Day 9- Good Whisky is Scottish Whisky ♥

Hello everyone! Today we arevisiting The Scotch Whisky Experience museum in Edinburgh.

Our guide will describe for us the main product of Scotland- Whisky.

Whisky- is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash.  Whisky is typically aged in wooden barrels, generally made of charred white oak.

Types of Whiskies:

·        Malt Whisky- made from malted barley

·        Grain Whisky- made from grain

This types are combined in various ways:

·        Single malt whisky

·        Blended malt whisky

·        Blended Whisky

Scotch Whisky

"Scotch" is the internationally recognized term for ''Scotch Whisky''

Scotch whiskies are generally distilled twice, although some are distilled a third time and others even up to twenty times. Scotch Whisky Regulations require anything bearing the label "Scotch" to be distilled in Scotland and matured for a minimum of three years in oak casks, among other, more specific criteria.

Scotch malt whiskies are divided into five main regions:

·        Highland

·        Lowland

·        Islay

·        Speyside

·        Campbeltown

Examples of Scotch Whiskies:

·        Chivas Regal

·        Ballentine's

·        Grant's

·        Jim Beam

Day 8- Facts!

Hi everyone!

A lot of things in Scotland are different ... this post we write about several such cases. We try to write here why it is different-let us remember that this is what we do here is surprising and we sometimes laugh, for Scots is like the most normal and understandable. • You know-the islands of rides like the other way around. 




• Windows opening outwards-window cleaning here is a real art, acrobatics. It's not quite that open up on the outside it's still are divided into two parts, of which only one can be fold.





 • Light on tape - of this kind we find the light switch in the bathroom. Everything, of course, for reasons of safety best we can be sure that even if our hands were dripping water, we will not be electrocuted. • In Scotland, live the most people with the red hair than anywhere else in the world. 




• The shortest street in Scotland measures 2 meters. 


• Shortbread is Scotland's most famous biscuit. 



• Scottish surnames are divided in two main categories : Gaelic names (typically starting with "Mac-" or "Mc-") and Germanic names (e.g. Barclay, Blair, Brown, Cumming, Hamilton, Hope, Howard, Hunter, Lawson, Livingstone, Park, Stewart...).

Day 7- Monuments #2

Hi everyone!

The Day 7 we  spent exploring the most interesting Scottish monuments. At the beginning we went to Stirling Castle, which guarded the ford on the river Forth was considered the gateway to the highlands of Scotland. In the sixth century, probably on a lofty rock towered fortress of King Arthur. Here lived, were baptized, educated and crowned the kings and queens of Scotland. The current shape of the castle gained in the years 1496-1583. From the time of Jakub IV, who in the early sixteenth century, built its oldest part, comes the Great Hall, the biggest in Scotland. Here, 15 July 1578 year twelve year old king James VI chaired the Scottish Parliament.  

At the fort of the castle hill played out several important commemorates the Wallace Monument – tower, which houses the museum. It’s most important exhibit is an authentic, two – handed sword of Sir William Wallace, Scotland’s national hero.

              Later we went to the country Augus to visit Glamis, which bristled with lots of turrets is considered to be the most haunted castle by the ghost in the UK. Glamis reasons haunting by ghosts easily be traced back to ancestral legends Earls of Stratghmore and Kingshorne and rich history of their establishment. The famous ghost is Earl Beardie, known as Aleksander earl Crowford, who plays cards with the devil in a secret room out loud arguing.

                  In Glamis was born and  spent her childhood Lady Elizabeth Bowes – Lyon, Duchess of York. When in 1936 the Duke of York sat on the throne of Great Britain as King George VI, his wife Elizabeth was the titular queen. After the death of the king, the throne joined their daughter Elizabeth II and the widow to distinguish came to be called the Queen Mother. 

See you tomorrow!

         

Day 6- Monuments

Hi guys! ♥                    

On the 6 day we went to Edinburgh. It is located amidst the beautiful volcanic hills on the rocky slopes. The center of this very interesting city is divided into two parts.  In the era of enlightenment according to a carefully developed plan created neoclassical New Town. The second part is the Old Town over which rises Edinburgh Castle. From its steep Royal Mile - which is a sequence of four streets: Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate – it comes to the great royal residence Hollyrood.

                 The Royal Mile from the Middle Ages to the seventeenth centuries was the scene of demonstrations, advice and executions. Here burned women accused of witchcraft. Currently in place, which they flew stacks, we can see Witches Fountain. 



Located just above the top of the Royal Mile Cannonball House is Scotch Whisky Howitage Centre.

              After sightseeing the city we went to Edinburgh Castle, which is the oldest castle in Scotland and one of the most powerful fortresses in the UK, viewed from the bottom of the north seems to grow almost vertically from the top of the hill. This made  the attackers  have no chance of getting to it from this side. The oldest part of the castle ( a unique St. Margaret’s Chapel) is from the beginning of the twelfth century. Edinburgh Castle is one of the few strongholds that still maintain their own garrison. Military parades can be seen from 4 to 26 August at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, then, every day at 9 pm (without Sundays) the square of the castle held drill, concert pipers and shows the Scottish folk dances. Party ends the wonderful spectacle of fireworks.

