Dunfermline, 5.28.08
So, Wednesday morning in Dunfermline ... a good night's sleep in our hotel, and there was Gerry McMullan punctually at reception the next morning to pick us up for our "insider sightseeing tour". We started by walking through Pittencrieff Park and admiring the statue of Andrew Carnegie - then it started to pour with soft Scottish rain! Oh well, we'd had good weather all through Wales, so we couldn't complain - but of course Maria was cold and soon very much over any downpour! She was dressed like an onion - layered with about 5 different shirts, sweaters and coats!
The rain of course brought out the beautiful rich green in the park, as you can see by the photos. We reached Dunfermline Abbey and were enthralled by its architecture, contents and history. Here lies King Robert The Bruce, and it is also said that William Wallace's followers also laid the remains of William's mother under a tree in the Abbey garden. The interior of the Abbey is resplendent; in contrast, the Nave is dark and mysterious, a place in which I would definitely not like to spend the night alone!
I've got into a very bad habit here, but I can't help it - I'm a chocoholic, as most people who know me personally are aware. Yes, I know it's a French custom, but I like nothing better here in Europe than to treat myself mid-morning to a large milk coffee and a pain au chocolat, a chocolate crosissant. I then dunk it into the hot coffee and savor the soggy croissant and the melting chocolate with the greatest gusto!
So, after fortifying ourselves with pastries at the local cafe, Gerry enabled us a visit to Dunfermline's City Chambers, where the town's decision-makers regularly meet to determine policy. From there we visited Andrew Carnegie's birthplace, learned how damask linen was made, and then went to the new Carnegie Headquarters, where we met the charming Nora Rundell, its Chief Executive.
And of course we went to Carnegie Hall - no, the one in Dunfermline - where, again with Councillor McMullan's help, we were able to view the auditorium and I was able to take the stage and imagine the standing ovations as I finished my world-famous one-man show in front of a sold-out audience (yeah, right!).
Very important - in-between all these Carnegie visits, Gerry took us to Abbott House, where we met Bill Livingstone, the editorial director of the Dunfermline Press. After Maria, Gerry and I had had our photo taken by a staff photographer, Bill then interviewed me for the paper. He actually took everything down in shorthand - how many journalists do you know that still interview like that? I don't know any! It was great meeting Bill and chatting with him - little did I know that one day later I'd be staring at the article in the Dunfermline Press online website! Yep, here it is: "Blogger gives Sarasotans the lowdown on Dunfermline". I am so proud!
We lunched on soup and paninis in the beautiful little cafe at Carnegie Hall, then Gerry drove us to the Alhambra Theatre. It was founded in 1922, operating for many years in the town, until the site was sold to a bingo club in 1965. The theatre is one of the most impressive in Fife holding at least 1,000 seats, with much of the original building work intact and will be a benefit in the city centre with the on-going regeneration project. The theatre is due to re-open for a concert next Saturday, June 7, with the rock band NAZARETH, the "sons of Dunfermline". We met the man in charge of this mammoth task, Bill Fletcher, who explained the renovations to us, and for the second time that day I was permitted to stand on a world-famous stage.
That evening Maria and I took the bus into town again and while enjoying a beer at the "Creepy Wee Pub" next to the Abbey, we actually got to view the Abbey peacock perched on a park bench, totally oblivious to tourists like me standing there waiting in vain for it to fluff its plumage. No matter - I still got a good photo!
We went round the corner for dinner to the "Seven Kings" pub, where Maria ordered "Haggis and Neeps" and then treacle sponge pudding for dessert ... and virtually inhaled the lot within minutes! Who would have thought?
A fantastic day - thanks to the kindness of Gerry McMullan and the fabulous taste of Scotland's national dish!
Please take a look at all the wonderful photos from our day in Dunfermline in the Photo Album on this page!
The rain of course brought out the beautiful rich green in the park, as you can see by the photos. We reached Dunfermline Abbey and were enthralled by its architecture, contents and history. Here lies King Robert The Bruce, and it is also said that William Wallace's followers also laid the remains of William's mother under a tree in the Abbey garden. The interior of the Abbey is resplendent; in contrast, the Nave is dark and mysterious, a place in which I would definitely not like to spend the night alone!
I've got into a very bad habit here, but I can't help it - I'm a chocoholic, as most people who know me personally are aware. Yes, I know it's a French custom, but I like nothing better here in Europe than to treat myself mid-morning to a large milk coffee and a pain au chocolat, a chocolate crosissant. I then dunk it into the hot coffee and savor the soggy croissant and the melting chocolate with the greatest gusto!
So, after fortifying ourselves with pastries at the local cafe, Gerry enabled us a visit to Dunfermline's City Chambers, where the town's decision-makers regularly meet to determine policy. From there we visited Andrew Carnegie's birthplace, learned how damask linen was made, and then went to the new Carnegie Headquarters, where we met the charming Nora Rundell, its Chief Executive.
And of course we went to Carnegie Hall - no, the one in Dunfermline - where, again with Councillor McMullan's help, we were able to view the auditorium and I was able to take the stage and imagine the standing ovations as I finished my world-famous one-man show in front of a sold-out audience (yeah, right!).
Very important - in-between all these Carnegie visits, Gerry took us to Abbott House, where we met Bill Livingstone, the editorial director of the Dunfermline Press. After Maria, Gerry and I had had our photo taken by a staff photographer, Bill then interviewed me for the paper. He actually took everything down in shorthand - how many journalists do you know that still interview like that? I don't know any! It was great meeting Bill and chatting with him - little did I know that one day later I'd be staring at the article in the Dunfermline Press online website! Yep, here it is: "Blogger gives Sarasotans the lowdown on Dunfermline". I am so proud!
We lunched on soup and paninis in the beautiful little cafe at Carnegie Hall, then Gerry drove us to the Alhambra Theatre. It was founded in 1922, operating for many years in the town, until the site was sold to a bingo club in 1965. The theatre is one of the most impressive in Fife holding at least 1,000 seats, with much of the original building work intact and will be a benefit in the city centre with the on-going regeneration project. The theatre is due to re-open for a concert next Saturday, June 7, with the rock band NAZARETH, the "sons of Dunfermline". We met the man in charge of this mammoth task, Bill Fletcher, who explained the renovations to us, and for the second time that day I was permitted to stand on a world-famous stage.
That evening Maria and I took the bus into town again and while enjoying a beer at the "Creepy Wee Pub" next to the Abbey, we actually got to view the Abbey peacock perched on a park bench, totally oblivious to tourists like me standing there waiting in vain for it to fluff its plumage. No matter - I still got a good photo!
We went round the corner for dinner to the "Seven Kings" pub, where Maria ordered "Haggis and Neeps" and then treacle sponge pudding for dessert ... and virtually inhaled the lot within minutes! Who would have thought?
A fantastic day - thanks to the kindness of Gerry McMullan and the fabulous taste of Scotland's national dish!
Please take a look at all the wonderful photos from our day in Dunfermline in the Photo Album on this page!
Tags: alhambra, andrew, bruce, burns, carnegie, dunfermline, gerry, mcmullan, press, robert
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