Water, wildlife and wonders... a road trip around Scotland COMPLETED 11/6 - Page 60 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Tuesday 20 June – part three: can we take some photos inside?
We were heading next for Aberdeen city centre, and eventually it sorted it out, and we were on our way…
We managed to find some parking, even though it was extortionately priced (£3.50 ($5) an hour! ), and set off. I wanted to see the Mercat Cross and we found it completely by accident… Wondering what a mercat cross is? Well, it’s the Scottish name for market cross, as you might guess. They’re often found in Scottish cities and towns, where regular markets or fairs were once held.
We even found a golden post box here, a wonderful reminder of the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics. Whenever we had a Team GB gold medal winner, a post box in their home town was painted gold. It was the first time that the traditional red post boxes had been repainted, and it was supposed to be a temporary measure, but the public loved the idea so much, they became a permanent tribute. I even know someone at work who’s toured the country, visiting as many as he could. Sadly, a lot of the ones that were painted gold were nowhere near us or our travels, otherwise I might have done the same thing.
As we walked along, we found the town hall, and I saw a statue of Queen Victoria inside. Mark told me there was a security guard on the entrance, but I figured it didn’t hurt to ask, so I popped my head in and asked if it would be Ok if we took some photos, and he was fine with it.
What a truly amazing place to be able to come to and work in.
We headed off again. I was looking for Provost Skene’s House, but I couldn’t really see anything. Provost Skene’s House was built in 1545 and he purchased it in 1669. It was first opened to the public in 1953, with the rooms furnished in the styles of the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries, and other collections focus on local history, and period dress. Sadly, it’s closed while they redevelop the area around it. It’s not a quick job, as from my research, it’s been closed since 2013. I assume it will re-open one day, but frankly it’s not exactly looking promising right now…
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That is quite interesting with the gold post boxes and they are quite striking! That is some town hall and I could definitely get use to working in a building like this.
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Tuesday 20 June – part four: talk about it being buried away!
We rounded a corner, and came across this, which Mari and I both thought was the cathedral or a church…
No, it’s not. It’s Marischal College, which was originally part of the University of Aberdeen. Since 2011, it’s been home to the council offices – very nice. Construction was finished in the early 1900s, and is the second largest granite in the world. Before you ask, I don’t know which is the biggest….
As you can see, there is a lot of work going on here, and from everything I’ve read, it’s been going on for a long time too…
Mark and Raleigh were keen to get in to find out more!
This is the Kirk of St. Nicholas United….
We had a few shops to visit, and we literally turned a corner, and found the shopping centre – talk about it being buried away!
I went into Carphone Warehouse, and yes I had taken out the insurance on my phone (good call! ) and I could get a replacement the next day, which wouldn’t work here, but I could do it when I returned to work, so that was something… and there was only a £20 excess.
We then had a look in the Disney Store…
Sadly, there was nothing unique to Scotland in there, which was a real shame. None of us remembered this dress in Beauty and the Beast – anyone else?
Mari was on the lookout for new camera batteries, as hers were discharging almost as soon as she put them in, and eventually she found a camera store, and got a couple of new ones.
We headed back to the car, seeing the harbour on the way…
We made our way out through the city centre, and realised there was still so much of the city we hadn’t seen. Talk about having excellent shopping opportunities here!
Mari wanted to see St. Mary’s Cathedral, so we found our way there…
Caught up from my trip, now I can catch up on yours!
Hidden Stitch! Good eye, Mark. Not sure most people would catch that one.
The NY plates on that car is cracking me up. I'm sure there is a reason for it, but still?! I wonder what would happen if the guy got pulled over.....
Glenfiddich!!! Fascinating facts too. A year long, world wide tour to sell the product, 12 years to make it, casks from 1925, wow! Fear of explosion?
The bottling part is interesting too, actually the whole tour was!
Mari's face at the tasting! I know that face - I did a scotch whiskey tasting at F&WF!
Coos! Your castle stay for the night looks amazing - great job choosing that one! The views from your room, holy cow! Sometimes it's nice to treat yourself to a deluxe dinner, at that certainly applies here. Yum! Wow, the castle is beautiful.
