(A) To begin the day, Mia and I went to Greggs. It’s well known for its sausage rolls, but I’ve become a big fan of the sausage, bean, and cheese melts. It’s kind of a pastry pocket sandwich, and it’s great. Pairs well with a pink jammie (a jelly doughnut).
On the way to Gregg’s, we walked past the Dirty Bottles Pub. There are a few old bottles in the front window, and they’re all dust covered and cob-webby. The reason for that is explained by a plaque on the wall. Freaky!
We brought Kim and Ella some breakfast, and then we visited the Alnwick Gardens. They’re mighty impressive. There’s a section that includes only poisonous plants. You have to be led through by a guide, and it’s really interesting. They also have a bamboo maze and cool arbors and dancing water fountains and ducks and what-not.
Now, if you’re tired of reading me gush over historical places and things, you’ll want to scroll down a ways… because our next stop was Hadrian’s Wall!
The Romans, under Emperor Hadrian, started building a 76-mile-long wall all the way across northern England in 122 AD. That’s 1,900 years ago. And large sections of it remain, along with forts and temples and gates along the way. A person could, in fact, hike across England following the wall. That might be one of my new goals.
Anyway, we walked up the hill to the wall and gazed northward. Back in Hadrian’s day, if you gazed north from the wall, you’d be looking into a realm of wild, chaotic “barbarians”. And behind you, behind the wall, would be the safety and order of Roman civilization. As I gazed northward today, things didn’t appear too barbaric. But the sheep on the south side of the wall did seem rather at ease. They probably think they’re on the safe side.
1900 years ago, a Roman soldier placed a stone into some cement. Today, I laid my hand on that stone.
Having determined that things north of the wall were sufficiently safe and civilized, we decided to drive to our rental house in Scotland. It’s a wonderful multi-leveled, eclectic place in a village called Penpont. We had to visit the local grocer, just a few yards from the house, in order to get the key. Once we’d gotten a bit settled, we made dinner reservations at the Buccleuch & Queensbury Arms Hotel (in the town just up the road from ours). They’ve got a lovely bar and dining room, and we thoroughly enjoyed out meals.
All that’s left to do is read a bit and then get some rest. We’ve got a new country to explore.
Comments