tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21841850983875243372024-02-21T01:30:04.731+00:00tips for touring scotlandAnniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779990750166230515noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2184185098387524337.post-87814154828568221802011-05-13T16:22:00.001+00:002011-05-13T21:53:40.159+00:00Touring Scotland for Americans<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am often asked, mostly by Americans, where to visit in Scotland. Many people will only visit the cities - Edinburgh, Glasgow... and miss the highlands, islands, villages and the stunning scenery. Where to visit also depends on what your interests are, how much money you can spend, and how long you'll be here. If you like seeing countries by coach tours and prefer to see touristy shops instead of seeing the real country, then by all means do so. However, if you want to experience the culture and see beyond the tacky souvenirs then you need to be adventurous.</span></span> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">A few tips on language/culture:</span></span></span><br />
<ul style="color: #000066;"><li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't say fanny pack, say bum bag - only females have a fanny!</span></li>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">French fries - chips</span></li>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Potato chips - crisps</span><span style="color: black;"></span></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coffee with milk - white coffee</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Iced tea - you won't find <span style="font-style: italic;">regular</span> iced tea but may find bottles of flavoured iced tea</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pants - underwear (what you call pants are called trousers here)</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Restrooms - the term is not used here - ask for the loo or toilet (toilet refers to the room, not the toilet bowl), or ask for the ladies room or men's room</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never refer to a native of Scotland as Scotch! Scotch is a drink and only a drink. Use the term Scot or Scottish. </span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hen - being called a hen by a store clerk is not an insult. It simply means a woman... take it as an American clerk calling you hon or dear.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gas(oline) - petrol; gas station - garage</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A fag is a cigarette, not a derogatory term for a gay person (over here that term is poof). So don't be surprised if someone says they are stepping outside for a fag! A faggot is a type of food.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taking the piss (pish) - roughly translated as teasing, joking, having a laugh at your expense. If this is done it usually means you've been accepted. Everybody does it to the extreme! </span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pissed (pished) - drunk. However, pissed off means the same as in the US.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It may appear that many people are on the streets smoking joints. They aren't (well, probably not). Cigarettes are very expensive here so many people roll their own.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Please</em> do not say Glass-cow or Edinborough (or worse yet, Edinberg)! It is Glaz-go and Edinbra (Edinbruh) or Edinburra.</span></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unless you or your parents were born in Scotland, don't tell natives here that you are Scottish or Scottish-American. </span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loads more differences but everybody here watches US TV shows and movies so usually know what you are talking about. </span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></ul><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Driving:</span><br />
<ul style="color: #000066;"><li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It feels very strange at first to sit on the right side of the car and drive on the 'other' side (do not call it the 'wrong' side), but you'll adapt to it within a few days. Just repeat to yourself (stay on the left, stay on the left). Unless you specifically ask for an automatic, you'll be given a standard transmission car (and need to use your left hand to shift). </span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Single track roads: these are one lane roads but are not one way. You have to pay attention at all times and not look at the scenery. There are frequent spots called <span style="font-style: italic;">passing</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">places </span>for you to pull over so oncoming cars can go past. </span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big city multi-lane roundabouts will be your only stressful driving, especially if you're unsure where you're going. Otherwise you'll be on motorway or two lane roads (easy peasy).</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></ul><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Eating out - shopping:</span><br />
<ul><li style="color: #000066;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All public places are non-smoking so you never have to worry about eating in a smoke-filled restaurant or pub. </span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li style="color: #000066;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never tip more than 10% for a meal and never tip a bartender.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li style="color: #000066;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pub food (pub grub) is usually quite good with good portions and very reasonable price.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li style="color: #000066;"><a href="http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Wetherspoon chain of pub-restaurant</strong></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> has edible to good, but certainly not gourmet, food and good range of beers. Great prices! Good for budget-watchers.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li style="color: #000066;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">VAT (Value added tax) is tax on goods. This is already included in the price marked on goods. Therefore, £9.99 on an item = £9.99 at the till. </span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li style="color: #000066;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is very common to have to ask, often more than once, for your bill (check) after a meal.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You'll never be asked how your want your fried eggs cooked, so if you have a preference you'll need to describe it. The terms over easy and sunny side up will not be understood.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pudding - means any dessert. Also called 'afters'.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Entree - means starter or appetizer, not the main dish.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sweeties - candy</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></ul><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Recommendations:</span><br />
<br />
There are many areas of Scotland I haven't been to yet, so I can only recommend places I've been to or have been given reliable personal recommendations. <br />
<br />
I have done travelogues on 3 of the islands I've been to --Skye, Islay & Colonsay--and are on this blog: </span></span><a href="http://scotisletrips.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Scottish Islands</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Photos are </span></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/anniedanny/collections/72157625296965270/"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>here</strong></span></a><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adventure: take a boat into the world's 3rd largest whirlpool, the Gulf of Corryvreckan or any of these other tours: </span><a href="http://www.seafari.co.uk/oban/tours.php"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Seafari tours</strong></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (advanced reservations required).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="http://www.edinburgh-tattoo.co.uk/index.html" style="color: #993399;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Edinburgh Military Tattoo</strong></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.edfringe.com/" style="color: #993399;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Edinburgh Arts & Theatre Festival</strong></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (throughout August) </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The </span><a href="http://www.visithebrides.com/"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Outer Hebrides </strong></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">are breathtaking. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The<span style="color: orange;"><strong> </strong></span></span></span><a href="http://www.holidaymull.org/"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Isles of Mull and Iona </strong></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">are in Argyll. They most definitely have my personal recommendation.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.glencoe-scotland.net/"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Glencoe</strong></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span>has stunning scenery and is fabulous for easy walks or challenging hikes or just a beautiful drive through on the way to Fort William.</span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.inveraray-argyll.com/"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Inveraray</strong></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is a village in Argyll and I take all my visitors there for a day trip. All find it charming and usually include a tour of the </span><a href="http://www.inveraray-castle.com/Pages/content.asp"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">castle</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and the </span><a href="http://www.inverarayjail.co.uk/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">jail.</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.kilmartin.org/"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Kilmartin</strong></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is one of my favourite places. Also in Argyll it's the home to more than 350 ancient monuments, such as stone circles, burial cairns, etc.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.perthshire.co.uk/"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Perthshire</strong></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is simply lovely. From the mountains, winding roads through well-preserved historic villages, to the lochs, waterfalls, woodland walks, it's totally charming and full of character.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/inverness.htm"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Inverness</strong></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: orange;"> </span></strong>is a popular destination and is in close proximity to other area of interest such as Loch Ness, Culloden.</span></span>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779990750166230515noreply@blogger.com4