What a lovely start to the day with that sunshine! I love how Mark has the little animals peeking out throughout the luggage. Cute shots of the squirrel - by a mushroom? That's a photo out of a book!
Wildlife gets very close to cities, at least here in Wisconsin. Dead deer on the highway even close to Milwaukee is quite common. We have an overpopulation though. Aberdeen looks very charming for a larger city. The town hall is gorgeous, glad you popped your head in for photos! Disney store! But a shame nothing Scotland specific.
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Tanya
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Great photos of the city and I too thought that building was a cathedral and not a university building! I learned with the alkaline batteries to always carry a backup set as the older they get and more you recharge them the sooner they will run out.
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Great shots of the city, I think Disney is missing an opportunity in not having more country themed merchandise.
Oh me too and I've thought that for a long time. I can only assume they don't sell enough of that type of thing, but good grief, surely every Disney fan must head to a new Disney Store and buy that sort of thing?
Caught up from my trip, now I can catch up on yours!
Yay! Welcome back!
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Hidden Stitch! Good eye, Mark. Not sure most people would catch that one.
The NY plates on that car is cracking me up. I'm sure there is a reason for it, but still?! I wonder what would happen if the guy got pulled over.....
I have no idea... good point. I guess, like all the foreign drivers we saw from Europe, you'd need to be abiding by our rules of the road. I'd be more concerned about parts for that car and things like that, as I bet that can present some issues, now I think about it...
Quote:
Glenfiddich!!! Fascinating facts too. A year long, world wide tour to sell the product, 12 years to make it, casks from 1925, wow! Fear of explosion?
I know - I learnt so much from that tour!
Quote:
The bottling part is interesting too, actually the whole tour was!
Mari's face at the tasting! I know that face - I did a scotch whiskey tasting at F&WF!
That's why I stayed out of it, just not my sort of thing.
Quote:
Coos! Your castle stay for the night looks amazing - great job choosing that one! The views from your room, holy cow! Sometimes it's nice to treat yourself to a deluxe dinner, at that certainly applies here. Yum! Wow, the castle is beautiful.
I absolutely loved that place, it was one of the highlights of the whole trip. To be honest, we tend to go for bed and breakfast places, but I think the hotels we stayed in were actually better this trip...
Quote:
What a lovely start to the day with that sunshine! I love how Mark has the little animals peeking out throughout the luggage.
Yes, that did surprise me, but maybe he's finally learnt from me repeatedly telling him that they need to be able to breathe.
Quote:
Cute shots of the squirrel - by a mushroom? That's a photo out of a book!
I did submit one of these photos to a national photographic competition, but it didn't get anywhere.
Great photos of the city and I too thought that building was a cathedral and not a university building! I learned with the alkaline batteries to always carry a backup set as the older they get and more you recharge them the sooner they will run out.
Yes, that's something I've found out about myself over the years, but ironically this is something that also cropped up with Jan on her visit over here, so Mari wasn't the only one....
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), and set off. I wanted to see the Mercat Cross and we found it completely by accident… 
Wondering what a mercat cross is? Well, it’s the Scottish name for market cross, as you might guess. They’re often found in Scottish cities and towns, where regular markets or fairs were once held. 
Provost Skene’s House was built in 1545 and he purchased it in 1669. It was first opened to the public in 1953, with the rooms furnished in the styles of the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries, and other collections focus on local history, and period dress. Sadly, it’s closed while they redevelop the area around it. It’s not a quick job, as from my research, it’s been closed since 2013. 
I assume it will re-open one day, but frankly it’s not exactly looking promising right now… 
That is some town hall and I could definitely get use to working in a building like this.
I don’t know which is the biggest…. 
I know that face - I did a scotch whiskey tasting at F&WF! 
I learned with the alkaline batteries to always carry a backup set as the older they get and more you recharge them the sooner they will run out.
Welcome back! 
I did submit one of these photos to a national photographic competition, but it didn't get anywhere.
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