So after we finished our fish and chips and deep fried Mars bar (yes it is incredibly tasty - and that is coming from a guy that is not huge on chocolate) we figured we had an afternoon to kill and no destination. I managed to talk Fiona into driving about an hour south to a small college town. This small college town also just happens to host a small golf tournament every once in a while ... St. Andrews, the birthplace of golf.
I was really just hoping to get a few shots of the Old Course and be able to say I had been there, but it turns out that there is more to St. Andrews than the Royal and Ancient Golf Club. The University ("uni" as everyone here says) ensures there is an interesting mix of people. There is also a wonderfully walkable centre of town with lots of history. We managed to get into the old cathedral before it closed and climbed to the top of St. Rule's tower. What a sight! The tower itself is a little claustraphobic, but worth all 157 steps. We didn't have time for St. Andrew's castle, but I guess we'll get a chance to go back - we definitely recommend this place for all visitors touring Scotland.
The highlight still remains the Old Course, a beautiful example of a links course. Even mid-October it was in great shape. I looked down the 18th fairway to the green and could envision the grandstand positions and all the greats saluting the crowds after winning the British Open. I don't know if they let the plebs play, but if they do, I promised myself we would play it before we left.
We're off again today, this time to the north and a place that may seem a little familiar ...
1 comment:
Hi Rik and Fifi,
Lovely shot of the European robin!
You guys take great pictures, I must say.
The Scottish tourism industry should link to this blog!
That's funny about your local papers being so navel gazing.
Our chain talks about being "hyper-local" too, but then they cut staff, which makes it kind of hard to write about local onions.
-Hugs, hb
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