Locally Wandering. . . In Point Defiance

So - we have finally made it back, our Euro-Vacation (life for 4 years) has ended, leaving us to adjust to a new normal. An American normal.  While I love travel, and honestly could never tire of it - I find it nice, and welcome, to be *home*.  For the last +/- 7 years, my family and I have been globe wanderers from Asia to Europe and everything in between.  Now, it's our turn to explore our home.  I am relishing in the opportunity to discover our new surroundings, and am SO happy to find so many things to do.  We have actually been *home* for almost 3 months, and this is really the first time I have had a chance to breath.  Many small trips already have been taken, with many, many more planned in the future.

Our first little outing was to the Pt. Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, WA.  A gorgeous PNW (Pacific North West) Day greeted us - not a cloud in the sky, and 80 degrees - pretty darned perfect weather for an outdoor adventure!  This is a GREAT little zoo - with something for everyone!  There are playgrounds and ziplines for the adventurous. . . 

Lots of Sea creatures for the Oceano-inclined. . . 

And lets not forget the Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!!!  Well here's a tiger cub at any rate - it was so gloriously warm, that the Lions and Bears were in hiding up in the shaded areas of their enclosures, and really not feeling so photogenic. . . 

And who doesn't love a good puffin now and again :)

I really loved this zoo.  We spent about 4 hours there, walking about and taking our time with the kiddos.  We brought picnic lunches, and sprawled out on the grass.  This was a GREAT little family outing! 

Now - if you are thinking that all Pt. Defiance is, is a zoo and aquarium, boy are you wrong.  There is so much all over the whole park - great hiking trails, beaches, rose gardens, playgrounds - I don't see how you could possibly see and explore all of it in one day.  So, we will come back.

What are your favorite local trips?  Are you in the Northwest?  Have a suggestion?  Leave a comment, and let me know!

He Who Holds Stirling....

Holds Scotland.

For years, Stirling Castle was a pivotal point in battle and politics.  It was far enough from Edinburgh, but close enough.  The castle sits high atop the town, and it simply put, amazing.  I remember visiting as a child, and just thinking "Oh yay, another castle".  Not this time, though.

There is something that is so cool about bringing your own children to places that you visited as a child.  Even better than that, is when you take your children to said places, and find that they have been painstakingly restored, and are not only beautiful, but now interactive. 

  

 Stirling castle has lovingly restored the inside of the Royal Quarters, and as you walk through, each room has a docent in there.  The docents are dressed in period costume, and will answer your questions, or even just tell you about day-to-day life in the castle.  This was so nice, as it kept my 10 year old completely engaged in what we were seeing, and made it realistic for her!

After wandering through the Royal Quarters, we found our way into the courtyard, where we found the Great Hall.

The Great Hall is the only buidling in  Stirling Castle that is lime washed.  In the day time it almost looks like it has a stucco finish, and was a huge show of wealth at the time.  Inside the hall, tapestries are hung along the walls as they would have been back in the 1500s.  (All the tapestries are woven on site in the Stirling Tapestry Studio - you can even watch the weavers at work until 4:30pm daily!) The wooden ceiling and all its beams are intact (restored) - it is beautiful!

When all was said and done, and we exited the Great Hall, Dusk had fallen.  We were near to, if not the last people in the castle besides the staff, and had the place pretty much to ourselves which made it SO nice!

An interior courtyard shot of the Royal Quarters.  At night all the pedestal figures are lit up beautifully.  It was explained to us that they are mostly Roman Gods, meant to show the wealth, health and prosperity that would follow.

This the the Chapel Royal.  In the 1500's the biggest threat to scottish life (besides repeated English attacks) was the change of religion.  The Monarchs of the time were Catholic, but there was a slow and steady wave of protestantism moving through the country.  In 1560, Scotland officially became protestant, and this was one of the first churches build for the newly Presbyterian nation.  It was also the last building to be build in Stirling Castle.

As we left the grounds, the castle was beautifully lit up.  In fact, the whole city of Stirling was beautifully lit up, to include the Wallace monument in the distance.

A statue of William Wallace, with the Wallace Monument in the background.

Thank you for reading about all of our wanderings!  I would love to hear from you.  Please leave a comment, ask a question, or share your own experiences!

It's all Racheal's Fault

Seriously.  This entire post, and the ensuing photography is the fault of one of my dear friends, Racheal.  She said she wanted to see pictures of Highland Cattle.  

We were en route to spend the day in Glasgow, to take in some fabulous Charles Rennie Mackintosh architecture and art, when we stumbled upon these guys. 

You may as well have just pointed at something and said "OOOOOHHHHH, SHINY!" because these giant beasts had the same effect on me.  Distracted I was.

My friend, Racheal, has a thing for cows - well, this past summer it was for Alpine Cows (only counts if they are wearing their bells) - and recently she informed the world that she had moved on to bigger and better cattle, and had set her sights on Highland Cattle (though growing up, we always called them Muckle Coos).  

So these, Racheal, are for you and your affinity for Highland Cattle :)

Thank you for reading about all our wanderings!  I would love to hear back from you!  Please leave a comment, share your experiences, or ask a question!

Birth of A Queen

It happened on 8 December, 1542.  In this palace Mary, Queen of Scots was born!

This is Linlithgow Palace.

