"We arra people............." Scotland by Paisleypaul

Scotland Travel Guide: 12,256 reviews and 26,491 photos

..... (to the tune 'Land of Hope & Glory")

" We hate Coca - Cola ;

We hate Fanta too
(it's sh**e !!!!)
We're the Tartan Ar-my

An we love irn-bru.........."

The above somewhat unlikely footie anthem sums upto me one five - millionth part of the 5 000 000 population, homogenized into just one single Scotsman ; patriotic, loyal, and unable to take just about anything in life too seriously

All roads lead to Rome or a wall

While England and Wales followed Gaul in being subsumed into the Roman Empire in the first century BC and the Roman Army built roads throughout Europe and environs, the Emperor Hadrian reached Scotalnd at the north of England and bottled it (in a way that no Italian would match until Bobby Baggio in the 1994 World Cup Final penalties shoot out). Hence, they built the road up the way ,and the wall was invented. (Hadrian's wall, not the football scenario for defending a free kick)
The Pictish people were the only people in Europe to give the Roman army second-prize when the Empire was truly at its peak. The hilly landscape leant itself to a kind of guerilla warfare that the methodical and regimented legions had no answer to. By not engaging the Picts, a stalemate developed and Hadrian's wall was built. The name the Picts refers to the painted people. The modern day Scots who are most directly descended from the Picts tend to have jet black hair like Mediterranean or Latin types, but pale complexions that are better avoiding too much Sun.
There are in fact some Roman remains of settlements in Scotland, as later they did venture as far as the Central Region at the edge of the Southern lowlands.

There are lots of places that we frequent locally where I would never get aroundto writing up a homepage, it is my intention now to collate those bars restaurants and places of interest into this Scotland page. Most of these will be around the central belt, also Southwest and around the Trossachs

Pros and Cons

Pros:Unmatched scenery, fresh air,history, (carefully selected!) local cuisine
Cons:Taking your chances with weather for outdoor activities
In a nutshell:I will try in coming months to do my Scotland pages justice !

Intro Updated May 9, 2009
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (5)

Trattotia Il Rifugio Itaian Sardinian restaurant - Scotland

La Cucina Sardinia sulla Erskine Bridge... Restaurants (2)

My love affair with Sardinia is well noted elsewhere (including VTs top Alghero page, well into 20,000+ hits) . Really,... more travel advice

Mira Mare in Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire - Scotland

Excellent every way Sicilian style Restaurants (2)

Helensburgh in Dunbartonshireis famous as far as I know for 2 things or rather 2 people - developer of television John... more travel advice

One variety of vegetarian haggis - Scotland

Haggis Local Customs (3)

The main ingredient of haggis is oatmeal, there is a lot of myth about this dish. It is true that it was traditionally... more travel advice

Red Kola Local Customs (3)

I really have no idea why Scotland seems to be the only place in the world you can buy a sugary aerated drink that... more travel advice

Comments (3)

Reply
- Report abuse
hunterV May 9, 2009 at 5:10 AM

Paul, thanks for your interesting strory...<><><>
Reply
- Report abuse
nickandchris Apr 4, 2008 at 6:22 AM

You've chosen some excellent local customs!! (Never did get to like Irn Bru!!!)
Reply
- Report abuse
WhispersWest Jul 13, 2007 at 10:52 AM

I thought I had seen everything when I saw Haggis in a can but Vegetarian Haggis? My Gran would be having fits! Thanks for the memory in your Scot lesson. I was always having to translate for my Gran! Slan, Bit Devine