Have you seen Braveheart ?  If so, you surely remember the famous war cry  “Alba gu bragh! ” by William Wallace. It means something like « Scotland For Ever ».

What an emotionally charged performance Gibson gives us in this film!  An historical epic at its best.

Give me two seconds, while I grab the DVD and the VHS. I want to show you the picture covers.

Mel Gibson's Braveheart

On the back cover of the DVD, the description reads:  William Wallace, the bold Scotsman, which by the fire of his intellect and the steel of his sword, rallied his countrymen to fight for liberation of the English occupation of Scotland.

Reminds me how I was moved by the film on display when visiting William Wallace Monument. It revived the 1320 historical moments when the Declaration of Arbroath was proclaimed. It became the Declaration of Scottish Independence.

Mel Gibson's Braveheart

Look at the sword!  How impressive.. Do you think it’s the same we saw exhibited in the room ? I checked my photos but it seems I did not take a single picture of the sword. Did you Mairiuna, or maybe your husband, Jean-Claude, manage to take one?

Let me know when you have a minute. It would be so cool.

Ferry Mallaig-Skye - Sept 2003

Yes Janice, let’s go on now !  the weather is fine today and I wanted to show our friends how beautiful the colours of Scotland can be…  we’ve begin on such a grey and misty day. Mind ! grey has its beauty too. I’ll show you that soon and I’m sure everybody will agree with me then.

Anyway, there’s something magical in this country and, like Gandalf the Grey, Scotland could soon prove to be radiant and multicoloured.

Yesterday we felt as if we were going to disappear between sea and sky in the grey and misty atmosphere, today it’s wintry and fresh and the ocean is of the deepest blue, tomorrow the white, pink, yellow and red rhododendrons may well be burning bright under a scorching sun. You never know. That’s Scotland ! Remember that when preparing for a walk, just in case… even if the weather is fine when you start.  The weather is of such a changing nature there.

By the way, Janice, did you know “Alba” meant white in gaelic ?

Adapted by JC from "Tour du Monde" Ecosse 1974

Hey Mairiuna ! is it not exciting to be able to chat together in this lively, interactive and colorful communication medium called a blog ?  Wow…my pen can’t wait to write those words that will translate into a multitude of stories about the one and only country that attracts both of us with so much passion and I named … Scotland!

That is why I suggested that our blog be called Scotiana because this word relates to everything scottish, as the word “canadiana” relates to everything canadian, “americana” to everything american. Hum..what about everything french ? “franciana” ? gotta check that out.

Ready to embark my friend ?