Travel Yayas: Highland Games!! Hazah!! July 13, 2013

We wake up in Doune and despite the heat the night before, we slept fairly well. At about 2am it cooled enough that we were actually cold overnight. We put on sheets (we have sheets!) and Britt was cold enough she had the comforter on. With the morning sun the room warms up again - Patti and I get up about 6 and Patti attempts to shower. I warn her that she has to be sure to turn the shower on (like the power on)... And a little time passes... She comes out and says that she just took a bath because she couldn't turn the shower on. She used the lower spouts, the upper has a two level dial, the upper dial is temp, the back dial is power/strength. I help her turn it on, and she goes back in to wash her hair. She promises to just take two jiffies... But about 10 jiffies later she comes out. "I couldn't get it to turn off..." She has shower disabilities. The showers here are very different from home. I haven't seen a shower with a power switch anywhere else, but they're all over the UK.

I take my shower with no issue.. And I close the blinds to the window that is in the shower and faces the church across the street. Patti says she just gave the church a show. Britt's turn to shower – same warning. Be sure to turn the shower on. It's the pull string switch...which one? (There is only one) This one? No Britt... The other one...(Oh!.. hahaha) We're a little slap happy. It's about that time in the trip when we start to fall apart. Just 4 more sleeps until we're back in the states (two more cities!). Today should be pretty low key - just find the games, sit around all day watching and then head to Edinburgh.

Britt takes a while in the bathroom and I start to wonder about her... When we hear the water running from the lower taps, but they're just to fill the tub though and have no connection to the shower head. I tell Patti that I think she’s having issues, and a couple of minutes later Britt pokes her head out... Ok, how do I get the shower on?

Patti and I go down to the lounge to get cooler and use the wi-fi. But as soon as we sit one of the hotel staff comes over to chat and we talk for about 30 min before he has to go back to work. He has a cousin from America (North Carolina) that just visited - they hadn't seen each other in 20 years. And his brother lived and worked in Kansas City - he was fascinated with our county and state fairs. We talk about American drivers here and he's seen many blown tires of people off too far on the shoulder.. So I feel a little better (touch wood). We told him about the NARROW roads of Cornwall and he agreed, those roads were narrow even for him!

He asks us how the fans were, how we slept with them and then laughs that after he gave them to us that other people overheard and wanted them too. He said we had to tell them that we didn’t have anymore, and we didn’t tell them that we gave you two of them! I said that I noticed that all the locals do complain of the heat, but they’re not using the fans, they’re barely even sweating – and he says “Well, we just get on with it, don’t we?”. Well of course you do, you’re British, Keep Calm and Carry On and all.. But he says that it’s mainly because they’re just so happy that it’s not raining. And Scotland doesn’t have normal rain it has sideways rain – and we’re very lucky that we’re here during their sunny weather, it’s VERY rare.

We're surprised to learn that he's a fan of American football. He follows the Saints - they came and did an exhibition game here and the players came to the tailgate party! The schools in the area have American football teams and they have a European NFL (who knew?). He said that Brett Favre played here before he got his ring. All we’d heard to this point were people making fun of our “football” – so it was nice to hear that there was some appreciation for it. But he said that they would never get into baseball – it was too slow for them.

He has to get back to work, and it’s time for breakfast. It's included in the stay - and I get the full Scottish with black pudding (and beans), and the others get something more light. Just eggs or just bacon.. The sun is intense and they've seated us near the window. We’re cooking just a bit with that sun and the hot food... Hoping it doesn't mean we'll be baking today at the Highland games. Someone had said that they don’t start until 1:00, but the schedule that we have has events starting at 9am (with an official start at 12:15). We just decide to go ahead and go and see what happens.

Taking advantage of Wi-Fi moments

Baking

Full Scottish

We relax for a sec in the room, finish packing up (get a little silly - but that really goes without saying, we’re often silly) and head out - next stop Loch Lomond and the Highland games. It's only about 45 minutes away, and between Britt, Tim and myself we get there in no time.

