Day 8: |
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This “SAGA” actually starts on the EVENING of Day 7:
My drive from Inverness to Perth after the Loch Ness Tour.
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 Portion of Liverpool to Braemar Map |
I call this a “PERTH Déjà VU” because I’d become LOST IN PERTH DAYS BEFORE,
during my trek from Liverpool … when trying to find the road to BRAEMAR!
THANKFULLY! I finally DID find the Auld Manse. WHAT A HOOT!
It was actually ON the street that leads to the ROAD TO BRAEMAR!
So, I’d driven past it the LAST time I was lost in Perth!
is sort of a “Row House.”
But, obviously, |
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The Auld Manse Guest House is run by Stuart & Trisha Honeyman. I didn’t meet Stuart.
But Trisha turned out to be a “kindred spirit!”
FIRST: Her home is right on the curve of an incredibly busy street. So, I asked her to help me BACK OUT of her driveway (by watching for traffic and preparing to stop it if needed), so I could BACK INTO her driveway. That way, I’d not have to back out into rush hour traffic (aiming for the WRONG side of the road!) the next morning. She insisted that SHE could just move the car for me – being used to the street and traffic and all. That was before she discovered that my rental car was an AUTOMATIC transmission.
FEW folkz in the UK drive automatic transmission cars. So, once in the car, she freaked!
But, being a brave soul, she decided to just DO IT. She kept stamping on the break pedal – thinking it was the “clutch” I guess – so her foray OUT into the street and BACK into the driveway was … oh, gadz! … toooo funny!
Clearly, that was a “bonding” experience for us. After that, we spent almost 2 hours chatting and drinking wine and smoking cigs … laughing our butts off about everything under the sun!
That night, in my Trip Diary I wrote,
“Bless Dot & Itch for turning me on to staying at B&B’s! (Bed & Breakfast places)
Bah Humbug to Drew and his fixation with saving money by only staying at Hostels!”
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Bright and early the next morn (Day Eight, July 9th),
I said goodbye to Trisha and headed to Scone Palace. (Pix later.)
After the Palace, I drove back into the city to see some other PERTH sites.
“Perth is an historical city that was once the capital of medieval Scotland. The city had religious importance because it was the home to the large monasteries of the Black Friars, the Grey Friars, the White Friars and the Carthusian's. These monasteries were destroyed after the sermons of John Knox in 1559.”
First, I went in search of The Fair Maid's House. But, when I found it, I discovered it was permanently CLOSED. The following snippet is from a website I found POST TRIP:
“Although the Fair Maid's House is one of the oldest [structures still existing] in Perth, it was not the site of James I's assassination, or any of the other medieval goings on that McGonagall describes [in his poem about it]. The place was only built in the early 17th century, so the poet was probably misled by the ‘kind’ lady who made her living telling tall tales about the house. … Until recently the Fair Maid's House was a craft shop. It is no longer open to the public, but still features as a local landmark.”
BUT! If I hadn’t been looking for the Fair Maid’s House,
I wouldn’t have found the Scottish Ambulance hanging out in the park!
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I stopped and chatted with them!
They were |
So, once again, I enjoyed incredible “luck” during a UK trip.
In fact, I have decided that there is no such thing as a “wrong turn” when in the UK!
Next DAY EIGHT Pix Options (in order of trip occurrence):
Scone Palace (Oh MY!)
The Black Watch’s Museum Balhousie Castle
CARLISLE “in England” GORGEOUS Croftlands Guest House
Hadrian’s Wall Birdoswald Roman Fort
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