Northernmost England, and Scotland Too

After a couple days in Durham, we left and headed North. After a few hours of driving we got to Alnwick, a small Norman city near the Scottish Border. We ate lunch and explored the city, but the main attraction we really wanted to see was Alnwick (pronounced 'annick') Castle. The thousand year old Norman fortress was used as the backdrop for many of the early Harry Potter films.

(Alnwick Castle from afar)

(Dad posing by a Harry Potter sign)

(Inside the grounds)

We spent the night in Edinburgh, and continued our trend of staying in Premier Inns, a UK chain of hotels, somewhat like the British version of Best Western or Motel 6. They were cheap enough for us to always get two rooms, which was an unknown luxury for our family. I had been to Edinburgh a few times before, but none of the rest of the family had ever even been to Scotland. Everyone enjoyed the Scottish capital, and we took in most of the major sights.

(The Royal Mile)

(At Edinburgh Castle)

(Adrian and I watching an important US Soccer game at an Edinburgh pub. Note Adrian's small glass of Guinness- he's a legal drinker in the UK!)

The next day we drove westbound, across Scotland. We decided to skip Glasgow, only really driving through it. Instead we went North of Glasgow, almost into the highlands. We drove around on some scenic roads, stopping at a few lochs. It was amazing beautiful, somewhat reminiscent of the finger lake district in upper state New York.

(Luss, a small village on the West bank of Loch Lomond)

(Skipping stones on a loch)

(A pub meal in a tiny village in Southern Scotland)

(Adrian, looking excited for Fish 'n Chips)

(Dad's roast lamb plate)

The following day, we toured the English answer to the lochs- the famous Lake District. As I'd been reminded ad nauseam in my geography course, the Lake District was emblematic of Englishness, and landscape was/is an important part of English culture, literature and art. It's obvious why- the rugged peaks, rolling hills and extreme 'greenness' of the landscape was almost overwhelming in its beauty.

(Rolling countryside of the Lake District)

(Almost getting run over by a tractor!)

Check back soon for more on Stonehenge, Cathedrals and London.