Scotland, Day 1

So we are here, and despite most of our party waking up around 4am, we were up and ready at the 10am meet up time. We wandered through a mostly shuttered Glasgow looking for someplace to have breakfast - eventually we found a little deli-type place off the high street. I had a "toastie," which is like a panini. If it has melty cheese on the inside, who cares what it's called!

We met up with Rocco and Tim C. around noonish and then headed out to Stirling to see the castle there. It was nice to get out and see the beautiful countryside. We spent a few hours wandering through the castle, and then stopped into a couple of pubs. Once we got back to Glasgow, it was a couple more pubs, and a few more drinks. Tomorrow is Cory and Natalie's blessed nuptials (aka the reason for our trip) so we are hoping to get some better rest. We actually ran into Cory's family and Natalie's dad and brother in law in Stirling (they were leaving the castle as we were heading in.) Her dad told us to be ready for dancing. Obviously, he has not met me before, because if there is anything I am ready for at any time, it is DANCING.

We just finished some burgers from room service (look, we are on vacation... we indulge a little here and there!) and are off to bed. Here are a few photos from my FABULOUS new camera (thanks mom and dad!)

Click to enlarge!

The view from our hotel room. It only took us three tries last night to find a suitable room for us (we had the wrong key... the room we had wasn't cleaned... I said I wouldn't sleep in a nonsmoking room...)

Jake and Tim outside the castle. Check out their matching jackets!

Kicking it in the great hall of Stirling Castle.

Back view of the castle.

View of a cemetery and church on the way down from the castle.

Heading to dinner in Stirling. At the restaurant, I ordered the starter plate of haggis with neeps and tatties. Haggis was decent - salty and meaty. Tatties are mashed potatoes - how can you go wrong? The neeps are turnips, which were the only downside. I made Jake eat them, of course. But see dad? It's not all the Edinburgh Hard Rock this time (they grows up, and they grows up!)