United Kingdom - Oxford & Edinburgh

Camille spent a summer at Oxford University in an educational program; the same program Damon participated in at Columbia University in NYC. We thought a visit back to Oxford and on up into Scotland would be a fun summer escape. Mark has a thing about visiting factories - Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes, BMW, Guinness, Boeing, etc. - So adding Mini to the list was an obvious choice.

Scotland was beautiful and worthy of another, longer visit. The highlands were unique in topography and architecture. Lovely lochs and noble castles that are slowly returning to the earth. Edinburgh is a vibrant but still very gothic and grimy city (sooty actually, from the iron age through the industrial revolution to now). Didn't make it to Glasgow but we'll be back!

Made it to our airbnb in Oxford.

Smooth sailing on the travel front. Off to find some curry!

Radcliffe Camera, Radcliffe Observatory

Making the Minis!

Plant Oxford

Christ Church, Oxford

Westminster Abbey, London

Buckingham Palace

Edinburgh!

Our first solidly rainy day in the UK. We stuck it out, however. These are perhaps the only two photos I took today - Edinburgh castle and St. Giles' cathedral.

The Gothic architecture looks even more interesting when covered in centuries of soot and industrial 'clart' (sticky dirt and grime).

Linlithgow Palace,
Loch Linlithgow

Birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots in 1542. We're staying across the street in what was once the county courthouse.

Doune Castle

Location for Monty Python's Holy Grail.

Loch Lomond, Scottish Highlands

Stirling Castle.
Built by James IV, V, and VI

The hairy coo says 'come back soon!'