On The Road Now

August 10, 2017July 24, 2018

Baked beans for breakfast… and other quirks of Scottish cuisine

The full Scottish breakfast — The “full Scottish” breakfast

SCOTLAND – One of my most curious first impressions of Scotland was the so-called “Full Scottish Breakfast.”

The ‘full Scottish’ includes such typical morning fare as smoked bacon (mostly meat, unlike American bacon where it’s mostly fat), a savory link sausage, a fried egg (just one) and toast (white or brown).

Uniquely Scottish additions to the menu include a wedge of potato scone (more like a potato pancake than the scone I’m familiar with in the States), a slice of black pudding (another type of sausage – very salty – made from pork fat or beef suet, pork blood and oatmeal or barley), sautéed mushrooms, a couple of grilled tomato halves, and finally…
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July 30, 2017July 24, 2018

Stone buildings are everywhere in Scotland

Stone buildings can be seen all over Scotland

SCOTLAND – When we arrived in Edinburgh in June we were impressed by how many stone buildings there were all over the city. Not just the castles, but public buildings, private homes, storefronts, monuments and more.

Stone walls are everywhere in Scotland — Stone walls are everywhere around Scotland

You also see stone walls everywhere in Scotland… along every street and roadway, enclosing individual yards and gardens, and around every field and pasture. Stones, stones and more stones.
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July 25, 2017July 24, 2018

Scotland’s exquisitely beautiful coastline

A view of Scotland's scenic coastline from Dunnottar Castle, near Stonehaven — A view of Scotland’s scenic coastline near Stonehaven

NEAR ORKNEY ISLAND, SCOTLAND – Right now I’m traveling with a white-knuckled husband who is gritting his teeth. No, I’m not talking about my driving. We are, in fact, riding in a very comfortable express bus from the Orkney Islands along the mainland coast of Scotland to Inverness, still a 3-hour trip once we are off the ferry.
It is a fantastically beautiful sunny morning. The rugged coastline is exquisitely lit up, with shadows in just the right places. There are sheep and cows posing in the fields, traditional thatched roof barns right next to the road, and all other sorts of daily life things that hold your eyes in wonder.
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July 13, 2017July 24, 2018

Fairies and Unicorns in Scotland? Of course!

KIRKCALDY, SCOTLAND – Washing dishes with FAIRY liquid.

FAIRY brand washing up liquid, “By appointment to Her Majesty the Queen”

Yep, that is what we have here in Scotland. FAIRY brand washing up liquid (dish soap to us Americans), “By appointment to Her Majesty the Queen” (It says so right on the label).

And it works great – like magic (I am assuming). I bet it used to have a picture of a fairy right on the label.

It took me a few days to think this through. It was so odd to me to find a commercial product named “FAIRY.” Where is the strength in that?
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July 10, 2017July 24, 2018

Edinburgh has a bit of a sweet tooth

In Edinburgh, sweets are available just about everywhere — Buying sweets on the street in Edinburgh

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – The food here is really wonderful.

OK, I see Pizza Hut, KFC, McDonald’s, but we don’t eat there even in the states. Otherwise, it is cooked to order and takes a few minutes more. Time is no problem over a good beer anyway.

In the morning we can walk across the street to the little hole-in-the-wall grocery and buy fresh-baked croissants, meat, and curry or chicken pies for the rest of the day. It’s great this inner city living. Continue reading “Edinburgh has a bit of a sweet tooth”