Sadly, today this amazing palace is in ruins after being burned out in 1746, but it is easy to imagine what it once was like!  It is massive still, even with one whole wing having been demolished!  

 

As you walk through the ruins, you can imagine what life must have been like.  You are given access to the King and Queens private quarters, where you can still see remnants of what it was like - you can see the beautiful fireplaces, the seated windows, and the tiled floor patterns.

This is the birthplace of quite a few Royals, including James V, and Mary Queen of Scots.   We are lucky enough to even be able to go into the room in which she was born!

The room in which Mary, Queen of Scots was born in 1542.
Nine months later she was crowned Queen of Scotland.

This is thought to be the oldest fountain in Great Britain.  It has been said that one special events (like Bonnie Prince Charlie arriving) it was made to flow with wine even!  It has been restored, and now, on special days throughout the year, water still flows through this almost 500 year old fountain!

Thank you for reading about all our wanderings!  As always, please leave a comment, share your experiences, ask a question!

Edinburgh Castle

 Edinburgh Castle

Ok, so, we are still here in our fabulous(ish) castle/hotel.  We spent a crazy day yesterday all around Edinburgh. SO MUCH DONE.  In all honesty - this trip is going to be blog fodder for a long time coming, if I am to actually limit my photos.  That said - I am going to be posting one piece of each day for your perusal.  For instance, yesterday, we saw 3 castles, a national museum, various other touristy things.

That said, the highlight of it all was Edinburgh Castle.  We walked all the way up the hill from the park, and all the way up to the top!   As you can see, the view is simply stunning!  Being so far north, of course the sun sets much earlier than we are even used to in Southern Germany.  So, by 4pm local, the sun is setting!  The weather is changeable, and that is no joke, throughout our day, we went from blue skies, to a blizzard, to rain, to overcast, and then to a glorious sunset over the city of Edinburgh!  We lucked out!

At the top of the castle, next to the The Honours, and the Royal Apartments is the National War Monument.  This is dedicated to all the veterans, and has the names of all those who died in WWI.  My Great Grandfather's brother's name is there.  It is a beautiful, somber place, and afforded some great reflection time.

After a few quiet moments, we moved onto the Scottish Honours, and were able to see the crown jewels of Scotland, rumored to be formed from the original circlet of gold worn by Robert the Bruce, and through the generations to Mary Queen of Scots and beyond.  You are allowed to take pictures in there, however there is so much reflective surface that it was fairly worthless to try - so, i will leave you with pictures of the building that not only houses the honors, but the Royal apartments as well, which were sometimes home to Mary Queen of Scots, and the birthplace of James VI and I of England.

Well, enough of a history lesson for now.  Endinburgh Castle was everything it promised to be, and more.  We were lucky to see it! 

So, adieu for now - I hope you all are having as wonderful a time reading this as I am taking pictures for it, and writing about it!

Thank you for reading about all our wanderings!  As always, please leave a comment, ask a question, or share your experiences, I would love to hear from you! 

Have You Ever Been to the REAL Oktoberfest?

Have You Ever Been to the 

REAL Oktoberfest?

The one that is held in September?  The one that started it all?  The one that welcomes in MILLIONS of tourists each year?  NO?  Take my advice, if you ever get the chance, GO FOR IT!

Let me tell you first thing, I am NOT a fan of crowds.  I don't like the chaos, I get edgy, I get CRANKY!  That said - Oktoberfest is still worth it, at least once!  (This was our third year in a row!)  I was hesitant this year, with my husband gone, and the two kids in tow - and yet at the end of the day, it was not a big deal at all!  We go really really early (like when it opens at 9am) and leave really early, before everyone is completely hammered.  We take the train up, so we don't have to worry about the car, and then just walk from the HaupBahnhof into the festplatz.  This year, we even did it sans stroller, and managed to meet up with some friends at one of the tents!

As you can see, we were not the only ones with kids present - and have always taken ours with us.  Yes, my little dude had his first sip of Bier at Oktoberfest.  Pretty awesome, if I do say so myself!  

YES, there are crowds.  YES it is loud.  YES there is LOTS of drinking.  Amazingly enough to this crazy American, though, it never gets too out of control.  There is always a very visible security / Polizei presence, and people really for the most part are out to simply have a good time with their friends and family!

There are all kinds of tents.  Chicken Tents, Ox Tents, Fish Tents, you name it, and they have something to go with it.  

It is hard to explain Oktoberfest - we really do not have anything similar in America.  Take the biggest State Fair you can think of - remove the Agriculture, make it all rides and food, squish it into about a 10 block area, and then add bier. LOTS of BIER!

They even have giant metal chickens on the side of the buildings!

And let us not forget the traditional Bier Garten.  Can't ask for much more than that!

I am very serious when I say that it is worth it!  I had always heard vague references to Oktoberfest, and quite honestly never had that much of a crazy desire to go.  I wouldn't look back though.  Bought my dirndl, braided my hair, grabbed the kids, and had definitely one of the most memorable experiences of my life!  Thank you to everyone who went out with us, and partook in the craziness, especially my amazing good sport of a cousin, Lynda.

..... I don't think my sweet cousin from Scotland will ever be the same again!

**I know it's now December, and I bet you are wondering why I am posting pictures and stories from October - the simple reason is, that I had not done it before, and it is a trip SO worth taking - for the whole family, or part of the family, or even just for the grown ups! **