Eventually, however, we did get our act together and climb up the hill to the monument. Like the Washington monument, it's a tower; not so tall as the Washington monument, but definitely more fun. After all, was Washington 6'6" with a broadsword? I think not.
After the usual bread-cheese-fruit meal, we watched a 'reenactment.' Like many of the Scottish reenactments, it consisted solely of an actor in period costume coming out, telling the story in brief, waving around a battleaxe, and yelling "Freedom!" Brigid panicked when the man charged us with the axe, and Maeve left shortly afterwards when he started talking about "ripping the unprotected underbellies of the horses." I, however, enjoyed the whole thing. (Actually, Brigid enjoyed it too, but she kept a careful eye on the axe.)
The monument itself had four levels, reached by a narrow spiral staircase. The first level had signs telling the story of William Wallace; it also had his broadsword in a glass case! The second level was a 'Hall of Heroes', with statues of 'Rabbie' Burns, Adam Smith, Robert the Bruce, and many others. The third level told about the building of the monument. The top level was open-air, with low railings and benches; you could see the countryside for miles around, including the site of the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
Afterwards, we went for a walk in the woodlands surrounding the monument. They were incredibly beautiful--mossy logs, ferns, lichens, flowers. It was really the image that 'the forest primeval' calls up.
When we got here, and Brigid saw her first bluebells, she started calling all flowers "color + 'bells'." So for months now, she's been holding out for the existence of "purplebells." Her theory was confirmed by all the foxgloves in full bloom in the forest.
And what really made my day: no one threw up on the bus ride home. Hooray!
Sophia,
ReplyDeleteYou are really taxed as the older sister, aren't you? Just think, if you and Brigid swapped, you'd have all the privileges.
But if you weren't you, I wouldn't have the pleasure of reading all your blog entries. I feel as if I'm getting a tour of Scotland thanks to you. Can you keep up your blog when you get home?
Love,
Gramma