Dear readers, Christmas time is quickly approaching now, so I’d better hurry to add a couple of books to Scotiana’s selection for Christmas. My problem is to choose among so many interesting books published in Scotland recently;-) A Drop in the Ocean, which I introduced in my last post, is a book which can certainly please all lovers of Scotland. … Continue reading →
“A watercolour painting hangs above my bed. A treasured possession, it depicts a Hebridean shoreline: turquoise, black, grey and moody, a surging sea with foaming waves leads the eye to the distinct shapes of Rum’s forbidding peaks. In the foreground there is another island. Muck, a place that has punctuated my thoughts since I was a child growing up … Continue reading →
At the end of last May, on our road from St Fillans to Glenturret Distillery (the famous “Grouse Experience”) and Drummond Gardens, as we were driving along loch Earn in a lovely area of Perthshire, we suddenly fell upon the enigmatic figure of an iron man emerging from the water like in a sci-fi film … We stopped and … Continue reading →
In every form or shape, the unicorn has always fascinated me and thus, I have gathered many collectables over the years, be it stamps, figurines, book covers, illustrations, postcards, photos…you name it! So, it is with great pleasure that I take this opportunity to share with you some of my findings throughout my numerous quests and more particularly of the … Continue reading →
“LIBERTÉ, ÉGALITÉ, FRATERNITÉ” Dear readers, Just a few words today in memory of all the people who fell victim in the Paris attacks of 13 November 2015… Iain and Margaret sent us a very moving message on this sad occasion: “Our hearts and minds are with the people of France today, a country and a people committed … Continue reading →
‘I doubt if there be a more picturesque country town in Scotland. Small, clean, silent and respectable; it seems (subject, however, to one enormous deduction) the type of a place to which decent characters and moderate purses would retire for quiet comfort. The deduction arises from the dismal swaps of deep, sleechy mud, by which it is nearly … Continue reading →
Its no secret about how we all, here at Scotiana.com, feel about Ian Rankin’s books featuring John Rebus adventures on the crime scenes of Edinburgh, but for those who may not know it…we LOVE Rebus! To discover his complex character is simply fascinating and now, with his announced retirement and transitionning into a consultant detective makes it even more challenging. … Continue reading →
We had dreamed for a long time to visit Kirkcudbright, this lovely little town situated on the southern coast of Dumfries & Galloway, on the Solway Firth, but we never had time to fulfil our dream during our previous trips. So, last June, though we had only two days left before leaving Scotland, we decided to stop there on our … Continue reading →
. Thank you Mairiuna for such a lovely virtual visit of the Kennedy Castle Gardens in your most recent article and I’m pleased to pursue in this series on Great Scottish Gardens and Parks, by opening the gates of the spectacular gardens of Threave Estate. Ready ? Follow the guide! 🙂 In the care of the National Trust for Scotland, … Continue reading →
The old pond – a frog jumps in, sound of water. “Frog poem” (1680s) (Haiku written by Basho and translated by Robert Hass) The mild and gentle climate of south-west Scotland is a gardener’s dream. (Michael Leapman – “Tropic of Stranraer” 1996) Part of the magic of Scotland comes from its wonderful gardens & parks and we’ve … Continue reading →
What would he find there ? What new friends would he make ? What new songs would he sing ? Over what graves would he stand a moment in thought ? (In Search of Scotland – H.V. Morton) Our overseas adventures consist of three parts: planning, going and remembering. Over the years, we’ve found we like them all equally. … Continue reading →
Hello Hello from beautiful Scotland! Finally have access to Wifi 🙂 and therefore very happy to share some pictures we took recently while touring the scenic roads, colorful places and magnificent landscapes of our beloved Alba. Even when the weather is acting up….the beauty lies within. Breathtaking scenery of the spectacular Assynt region in the North West Highlands of … Continue reading →
Travelling Scotland again Hello dear friends! We are happy to let you know that we landed in Edinburgh on May 5th 2015 to initiate our 8th trip, since year 2000, to Scotland, and this time around, for an extended 45 days. 🙂 Despite problems upon arrival with rental car company, we finally managed to reach our favorite overnight stay at … Continue reading →
Working dogs, careless of their own safety, ignore danger on the roads. It’s always with an immense pleasure that we receive a new Letter from Scotland so kindly written by Iain and Margaret. Each ‘letter’ is a wonderful gem, a true gift we’re always eager to share with you. Iain and Margaret have told us many fascinating stories … Continue reading →
It was truly a delight to hear piper Alec McGuckin from the 78th Fraser Highlanders play ‘Scotland The Brave‘ to mark the start of the event on March 19th, 2015 at the Atwater Library Lunchtime Series featuring Scotiana.com, a Scottish travel and literature blog, co-authored by Mairiuna and Jean-Claude from France, Iain and Margaret from Scotland and yours truly, … Continue reading →
