August 15 - 18, 1985

Our first night in Scotland was spent in the coastal city of Glasgow, Scotland's largest city.  While there I was able to do a little research on my family history.  It enabled me to tie some strong links to the Lamont and McMillan clans.  These are the two most probable clans from  which the Brown side of my family originated.  Once they immigrated to Virginia they then moved south into Georgia.

Driving north in our coach,  we passed Loch Lomond and heather-covered Trossachs to Glencoe, Loch Ness (sea serpent lake), and then Inverness.  From there we reached our destination for the night, the year-round resort of Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands.

The countryside of Scotland is simply beautiful and is constantanly changing as we journey south to Edinburgh, capital of Scotland.  Here we saw the Crown Jewels (older than England's) in Edinburgh Castle.  The shops there were filled with Harris tweeds and cashmere; just the things one would expect in Scotland.

The highlight of our Edinburgh stay was seeing the world famous "Edinburgh Military Tattoo".  "Tattoo" is the traditional signal, given originally by drum beat, and latterly by bugle or trumpet call; which warned British soldiers to return to their quarters for the night.  The custom eventually developed into a ceremonial performance of military music by massed bands a few hours after sunset.

Since 1950 the Edinburgh Military Tattoo has been an annual event held over the period of the International Festival on the Castle Esplanade.  It is attended by over 200,000 each year from all parts of the world.

Every year the programme includes music of the massed Pipes and Drums of the Scottish Regiments together with the music of the Massed Bands.  The setting of the Castle Esplanade, the ramparts (walls for protection), the delicate play of light, together with the excited murmer and applause of 9,000 spectators create a sight like none other we had ever seen.

The Royal Navy Display Team gave one of the most spectacular performances.  Their 60 members perform  40 feet above ground on the "Window Ladder" without a single word of command.  Other displays include "Manning the Mast" (90 feet high) with the traditional Button Boy on the very top.  What a show!!

Below is a shot of the city of Edinburgh.