SEE YOU SOON (tomorrow We mean xD)

Day 5- HISTORY LESSON MUAHAHAHAHA

Hi our little, lovely monkeys! Today we learnt a little about Scotland’s history. Let’s start with the capitol of this country which is Edinburgh and Glasgow is the biggest city. I think that we don’t have to remind you of the fact that Scotland is a part of Great Britain? It’s been inhabited for 7 thousand years. In the beginning it was an area for confrontations between people representing different cultures. We can for example list there Picts, Celts, Norman and Romans. Scotland virtually has been a place of permanent fight  from the beggining of its being. However, we’re not going to harp on and describe all of those battles one after another, are you happy now? We know you are.

As a result it became a part of England, at first being occupied territory and then It was a part of Stuart’s personal union.  Scotland as societal-economic  unity exists since IX Century.  Right at that time Picts’ small states and as also lands which were inhabited by Aryan settlers ware combined into one kingdom and „voilà”. In XII Century Scotland survived English invasion. Then during centuries it was sovereign (which means that it was independent in internal and external issues),  but effectively it was withstanding to bigger and bigger England’s impacts. Since 1603 there was one king for England and Scotland. After  174 years they had shared parliament. After o more than 200 years Scotland since May 1999 had its own parliament again. In 1996 crown jewel returned to Scotland- it’s exaclty this jewel which was serving for 7 years to British kings and for all that time it was  refrigerated in England.

SEE YOU TOMORROW ♥

Day 4- Let's play GOLF!

Hello our Scottish Pandas! It's Day 4 Today and we're going to talk about GOLF ♥

Golf in Scotland was first recorded in the 15th century, and the modern game of golf was first developed and established in the country. The game plays a key role in the national sporting consciousness.Scotland is widely promoted as the 'Home of Golf. This sport is widely seen as being a key national cultural icon throughout the world. There are many famous golf courses in Scotland including Carnoustie, Gleneagles, Mairfield, Balcomie and Royal Troon. The world's first open championship was held at Prestwick in 1860 and Scotish golfers have the most victories at the open at 42 wins one ahead of the USA. The Royam and Ancient Golf Club of ST Andrews, knows as the R&A, is the worlds govering body for the game.




Scotland has 578 courses which are liberally divided among its ten regions. The highest concentrations are around Glasgow and Edinburgh.

And we also met THIS ↓ nice man :D

Day 3- Let us introduce you... The Bagpipes!

Hi! It's our third day, here- In Scotland and we're so excited because today we are going to introduce you THE BEST INSTRUMENT EVER (which is obvious FAB)- the Bagpipes!

Today at some point we saw Scot who played the bagpipes. We came to him and we asked if we could have something to play them. He started playing and he played us this…

It's ,,Scotland the Brave”.This song is a Scottish patriotic song recognized as one of the many unofficial anthems.

Bagpipes

In fact, they weren't invented in Scotland, but in Roman army. Moved from Asia to Europe in the Middle Ages in the nineteenth century., They have been incorporated into European folk instruments. They had their heyday in the fifteenth century, used at the royal courts and were also used in military orchestras. Their design and its parts are very complicated so we probably won't describe it.

Day 2- Kilt Time!

Hi!

Today we decided to learn something about national Scottish costume. For this purpose we went to the Scottish Tartans Museum. There you can admire many originals and replicas of that costumes, starting with those at the end of the sixteenth century until today. There are also other exhibits in the museum, for example weapon or weaving machines and information about Scotland. We learned a lot of interesting things about that typical costume.

Everybody knows that Scots wear skirts, however not everybody knows their proper name, which is a "kilt". Kilt's made of long wide strip of checked material - tartan. Interestingly, each clan has its own pattern. Tartan's being frilled and made in the shape of the envelope skirt. In this form kilt appeared in the beginning of the eighteenth century. Today everyone can wear it but in the past it was only a male costume. Kilt is being worn at the celebrations.

It turns out that the typical Scottish costume doesn't consist solely of plaid skirt. Other than it, kilt contains many other elements.

The most important element of them is a sporran - a bag attached to the belt on the hips. It's made of the leather and the fur. Once it was serving a protective function and was a space for something valuable. We distinguish three types of sporrans :

-very formal with lots of decorations (dress sporran);

-less formal but still elegant (semi-dress sporran);

-usual casual made of leather, designed to be worn every day.

Other elements of the Scottish costume are :

-a belt with a decorative buckle;

-a kilt pin with the clan's symbol;

-kilt hoses with characteristic garter flashes;

-elegant shoes;

-a shirt;

-are smoetimes a jacket;

-a tie.

SEE YOU TOMORROW OUR LITTLE MONKEYS!

Day 1- Loch Ness Monster

Hello everyone!

 Today we’re going to tell you a story… A story about the Loch Ness monster. Does it sound familiar? This so-called creature was holding a name  „Nessie” and he was living in Loch Ness lake water which is obviously in Scotland. It became the one of  symbols of „men’s in checked skirts country”. It doesn’t really matter if we believe in existence of this animal or not, but it’s hard to resist the impression that in this case there is something which is confering  some kind of  secretiveness. Just look at the Loch Ness lake.  It’s intrinsically strange that its temperature is on the (more or less) same level all year long and water is void of widespread in other reservoirs  putrefaction bacteria, but abound in other types of invertebrates, which  not infrequently live only there.  Besides, while beeing there it’s so hard to resist the impression that, the mystery is hiding under the water. 

All that case started about 7th century. Since then many residents of little villages, which are placed near the lake, have seen something mysterious. How they’ve claimed- it was a dorsum or monster’s humps. The biggest interest  of Loch Ness Monster was in 1933, when there was built a road along the west coast.