1969 European Holiday: Memories of Scotland (or the lack thereof)
4-6 August 1969
In contrast to our extensive touring there during our 1967 trip, we spent only two days in Scotland this time. We only visited Edinburgh, and Mother spent 100% of her time shopping in Princes Street, while I did little more than feed pigeons, play mini-golf, eat Wimpy, and climb the Scott Monument. Yet more proof that our 1969 trip was much more about shopping than sightseeing.
So I don't really have a whole lot to say about Scotland, because I saw relatively little of it, and nothing at all that was new to me. I don't even remember if Florence was with us. Apparently not, otherwise why would we have been driving a rented car, as my diary indicates? And even though I don't remember specifically, I'm sure I enjoyed staying at the Carlton Hotel again, too. In '67, that was my first experience with an old-time luxury hotel in the UK, and it was quite something. Unfortunately, I don't have a single distinct memory of the place the second time around, except that the old porter we liked so much last time wasn't there anymore. (Or maybe he was. I don't remember!) :D
Heartening to see that, other than the fact that the Carlton is now a Hilton, and North Bridge has new/old street lights, the scene above seems to have changed almost not at all in the last 50 years.
My certificate for climbing the Scott Monument. I do recall being quite disappointed I was just moments too late to get No. 280000.
My only other recollection of Edinburgh this time was learning that a Marathon chocolate bar is the same as a Snickers bar in the US. Whee. (Or maybe that was in 1967?) And all I remember of our driving while there is coming over the Forth Bridge. No wait, that must have been in 1974, because that's north of Edinburgh, and we didn't go in that direction. At least I'm fairly certain we didn't.
I seem to have another false memory of Scotland in 1969, as well. I was sure we'd ventured north and west to try to visit Skye, and had stayed overnight at the Cluanie Inn, but clearly there's no mention of anything like that in my diary scribblings. So I guess that also had to have been during our 1974 trip, but up 'til now, I was certain that was in 1969. Oh well, nobody's memory's perfect, especially mine!
In contrast to our extensive touring there during our 1967 trip, we spent only two days in Scotland this time. We only visited Edinburgh, and Mother spent 100% of her time shopping in Princes Street, while I did little more than feed pigeons, play mini-golf, eat Wimpy, and climb the Scott Monument. Yet more proof that our 1969 trip was much more about shopping than sightseeing.
So I don't really have a whole lot to say about Scotland, because I saw relatively little of it, and nothing at all that was new to me. I don't even remember if Florence was with us. Apparently not, otherwise why would we have been driving a rented car, as my diary indicates? And even though I don't remember specifically, I'm sure I enjoyed staying at the Carlton Hotel again, too. In '67, that was my first experience with an old-time luxury hotel in the UK, and it was quite something. Unfortunately, I don't have a single distinct memory of the place the second time around, except that the old porter we liked so much last time wasn't there anymore. (Or maybe he was. I don't remember!) :D
Heartening to see that, other than the fact that the Carlton is now a Hilton, and North Bridge has new/old street lights, the scene above seems to have changed almost not at all in the last 50 years.
My certificate for climbing the Scott Monument. I do recall being quite disappointed I was just moments too late to get No. 280000.
My only other recollection of Edinburgh this time was learning that a Marathon chocolate bar is the same as a Snickers bar in the US. Whee. (Or maybe that was in 1967?) And all I remember of our driving while there is coming over the Forth Bridge. No wait, that must have been in 1974, because that's north of Edinburgh, and we didn't go in that direction. At least I'm fairly certain we didn't.
I seem to have another false memory of Scotland in 1969, as well. I was sure we'd ventured north and west to try to visit Skye, and had stayed overnight at the Cluanie Inn, but clearly there's no mention of anything like that in my diary scribblings. So I guess that also had to have been during our 1974 trip, but up 'til now, I was certain that was in 1969. Oh well, nobody's memory's perfect, especially mine!