Parking is another issue. We find the place where the games are taking place, but the parking lots are reserved for the buses and we're a little timid about just parking in a driving lane like the locals. We do a few rounds about the town and finally find a place on a side residential street that we’re comfortable with. We’re heading to the games and it just seems very surreal for a moment… we're walking down the Scottish street, looking at Scottish buildings, bagpipes playing and getting louder as we approach. We're in Scotland.

The entrance fee is only 5 pounds, we thought it was really cheap for an all day event - there are a few vendors (Brittany finds a cupcake with a cute cow decoration on top). We find a place near the fence of the main arena and plant ourselves. The arena is just a big oval grass area, like the center of a track and many events are happening at the same time. The heavy weight boys are throwing shotput.. And there are some guys that we key in on that are throwing the caber (the big telephone pole looking thing). We call them "white shirt guy" and "black shirt guy" - there is something about a kilt that really brings out those broad shoulders and small waists... we like a kilt. We think more men should wear them – even the ‘pudgy’ guys look better in a kilt. But they're all wearing things under their kilts.. not true Scotsmen. We're very disappointed. We're trying to figure out the caber and we read in the program that its about style, not distance. You have to pick it up and then run with it, and where ever you stop and throw from becomes your "6:00" position. You then have to hoist it in a way that the top flips over and plants at the "middle of the clock"... And then an ideal throw lands with the caber pointing to the 12:00 position. It's more fun when you know what you're looking for. We get to “ooh” and “aww” at appropriate moments.

White and Black shirt guys

White shirt guy out of his kilt

White shirt guy wins and Dana gets pics of him with his trophy and whiskey. Black shirt guy has gone missing, and despite our efforts to locate him, seems to be gone. There is sadness. We miss black shirt guy and his shoulders.

The games officially open at 12:15 and the Cheiftan is a cute old man. Very dead pan, he takes the mic which has been cutting in and out, and says "let's hope this damn thing works". There is a lot of talk about how glad they are to be back this year since both attempts to have them last year were cancelled, and they're grateful to have what is so rare in Scotland, a true summer. He also says that a film crew from MTV is here and we're not sure if he's joking or not. Not even sure how to look that up… but if you see some Highland games on MTV – we were there!

The Chieftain

Other events include track, wrestling (they start with a standing hug), triathlon, long jump, bagpipe bands, baton twirling, and tug of war. And in the meantime the heavy weight completion with the hammer throw of various weights.. We're hoping to see the caber throw again. It's not just for adults either - it's fun to see the little kids wrestle. There was a 73 year old man in the games and Alan Scott seems to be winning all the track events and the announcer says that maybe we've seen him on telly.. So we'll look him up. I try (later) and all I can find is information about Green Lantern… hmmm.

We’ve been there all day just hanging out (from morning, and we need to leave about 4 to get to Edinburgh on time), and it’s been a great time. The sun is shining, it’s warm but the wind is blowing and we’re not sweating terribly. We’ve been holding a position by the fence, it’s nice because we can see the whole arena, sit and still see through the fence, stand when we feel like it. We take turns holding the spot as we go get things to eat or just walk around and check things out (and look for black shirt guy). We all independently decide to get the same thing to eat --- the “Bratwurst hotdog” – it’s been a while since I’d had a brat, and it sounded really good! Big fat disappointment because their version of a bratwurst hotdog is the skinniest, most tasteless hotdog that you’ve ever had. But the mustard was good, and we were hungry so most of us ate it (Britt couldn’t do it).

