Trip to Scotland and England 2010
7 Oct
13:10 local -- arrived
atGlasgow airport after flights from Tampa to Charlotte(1.5 hrs), a
four hour layover, flight to Gatwick (7 hrs -- met Dean and Gillian
from Houston), a 4 hour layover, flight to Glasgow (1.5 hrs) -- a long
day. Noticed two men in kilts at airport (more than I saw on all of
last visit to Scotland! Airport is in Paisley -- all the men sound like
Tony and Charlie -- the women like Neda and Betty. Picked up car --
drove in circles for a while trying to find M77 to Ayr -- difficulty in
getting used to the way things are signed. Picked up Where to Stay
brochure for Ayr and the Isle of Arran at tourist desk in airport.
16:00 -- took a room at
Ayr Gatehouse B&B (30 pounds -- listed at from 25 -- on A79, 31
Prestwick Rd. Ayr 01292 284065 -- good wifi). Had a nap and cleaned
up.Then went into town, taking a number of photos on the way. Very
happy to be in Ayr. Had a lovely meal -- braised lamb neck and a pint
of McEwans. Marvelled at how long it takes the sun to go down. Stopped
for another pint at Tam 0'Shanter Inn and took photos. Chatted with
Christopher Pringle of Glasgow who assured me pub was not authentic --
had been a museum and then was created for tourist trade. I think I was
the only tourist. Back to B&B and tried again to get UK maps
downloaded into GPS -- a process that takes hours and which I have had
to abort on three previous occasions.
Scenes on a walk into Ayr
Scenes at the Tam O'Shanter Inn
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