its ruins still remain.

A small portion of the Bishops House, 
believed to have been built in the 1630's is located north of the abbey.

This unique community has been flourishing since 1938

when George MacLeod led a concerted effort to rebuild the abbey.

Over the years, Iona, has been and is today…

"a dispersed Christian ecumenical community working for peace and social justice, 

rebuilding of community and the renewal of worship." 
iona.org.uk 

A beautiful, peaceful island 
where people have lived and visited and worshiped for many centuries.

  
  

"Every summer has a story…" ~ unknown

Across the pond,

Labor Day is a book-end to summer,

where crisp linen outfits and white shoes know the time has arrived

to be stored away until Easter.

Here in Scotland,

 the end of summer is subtle as the daylight hours 

grow shorter day by day, 

and the ubiquitous fields of harvested hay…

wait for use during the approaching autumn and winter days.

Meanwhile, after a whirlwind summer.

there is much to tell,

however, 

I do believe I will begin at the end.

Ren Man and I just returned from a weekend road trip to...

 the west coast of Scotland, 

where we wandered about Oban…

and spent the night at the lovely Manor House Hotel, 

a Georgian villa built in 1780 for the Duke of Argyll.

Overlooking the Oban harbour…

our breakfast view was only a teaser before sensory overload…

 as we boarded the ferry...

and headed to the Isle of Mull…

where its mouth opened wide and spit us out.

Only the clouds changed as often as the scenery.

Single lane roads give you the feel of being the only visitors 

until of course you end up behind a tour bus, 

although drivers are very considerate 

and pull over at the designated 'passing places' when necessary.

I do believe we came very close to exploring all 338 square miles of this Inner Hebrides isle...

as we breezed through villages…

and walked along the crystal clear waters 

of Calgary Beach...

where we were NOT tempted at all to take a dip.

Boats turn up in the most creative ways.

More on Mull in the coming days.

My Aberdeen Monday...

After our Winter like Spring last year...

my eyes are singing the "Happy" song…

as we drive around Aberdeen,

 veiled in creamy and bright yellows 

on a backdrop of green.

"And then my heart with pleasure fills
And dances with daffodils."

~ William Wordsworth

Happy Monday.

My Aberdeen Monday...

There is a…

filled with lunch choices and of course…

quality treats.

Stop by and give it a try.

Happy Monday.

My Aberdeen Monday...

'Laissez les bons temps rouler'…

or better known as…

Mardi Gras kicked off a wee bit early in Aberdeen...

and, as in years past, was full of fun and merriment.

Under the watchful eye and tutelage of Louisiana natives in our AWA group,

the chef whips up authentic Cajun food and drink for those abroad and missing the carnival season.

Our Krewe of Tartan blended two cultures beautifully 

and even introduced us to a new children's book.

With Hurricanes flowing, Ren Man and I decided to skip the round trip taxi fare

 and took advantage of the convenience of the Old Mill Inn…

being an inn and all.

After our night as the tartan krewe, 

we felt right at home…

and the fireside breakfast, included in the nights lodging,

 was a hearty start to a gray and rainy morning.

Only five miles west of Aberdeen,

The Old Mill Inn has the perfect...

waiting for you.

In addition to being a family run country inn,

they provide a fabulous venue for your special event.

If you are looking for entertainment this weekend…

check out their quiz night.

Happy Monday.