October 8 2016

Our last full day in the UK. This morning we are off to Sterling Castle, the other famous stronghold in Scotland. Departing the hotel at 9 (finally got to sleep in a bit!) we arrive at the castle just after 10. Again we are fortunate to hook up with an excellent guide employed by the castle and learn of the history of the place from a very animated docent.
Boom! Boom! Boom! he cries as he sets the stage for Bonnie Prince Charlie's attack on the fortress. Boom! Boom! Boom! he has us reply as the cannon balls crash into the stone walls. Other tourists cast quizzical and envious eyes in our direction.

Later we stroll through the chamber where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son James. The Reformation again figures prominently in the story of political more than religious struggles. Monarchies are rooted in the idea that the king or queen rules at the behest of God. So the monarch is subservient to the Church. First, royals (below the rank of king) also made themselves bishops and cardinals to increase their legitimacy but were still subservient to the Vatican in Rome. Along comes the Reformation and now they can wrest control of the church from the Pope. Get the common folks fired up over a religious ideal and you can cause them to fight to the death to achieve your objective. History is full of this theme over and over even into today.
Sterling gets its importance from the fact that it commands a position from which to control a bridge crossing the River Forth a major gateway into the Highlands. Although we didn't visit it, we could see the imposing monument to Robert Wallace (Braveheart), atop another hill across the river.

So next we move to a location where we can forget the political and religious and concentrate on the very earthy attraction of Scotland's signature beverage and enjoy a dram of Glengoyne Scotch. A tour of this boutiques distillery shows us in up close and personal detail, the making of this Single Malt beverage.






Back in Glasgow we have a wonderful dinner at a local seafood restaurant, Gamba. Early, because we have a very early departure planned for tomorrow.