Europe Part 1

When you are with someone new for an extended period of time, say a taxi driver, you usually have some cordial small talk. Where are you from?  Isn't this weather crazy? Kids?  And then that eventually winds down til you are both silent.  And you think, this is fine, why should we have to prattle on about nothing.  But the silence soon becomes a big, invisible elephant and when you do have a question or a comment, like where did you go to school?  Have you lived here your whole life? those trivial questions sound inane next to that loud thudding silence, so though you go to speak, the only things that come out are "hmm" and "uh"; the words falling mute on your lips. Only a shared catastrophe, like a near collision, can restart the conversation in any kind of natural way.  Otherwise, when at last the ride is through,you quickly exchange luggage and discreetly palmed tips and hurry on your way, eager to escape the awkward goodbyes and thank yous. 

I feel like that on this blog.  Teenagers are busy and there is rarely time to sit down and think, let alone type.  And then as the silence grew, each event seemed inconsequential to blog about.  But a collision of sorts has occurred, and I'm glad to say it is a happy one--our visit to Europe to visit my parents on their mission--so now the conversation can start up again. 

EUROPE PART 1
My parents got their call to serve as Employment Specialists in the UK last fall.  They left in November, and have been settling in in Edinburgh, Scotland.  We thought it would be perfect to visit Europe while my folks were there and after reviewing our summer--YW camp, cub scout day camp, boy scout camp, EFY, Youth Conference, family reunions--we decided Spring Break would be perfect. 
We left Wednesday after school.  We planned on flying all night--tickets were cheaper and we figured it would help out with the time change if we were all exhausted.  We flew from Charlotte to Atlanta to Amsterdam to Edinburgh.  It wasn't perfect, but international flights do have more room, a movie screen in each seat, and two fairly decent warm meals. 
At last we made it to Edinburgh; Mom and Dad waiting outside of customs.  They looked so dapper in their missionary suits--Dad in his cap and sweater vest, Mom in her scarf--they looked for all the world as if they were born and raised right there in Edinburgh.  They didn't really look that much different than they did before, but their style just fits there in Scotland. 
Dad borrowed the missionary van which was really more like a bus and we started our vacation with the very accommodating Hambelton European Tours.  There was dinner at their flat--which is really quite homey and comfortable, though the kitchen is super tiny, with the washer somehow squeezed in beside a tiny fridge and cookstove.  But Mom is super efficient and the best meals of our trip kept appearing, hot and steaming, with the most delicious fresh bread and desserts. 

Then we went to the flat they had found for the rest of us.  Again, it was the best place we stayed out during our trip.  It was tiny, too, but modern with IKEA- like nooks and cranny for storage.  The kids rotated sleeping with Grandma and Grandpa and sleeping in the loft in our flat.  The cupboards and fridge were full of food Mom and Dad thought we might want.  She bought a Costco-sized tin of hot chocolate and they had hot water tea pots that heated your water practically instantly.  We drank a lot of hot chocolate.  The cereals looked similar but the kids didn't think they had enough sugar.  The milk tasted like whole milk, though the label claimed it was 1%.  It was delicious.  And I loved the little biscuit cookies with ginger in them--Mom, you can bring some of those home with you!  They are crazy for Maltese over there which are like Whoppers only better, and Mom even bought some hot cross buns to warm up for Easter morning. 
So fully stocked, and completely exhausted, we fell into bed until the next day when Hambelton Tours came to collect us and whisked us off to Sterling Castle. 

This is where both of Scotland's heroes William Wallace and Robert the Bruce had victories and where Mary Queen of Scots was crowned here.  A lot of the rooms were furnished and painted, they had great tour guides and costumed performers.  The kids loved seeing the castles up close.  They are quite formidable, sitting atop hills and commanding wonderful views of the green and yellow countryside.  It is amazing to be walking around in something built in the 1200's (at least parts).

After a picnic lunch in the van, we went to the William Wallace Monument.  We hiked up to the tower, but decided against climbing the stairs to the top.  Maybe it was the $10 entry fee, or maybe it was the guy passed out in front of it, with a small ambulance rushing to the scene.  In either case, we took our leave and went to Dumfermline Abbey where Robert the Bruce is buried. 

This is the Abbey where a lot of the famous Scottish heroes are buried, Robert the Bruce in particular.  They had beautiful stained glass, and wonderful arches--very pretty.  A kind gentleman in the gift shop let us use the restroom--pull the cord to flush--and educated the boys on Scottish english and American english--cart, trolley; pants, trousers;queue, line;--pretty much the hard, flat, coarse variety being American and the charming, softer vowels belong to the UK.  We took a walk through a nearby park, which are beautiful, green, and even so far north, the beginnings of spring buds poking through.  The kids wanted ice cream, but I thought hot chocolate might be more appropriate.  Tritan convinced himself that the friendly squirrels were rabid and either froze in terror or ran as fast as he could whenever they crossed our paths,

That night we ate at Mom's flat, the kids rotated sleeping quarters, and started again the next morning.