In the motherland!

June 21, 1954

Got the train at 1000 this morning and got to Edinburgh about 1730.  We are staying at the Douglas House, which must have been somebody’s home.

Had dinner at a restaurant.  Then we went by the Caldonice Hotel to see Eleanor but I couldn’t find her.  We sat in the bar until they ran us out at 2200.  Everything here closes early.  [That must have been disappointing for these party animals!]

Afterwards Willie and I went to walk.  We went in Dean’s College and were just sitting down on a wall when we got run out.  [I wonder if they looked like a couple of destitutes, the way they keep getting run out of places!]

Old Edinburgh

June 26, 1954

The first day in Edinburgh we went on a sightseeing tour.  We saw the Holyrood Palace and monastery – 1498.  These were in old Edinburgh and is the Queen’s home when she is in Scotland.  The monastery was destroyed during the Reformation.  Saw St. Giles Cathedral which is now Presby.  This is where the Scottish part of the coronation is held.

Willie on bus in Scotland

Holyrood Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Abbey at Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh (probably from a window somewhere)

Princess Street in Edinburgh

The next day we went on an all day tour through the Trossachs (refers to an area of wooded glens and braes with quiet lochs, lying to the east of Ben Lomond) and by Loch Lomond.  It was really a beautiful trip.  We passed the castle where Mary Queen of Scots was born in 1500.  Also stopped at Loch Katherine.  We ate lunch at Callander.  Passed the Forth River Bridge coming back.  [In my mind, I can imagine Mother singing that song "on the bonny, bonny banks of Loch Lomond".  Maybe Daddy sang along with her.  Couple of geeks - LOL]

Loch Katherine

Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond

Highland cattle in Scotland

In Edinburgh everything is closed by 10 PM and it is still light.  It doesn’t get dark until around 11 PM.

From Edinburgh we got a train to Glasgow.  It rained the whole time so we spent the afternoon in a movie – “The French Line” (oil heiress Mame Carson takes an incognito cruise so that men will love her for her body, not her money; starring Jane Russell).  Had lunch at a very nice restaurant – 101.  All of the theaters here have restaurants and snack bars in them.

Scottish Countryside

Willie at Tea Room in Scotland

That night we got the ship to Dublin.  It was very nice, and we got to Dublin about 0630.

We weren’t very impressed with Dublin.  The taxi driver took us to a horrible hotel – Morau.  It really was a flop house.  We were going to the movie, but the line was too long, so we sat in the bar until they ran us out.  [I'm wondering if there is some kind of word out on the street about them - not only are they being run out in Scotland, but in Ireland too!]

We did go on a tour of Dublin – Trinity College; Christ Church Cathedral – 1000; St. Patrick’s Cathedral – 1100; Guinness Brewery – largest in the world; Phoenix Park – largest enclosed park in the world; National Botanical Gardens; and then along the coast of the Irish Sea to Howth.  All of the signs here are in Gaellic and English.  The countryside here is very pretty and green but I don’t think much of Dublin.

Botanical Gardens in Dublin

Irish Countryside along the Irish Sea

Irish Countryside

Irish Sea

This morning we got the train down to Cork and we are staying at the Victoria.  It’s pretty good.  Sat in the bar awhile tonight, and then Willie and I walked downtown.  Tomorrow we are going to Blarney Castle.

Irish train

June 28, 1954

We found out yesterday morning that there is only one train to Dublin on Sunday and that’s at noon.  The Irish are certainly peculiar people.  Ireland is for the birds.

We took a cab out to Blarney Castle and climbed up the tower to the Blarney Stone, but we didn’t kiss it.  [Disappointing.  I am not surprised Mother didn't kiss it, but I am surprised Daddy did not.]

Blarney Castle

Blarney Castle

Inside Old Blarney Castle

The (unkissed) Blarney Stone

Then we got the train to Dublin and got a boat from there to Holyhead last night.  From there we got a train to London and got in about 0630.  We have spent most of the morning at the airport.  We will get a plane in the morning for Nuremburg.  We are staying at the Charing Cross Hotel.

The people here aren’t very friendly.  The funniest thing happened.  Hilde and I have a double and Willie a single naturally.  But someone fouled up because he has to come through our room to get to his!!  Oh well, such is life on the Continent!

Had lunch here, then we went to the PX.  Afterwards Willie and I went to walk and got lost.

Had supper at Lyons.  Then we went to the Palladium.  The show was very good.  This has been a real grand trip!

June 29, 1954

We had to be at the air terminus at 0630 this morning.  We flew to Nuremburg via Brussels and Dusseldorf.  Then we got the train to Straubing and got here about 1700.  Pat Allen met us.

Guess what they greeted us with – Congratulations!!  It seems that people were making bets on whether we were going to take the fatal plunge or not.  [I find this amusing, considering there's been very little to indicate that this was such a hot, torrid affair that people thought they might run off and get married!]

Tomorrow morning Pat Allen, Flo Wolford, June Tuggle and I take off for Vienna.