Scotland

 In Scotland Gretna green is the first town that one comes across while coming via road from London. I have been to Scotland twice earlier via Air and this is my third visit and one via road. My advise to a travellers here is please avoid air travel if possible and go via road for the beauty of Scotland can be seen in its immense green panorama. The huge green mountains, the mountains filled with rodendran forests, the streams, the lakes, the Fir tree Jungles can never be seen via air. It is good to have a journey come to an end but it is the Journey that matters in the end and this is true as you travel across Scotland. In 17th cen there was a law in England that stated that one could not marry with out one's parents permission and had to be of a certain age for marriage and hence many couples eloped to Gertna Green in Scotland to marry. A blacksmith who was in the business of making horse shoes found an opportunity in this and converted a portion of his workshop into a hall to commemorate marriages and the Shed stas here with a museum and its history. Today also thousands of marriages take place here every month and it is a favourite destination for taking the vow. One can see building with Boards 1751, 1753 as the year of establishment.Krikstone Pass and Ullswater lake: While we were still carrying the enchanting serenity of the lake district and Windermere, we headed for another mesmerising creations of nature the Krikstone Pass. After an hour of road ride on the banks of Ullswater lake, it started raining, that set the perfect English weather and we were at the mouth of the famous Krikstone Pass. It's silence and the greatest spread of green meadows miles together amongst undulating hills, dotted with wooly sheeps, brooks and fragile rocks are simply enchanting. Driving on the banks of Ullswater lake and stopping at the wide opening of the serpentine road with hair pin bands in it self is an adventure. The panoramic view is unmatchable and a life time experience.

Loch and Glen's of Scotland. As teenagers when I had read English poetry two words that often occurred were Loch and Glen. Today the second day in Scotland in Glasgow saw us visit many Loches and Glen's. Loch is the Scottish word for a piece of sea or a water body that is land locked and Glen is the deep valleys amidst mountains. Today we saw many of these. As we moved towards the Highlands with many Scottish mountains and the green panorama the first stop was at Loch Lomond.