Glasgow

I am 2nd generation on my dad's side. My grandfather came over on a boat when he was 9. It was a nice full circle moment. I went to the last place he lived at 11 Laurel Street.

I got to see where he was from and may have influenced his choices in his watercolor paintings. He is no longer alive, but it was closure moment for me.

At number 11. It is not the same, but it is close to what it may have looked like when my Papa was here.

Because I was big on theatre and my family decided to take me to Sound of Music.

The theatre it was in.

Me in front of the poster.

My 2nd cousin once removed, Linda, took me on a tour of Glasgow. We saw Kelvingrove Art Museum and Gallery. Building in the distance.

When my brother was on a real safari, I saw the stuffed safari. ;)

One of the Main shopping street in Glasgow. Quite busy as you see.

We also went the the University of Glasgow.

It had beautiful architecture.

Amazing.

Then as I walked around with Linda we came across something I found funny. I am part of the Buchanan clan. This is what I saw...I needed to document it.

Who knew. Ha.

I also was lucky enough to visit more family and they opened their home to me. I was glad to meet and visit family that are connected by my great-grandfather's brother.

Kind-of blurry photo, Right to Left Me, Shauna(4th cousin once removed), Linda(3rd cousin once removed).

Murdo, Me, Pat(3rd cousin once removed)

Poppy and me

Poppy, I enjoyed being with animals and she was very nice.

Queen's View and Killin

On our travels we went to Perth, then Queen's View and Killin.

This is Queen's View with cloud over the top of me.

Because of it being so windy. The clouds moved.

Another view.

Me trying to hold down my hair because of the wind.

Isobel and I.

Then we were off to Killin. We did stop somewhere and ate our lunch.

It was a pretty place.

Then saw this on our drive.

I love streets like this.

Due to the rain, the water was really flowing. As Isobel told me about month earlier they could walk across to the trees because the water was low. Today it was dangerous.

Water is powerful.

Here is the name of the falls.

It was nice to see.

Perth

On my way to Perth. We saw the Forth Bridge. I bought photocopy of the Fourth bridge as it was in the process of being built.

We are at Perth. It was a nice place, but didn't take many picture due to it being very cold, windy, and on/off rain.

A picture along the water.

Art that was along the water where the above picture was taken.

Edinburgh

I was meet at the train station by Isobel and we rode in a double-decker bus to their house (Bert and Isobel). Bert is my 3rd cousin once removed. I love double-decker buses. I cannot tell you why, but I enjoy looking at them, taking pictures, and riding in the upper deck.

Here is a picture of going to the city centre of Edinburgh.

Might have been taken on another ride to the city centre.

On High Street looking toward the water.

Heart of Midlothain - "The heart-shaped design of the cobble stones near St Giles Cathedral marks where the entrance to the Tolbooth used to be located. The Tolbooth was originally set up in 1561, as the name implies, to collect tolls but also became used as a prison after 1640. There was also a scaffold for hanging criminals (and others) and the heads of the more famous victims would be displayed on spikes in the face of the building. The Tolbooth was demolished in 1817.

Perhaps as a sign of disrespect to the town council, it became common for passsers-by to spit on the cobble stone design. While this is not encouraged these days, it is wise to give the emblem a wide berth when walking past - just in case!"

Isobel took me on a tour to the St. Giles Cathedral, The Heart of Midlothain, and other things on High Street.

Taken on one of our many drives.

A distance view of Dalkeith where my family lives and Edinburgh.

Greyfrair's Bobby was a dog "was a Skye Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner, John Gray (Old Jock), until he died himself on 14 January 1872.^[1] A year later, Lady Burdett-Coutts had a statue and fountain erected at the southern end of the George IV Bridge to commemorate him." (wikipedia.com)

Also in the Greyfrair's grounds is a grave stone that may have been seen by JK Rowling. If you can't see it says "to the memory of Thomas Riddell Esq. of Befsborough, in the County of [...]" then it states" ALSO of Thomas Riddell Esq. his Son. Captian [...]." If you are a Harry Potter fan you know the Voldemort real name was Tom Riddle and his father's name was also Tom Riddle. I don't know if JK Rowling saw it, but a lot of people come and visit the grave stone.

Looking at the Edinburgh Castle.

A picture of me in West Garden Cottages and the camera is facing Princes Street.

Here with the family not including Bert, left to right Suzy, Chris, Me, Isobel, and Christopher's wife Ashley.

My 4th cousins once removed from right to left Susan, Me, Christopher.

Myself and Bert(3rd cousin once removed) at dinner one night.

It was great to see family, I have meet Bert and Isobel when they came to the states. I really appreciate their kindness. Also the kindness of their children who took me to my first experience of Indian food (which was really good), a movie(one of the Pirate of the Caribbean), and Britannia yacht(the royals use to use it).

At some point I went to Camera Obscura and World Illusion on Castlehill which runs right in to High Street. I took many pictures and I had a fun time. The one thing that was cool was the transform your face.

So you can transform into a Baby, Older, More man, More women, and Chimp. Here are my results below.

Me as a Baby. I thought it was close.

This is the older. Interesting, hopefully I will be better when I do get older.

More Man. For some reason this reminds me of my brothers. It freaks me out a little.

More women. This reminds me of my Aunt Melanie. So weird.

And me as a chimp.

Oh I also was served on a plate. Yum.