Nomadic Ewings

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Donnottar Visit

Rachael took us south of Stonehaven to visit Donnottar Castle, a medieval fortress built mainly between the 13th and 17th centuries that was key to controlling the Scottish coast. William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots and the Scottish royal treasures have all spent time here and now the Ewings....

Some local flora...

Eileen, Rachael and Olivia doing a little highland dancing.

This looks suspiciously like a scene from Brigadoon...

A few moments to soak up the view.

Waking Ned Devine!

Full Scotish Breakfast

This was our full Scottish breakfast as prepared by Alan the owner of the B&B we stayed at in Mallaig just before we crossed to the Isle of Skye. It has (clockwise from top) a rasher of bacon, black pudding, hash browns, beans, bangers, cooked tomato on a pancake like bread and an egg.

The Scottish comedian, Danny Bhoy, says that, " The Scottish breakfast is a way for the Scots to say that it doesn't matter what you're going to do to us today, it's not worse than what we have just done to ourselves". It was a novel idea at first but after our second it got to be a chore and by the third opportunity we were ordering only portions of the dish to save our stomachs. Although, Rick has become a huge fan of black pudding... blood, fat, oats, barley and spices. I guess since I like nato (fermented bean curd) I shouldn't say anything about blood pudding.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Fish Feet

Olivia and I decided to treat ourselves to a special kind of foot treatment. Yes, little fish nibble away all the ....well, the not so nice things on your feet. I wish you could hear us. We were laughing and screeching and trying to maintain ourselves while the little guys in the tanks were working away. Can't really describe the sensation but it was unique.

Aberdeen International Market

I loved the colors at the market. Here was a group of succulents. I have such a black thumb that I doubt I could even get these to live long in my house but they are pretty to see.

Rick and Rachael having a brat!

It looked so good I had to have one too, but I had to take the picture myself so, anyway....

Macaroons! Yummmm!!!!

The market is set up on Union Terrace very close to where Rachael used to live.

French bread....I will take two!

Aberdeen 1

We arrived in Aberdeen and after a long day of travel (why is that when it is really such a short distance?) and needed some coffee. Rachael took us to her favorite coffee shop, Kilau. You will not see it's name on any sign but this is their logo. Cute!

And such good food!

This was a blueberry banana smoothie...but not for long.

Eileen relaxing at Kilau. The lights were very cool and designed by one of the owners.

Every day Kilau gets fresh roasted coffee from McBeans...just down the street from their downtown location. Eileen looks like a natural in the doorway.

Here is another example of their foods. Yummmm.

Aberdeen also has an international market once a month and we arrived in time to see all the great foods and shopping opportunities! Rachael decided she needed one of the huge globe artichokes...who was I to argue????

This is the busy port of Aberdeen with some of the church spires of the town in the background. Many of the church buildings are no longer used as such but are museums or clubs...an interesting recycling of buildings.

The Aberdeen train station. Just behind this is a new mall, Union Square. We spent quite a bit of time eating and shopping here before the graduation.

The beach in Aberdeen

Rachael met us at the airport and we went out to find our car for the week....right hand drive. I think Rick must have been looking at it and wondering how things were going to go. He did great with all the driving! Three cheers for such a great accomplishment!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Rachael's Graduation

We recently traveled to Aberdeen Scotland for Rachael's graduation. She has spent the last four years studying politics and international relations here. We are very proud of her and had a great time celebrating.

The graduates walked up onto a stage where the staff and professors were waiting, listened to a statement in Latin, were touched on the head with a mortar board, turned and had their stoles placed over their heads and then they walked off stage to receive their diploma. (If you view the video below they announce Rachael's name at about the 42nd second mark. The intro, although shaky, contains the Latin where they confirm her degree. They give the whole speech to the first person in the line and then repeat, and to you too, for all the following.) There was a lot of pomp and Latin going on but it added to the solemnity of the occasion. Here we are celebrating afterwards. Can you believe that this picture was taken at 8:00 p.m.! It stays light so late in these northern zones!

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Team Building/Boeing Bowling

About once a month Boeing Foggia arranges a team building activity. This was the second time around for the bowling event...a favorite. It is a great chance for us all to get together and have some fun. The bowling ally goes all out in decorating with Italian and American flags and streamers. They serve appetizers and drinks at the lanes.