Edinburgh and Gretna Green

Scotland, United Kingdom 2016
P001 Edinburgh, located in southeastern Scotland with its center near the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, an arm of the North Sea that thrusts westward into...
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P001a-263 ... built on an extraordinary landscape of hills and valleys formed millions of years ago by volcanoes and ice sheets, together these factors have created a...
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P002-277 ... hilly Edinburgh has a medieval Old Town and an elegant Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings; home to Arthur’s Seat (an extinct volcano...
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P003-041 ... comprising distinct areas that retain much of their original character as settlements in existence before being absorbed into the sprawling city of the 19th...
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P004 The Elephant House on George IV Bridge in the heart of historic Edinburgh, made famous as the place of inspiration to writers who sat writing much of their...
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P005 ... our Day 3 Scottish evening upon arrival in Edinburgh - Highland bagpiper, entertainers, and the Ceremony of the Haggis (Scotland's national dish, crowning...
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P007 ... formal or informal Burns Suppers typically include haggis, Scotch whisky, and the recitation of Burns' poetry following a standard format - a piper...
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P008-003 ... when starter being served, the haggis is piped in while a piper plays bagpipes and leads the way to the host's table where the haggis is laid down; the host...
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P009 ... highlight of the evening - the 'ceremony' - at the line [his knife see rustic labour dicht] the host normally draws and sharpens a knife, and at the line...
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P010 What is haggis made of? This enduringly popular dish is a savory mix of sheep's innards with oatmeal, onions and spices, often served with the classic sides of...
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P011 ... as bizarre as haggis may sound, the innards mixture is a culinary masterpiece - meaty, oaty, fiery and moist, haggis makes a scrumptious meal; largely made...
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P012 ... immediately after the meal, the first entertainment - the host singer performing songs; then delivering a spell-binding oratoration on the life of Robert...
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P013-027 ... entertainers of the Scottish evening - the host singer/musician, the fiddlers-singer... (some traditional musical instruments of Scotland being accordion,...
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P015 ... the accordion player... (Accordion originated in Italy in the early 19th century quickly found its place in Scottish music, its greater power lending itself...
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P016 ... the highland piper... (Bagpipe, an instrument of great antiquity with unclear origin, evolved in Europe alongside the diffusion of early civilization. Great...
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P017 ... and the young highland dancers... (Highland dancing - a style of solo step dancing developed in the Scottish Highlands in the 19th and 20th centuries in the...
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P019 Robert Burns (1759-1796), also known as the Bard of Ayrshire, a Scottish poet and lyricist widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, his poem and song...
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P020 ... other poems and songs of Burns that remain well known across the world today include
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P021-013 ... after the vote of thanks by the host, everyone is asked to stand, join hands, and sing Auld Lang Syne bringing the evening to an end. (Auld Lang Syne, Scots...
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P021-030 Perched on Castle Rock (a volcanic plug), Edinburgh Castle has dominated the skyline of Scotland’s capital city for centuries - this mighty fortress and former...
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