Daughter Alyssa is spending a year in Glasgow, Scotland while in grad school. She’s had
opportunities to travel the old country and to send some wonderful photographic reflections. One set of photos got me thinking of a “Bridge Over the Atlantic” post connecting Rivertop Rambles with the beautiful Scottish highlands. Alyssa was the motivator behind RR’s establishment, and now I’ll let her words and photos do the talking:
The first photo is the “Bridge Over the Atlantic” looking from the mainland to the Isle of Seil. The bridge is a high one so that fishing boats can pass beneath. It was the first bridge to connect the Scottish mainland to an isle. Next photos give a view from the island and from the bridge. The waterway might look like a river but it’s actually Atlantic Ocean.
The inn, at one end of the bridge, is centuries old and is where the islanders, during the Jacobite uprising, changed from kilts into pants as they prepared to cross to the mainland where the kilts were banned.
Other photos show an image of Alyssa with a new friend she met while traveling. Behind them is the Atlantic viewed from a small town on Seil where slate mining still employs the islanders. The final shot is a look at a highland loch.
European history and outdoor beauty are the focus here, naturally, but the rivertop rambler has to also dream about another element behind the scenes– not the Loch Ness character, but of some kind of coldwater fish said to be interested in the eating of flies!
Rivertop Rambles 
I’ve always found Scotland intriguing, not even sure why. I have no real interest in ever seeing England or Ireland, but would enjoy a stay in Scotland some day. Lovely photos.
The mother of my high school sweetheart was from Scotland. On a good day, I could understand her brogue without a problem. On those days where she’d tip a pint or two, her brogue got so heavy I couldn’t understand a word. I couldn’t stop laughing, then she’d be saying all kinds of things that sounded like nonsense and slapping me with a newspaper. Which, of course, made me laugh even harder and made matters worse.
Ken, The mom’s response after drinking makes me even more interested in the Scottish world, in visiting the Glasgow pub where my daughter tends bar while getting educated in other areas. Yeah, it’s fascinating also from a literary point of view and, from an angler’s too (heh, heh!). Thanks!
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There’s an old Pink Floyd song she reminded me of. Same gibberish in a thick Scottish accent. I have a feeling you’ll be sitting in a bar, smiling a lot and not having a clue what’s going on.
Ken, That would be terrific, maybe sitting there drinking up the spirits with traditional Scottish song morphing into a Sid Barrett classic!
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That’s some beautiful country! Now I think Scotland may have to be added to my list of places I’d like to visit (and fish!) someday.
Joseph,
Thanks for commenting! Yeah, Scotland’s been on my list for many, many years, now my daughter’s beat me to it. Maybe someday, if I save my dimes and nickels….
Dad, thanks for the post! I also like how you used the metaphor of the Rivertoprambles as kind of a bridge over the Atlantic to me. Hopefully I can add to some more of these posts linking the “Motherland” to my new, albeit temporary, home.
Thanks Alyssa, a metaphor runs thru it, and we’ll have to do this kind of thing again!