Travelfood

It might feel strange to combine these two areas in one and the same article, but I have done it before, and for me Scotland and Ireland felt quite alike after my two different journeys. Both the Scots and the Irish are proud people with a rich culture and a hard past. The best sides of both Scotland and Ireland are found in the beautiful countryside, which mirrors a harsh climate and a soil that is hard to cultivate. 

We spent a long weekend in Dublin, which was not a very memorable city, but a coach trip to the green nearby region showed that the moist Atlantic coast hardly ever presses the temperature below freezing point. This does not mean that houses and homes would be warmer on the British isles than for example in Scandinavia, where the homes have central heating systems.  

My trip to Scotland was a reward tour by bus in the early 90s and the best outcome of that journey was the views from the bus window, which offered green moors, chilling clear lakes and magnificent stone castles, such as Stirling Castle. Edinburgh was a nice surprise, because the city is truly beautiful. The view from Calton Hill towards the giant Edinburgh Castle and the city’s stone churches, is one of the most beautiful in the world.

Lunch and dinner was included in my Scottish bus journey, and I was served a lot that would not be classified as clearly Scottish food. I had for example roast lamb in mint sauce, grilled trout and oven-fried turkey. I am not sure if I am disappointed that I did not taste the notorious Scottish haggis. In Dublin I tried to find a place that would serve traditional Irish stew and after a long search I found one. I was utterly disappointed when I noticed that it besides lamb meat contained also the only foodstuff that I simply cannot eat: boiled cabbage!

Europe, food, Ireland, Scotland, travel, travel experiences, UK