We’ve waited around because we want to see the guys competing for heavy weight world champions throw the caber (the other caber event was an individual event) – it’s the most exciting event… and while we’re waiting, they announce that they’ll have a race for all the overseas visitors who want to participate for a medal! There is no way I’m doing that – but one of us should, and Dana is always entering races back home – she’s our ringer. He’s calling for them to go… she won’t go… I even have time to type in my notes that Dana isn’t doing it… and she pushes her camera in my hands and makes a run for the arena!! YAY!! They sound like they’re ready to start, they’re getting people lined up and Dana isn’t there yet! She has to go halfway around the outside of the arena, through tons of people, and then make it to the center of the arena in time! Luckily there are other stragglers that are holding up the race, and she makes it just in time! They line people up by handicaps, you get to be closer to the finish based on your gender and your age… Dana tries to move up as close as possible… and they’re OFF!! MEDAL FOR DANA!! We’re so proud – and it’s the coolest souvenir ever! She says that it may have even been more thrilling than seeing the dolphin… That’s BIG!

Right after that the guys start throwing the caber, just as we’re about to go, so we push it and stay to watch. I’m amazed at the number of them that can’t get the caber to flip over – I’m not saying that this isn’t an impossible thing, it’s just that this is their thing. If I were competing in something, I would hope to have a reasonable expectation to be able to complete the task. Ya know? But there is a previous world champion in the mix and he flips it very well each time!

We head out and hit the “Eventaloo” on the way (it’s their version of a portapotty) – It’s about 90 minutes to Edinburgh and it’s pretty much motorway the whole time (but no lack of roundabouts).

Our Edinburgh host tells us to park at the Grass Market (Tim is taking us there anyway) and to find Kenny in front of the restaurant “Taste of Italy”. We find parking right along the street, and it’s just an amazing atmosphere there – feels much more European already. Actually reminds me of Germany quite a bit, just the buildings and the feel AND - It's CHILLY!! We’re actually a little cold, and I'm so happy !! We were so afraid that it was just going to be warmer as we went south.

We wait outside the restaurant and we’re trying to look for Kenny – so we’re all looking for people that look like they might be looking for people… we spot him and he kind of spots us at the same time. He says that he’s been looking for people with luggage (ah… still in the car). So we’re expecting now to walk to the apt, or for him to give us an address to drive to, right? Well, no. Our apt is ON the grass market square. Its upstairs from Taste of Italy. Our door step out on the Grass Market – we think that we’re pretty cool (I mean, we are, c’mon). But our excitement is quieted just a little but the 6 flights up. The apt is small, one room (Kenny says he’ll give us a tour… “Look around”). We’ll sleep on a double bed and a pull out couch. There is a balcony and a very cool view of the Edinburgh castle from it. We get those windows open and get the air in, and head down for our bags (and back up the 6 flights with our bags)…

View of the castle

We decide to keep it simple and eat downstairs at the Taste of Italy. We have a very quiet waiter, like he’s a little bit of a creeper. He just comes over to our table and looks at us – no talking… But Britt makes him laugh when she order the four cheese pizza and tries to pronounce the Italian (Fromaggi) as “for my guy” – he can’t stop repeating it every time he comes by. We’re just soaking in the mood of the area – it’s very vibrant, you can tell this is the place to be. Pedi cabs are everywhere stalking people for rides, there is a wedding down the road (we see groomsmen in kilts headed that way and we want to go crash the wedding). Someone had told us before that we wouldn’t see “true Scotmen” at the Highland games because it’s sport and they would be wearing underclothing. BUT if we were to go to a Scottish wedding, after a few drinks, you’ll know pretty quickly who the true Scotsmen are… There are “hen parties” and “Rooster parties” happening (bachelorette and bachelor) – and their version of it are more elaborately themed it seems. Like there is a group of girls all in military – another dressed in another theme. Patti wants a themed hen party if she ever gets married. Noted. Down the way we see a man in a banana suit… just an ordinary evening at the Grass Market…

We’re eating outside and as I said, we’re chilly – the others are even wearing jackets. Dana is zipped up to her neck in her fleece! Our waiter has come around to ask us to pre-pay for our meal since we’re sitting outside. I guess they get a lot of people who dine and dash. I can see that. We like paying before anyway, it’s harder to get a bill overseas. We look around the area a little more after dinner and grab some food and fruit for the morning. We then walk the 50 feet back to our apartment.