Glasgow - Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond and Whisky.......

What a day!!  It began very drab, cold, rainy and unpleasant....but it ended very bright with sunshine and almost clear skies.  I left Glasgow to head to Stirling Castle...the favorite residence of the Stuart Kings - Henry V etc....and also where Mary Queen of Scots was crowned and lived as a child.  In fact it is said that in the restoration of the Castle they found a leather ball resembling a "football" believed to belong to Mary Queen of Scots....thus the first recognition that "football" began here in Scotland and probably Mary played in one of the great halls of the Castle...ummmm!!

This is the Glasgow City Chambers here in Glasgow and maybe you can see how drab the day began...

Then as we drove toward the castle as you can see by this photo of a church on the way it did not change much....

And in this photo upon arrival at Stirling Castle.....

the buildings of the castle were a contrast in color....this almost seems like something we would see in the Southwestern United States....

The grounds of the castle were brightened with beautiful greenery and spring flowers...

Inside the castle buildings I saw an amazing ceiling....almost like a ship that was built and then turned upside down and used as a roof.....

The large dining/entertainment/social gathering room in the palace was set up with a banquet table ready for a festive meal....(the food was all real too....)

....complete with a member of the "court" who was in full costume!!  Now...let me explain....this is really not a costume...but attire worn in the 14th century to such occasions.  As you can see...rather plainly...this gentleman is expressing (showing off) his masculinity with this attire.  The adornment called a "codpiece" is fabric that is stuffed with cloth...okay...I am just sayin...check it on Google for further information!!!

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Okay...moving right along.....
The next area of the castle was the chapel....and while the alter was simple and quite lovely...

It was the tapestry that caught your eye....and in one area of the castle they have tapestry demonstrations, however they were not in session while I was there....just look at these great works....

This next picture I wondered about...since this is a 14th century castle...did they have canons protecting the castle?  I think not...this was an addition in the restoration...

a few final pictures from Stirling Castle before I move on....into Rob Roy territory....oh, this first photo is the building in the restoration of the castle where the leather football was found...

Okay...moving down the glen..(as it where)....I head to Rob Roy..."Braveheart" territory....and the first stop is more modern....Monty Python....this is the Doune Castle where that filming was done...I did not go into this castle..just saw it from the outside...

Now..the gorgeous countryside in the "Braveheart" area.....cattle...Lochs...country homes and estates...

Then arrvival at the "...bonny, bonny banks of Loch Lomond..."....with a beautiful swan on the Loch...

Then the day was not complete....without a tour of the distillery....Aaah yes...after 8 hours I am finally at the prime location of the day...with a dram of whisky in hand...well maybe two....

a few photos in the areas of the distillery where I was allowed to take pictures.  I will have to say that I was surprised to find the process was not more automated.  The brewing itself was done by 6 men utilizing not computers but sight...smell...and looks of the brewing process.

and....to find that all the whisky produced here goes thru this device...and it is by sight of the the worker in this process that will determine when and if it is ready....

Finally...the whiskey is processed from these vats and sent to barrels to be stored....up to 17 years....and by the way...the 17year product...sells for about $115 per bottle!!  Oh, and I might add...the dram I had of the 17 year old...was very smooth and delicious...it went down very easy.  One thing I had to learn...it is that Scotch whisky is without ice or water...and sipped...ummm

Finally today....at the distillery I discovered the derivation of this word....and his first name was Thomas....enjoy...