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<\/a>Leaving the cruise early in Edinburgh<\/p><\/div>\n
With two days remaining on our cruise, blindfolded and with hands tied behind our backs, we were forced to walk the plank<\/strong> once our ship had pulled into harbor at Edinburgh<\/strong>. \u00a0Actually it didn\u2019t pull in, as there is not a deep water port, so with our luggage and golf clubs in hand we were summarily marched onto the ‘tender boat’ and into the port of New Haven<\/strong> two days before the end of our cruise, to spend the next four days at the home of golf, St. Andrews, Scotland<\/strong>.<\/p>\n JJ<\/strong> had secured a great VRBO<\/strong> just two blocks from the Old Course<\/strong> and as I mentioned, Linda and my ballot was selected to play the Old Course<\/strong> at 4:30 on Friday, the day we arrived. John and Judy decided to wait around the first tee to see if anyone didn\u2019t show up for their tee time and sure enough they got on at 4:00. Jack and JJ, who had played the course a few years earlier, decided to be available when the owner of the VRBO was coming in to show them the house and give them the keys.<\/p>\n Six on the Bridge<\/p><\/div>\n Rain was in the forecast for St. Andrews<\/strong> everyday we looked for the last several weeks, but the golf gods were smiling on us this day as it was beautiful, a few clouds and a slight breeze \u2013 unbelievable!<\/p>\n We had a young man as our caddy, Matt<\/strong>, who was born and raised in St. Andrews and a very good golfer himself, so he was most helpful in getting us around this historic course. We did get some threatening clouds about mid-way through the second nine and I was actually excited to feel a slight rain begin. I mean what is St. Andrews<\/strong> without a bit of wind and rain? It only lasted a short while and when the sun came out again, there was a magnificent double rainbow arching over the entire course as we walked up 18 (to thundering applause in my mind!)<\/p>\n We finished around 9:00 p.m., still amazed at how long it stays light in this part of the world.<\/p>\n Rainbow coming up 18<\/p><\/div>\n Our Canadian<\/strong> traveling companions, John & Mary<\/strong>, Steen & Sue<\/strong> also departed the cruise early and were spending the next four days in and around Edinburgh<\/strong>. Jack, JJ, John, Judy, Linda<\/strong> and I moved our stuff into our new home for the next four days and found a great little place to grab a bite and a beer, Ziggy\u2019s<\/strong>. The owner, Ziggy, came over to our table and entertained us and treated us to a gin-raspberry liqueur. She also suggested a \u2018Crackin\u2019 Rum<\/strong>, for my rum and coke \u2013 very good!<\/p>\n Exhausted after a rather full and fulfilling day, we walked back to our new digs and crashed.<\/p>\n Relegated to the Bench<\/p><\/div>\n My round at the Old Course<\/strong>\u00a0on Friday was hampered by the reoccurrence of some sciatica<\/strong> I\u2019d been fighting over the last few weeks, had I been anywhere else I would have stop playing, but it\u2019s the Old Course! Unfortunately playing through that pain cost me playing any more golf for the rest of the trip. The Budds<\/strong> and VanBoxmeers<\/strong> played the \u2018New Course\u2019<\/strong> (\u2018New\u2019 is a relative term, it was built in 1895<\/strong>) on Saturday and then again on Sunday, joined by Linda<\/strong>, as tee times were most available there. I walked with them on Sunday wondering how and when I pissed off the golf gods. The weather was incredible – slight breeze, mostly sunny with only a few minutes of light rain.<\/p>\n The town of St. Andrews<\/strong> would be a place worth seeing even if there wasn\u2019t a famous golf course there. It holds Scotland’s oldest university, has a picturesque coastline, lots of shops (not just golf stores), restaurants (especially if you love fish and chips) and plenty of pubs. \u00a0I even liked the haggis! \u00a0Most of all, I must say that the Scottish people<\/strong> are among the most gracious and friendly that I\u2019ve found anywhere in all my travels.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Heading for home on Tuesday; it’s been a great trip, thank you all for joining us and a special thank you to those who made comments along the way, it’s always good to hear from you – especially you, Maggie Ryan<\/strong>, my dear Scottish friend!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Bob Sparrow With two days remaining on our cruise, blindfolded and with hands tied behind our backs, we were forced to walk the plank once our ship had pulled into harbor at Edinburgh. \u00a0Actually it didn\u2019t pull in, as … read more![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/6onbridge2-245x300.jpg\")
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