I should write a blog about the difficulties of driving on the left side of the road. But I'm rather good at it. Unless you count me drifting towards the far left. Hans spends a good deal of time leaning to the right as we pass by hedges, road barriers, and old ladies and their corgis.

I don't know why I want to be so far left, but I find myself testing the FIAT Panda’s offload capabilities a continent too soon.

Instead, let's talk about Scotland and Scotch (known simply as whiskey here).

Scotland has been beyond welcoming except on the roads. The Scots don't merely honk at you as you navigate the twisted alleys of Edinburgh attempting to avoid the bold pedestrians that are always ready to dodge out into the road in front of you. Instead, all honking is accompanied by hands being thrown into the air and a pained look on their face.

This also happens when you stop for a doddering old man crossing the street and especially when a pregnant woman pushing a stroller crosses in front of you.

Off the roads the Scots are charming as all get out.

Too bad my teammates are not charming at all.

They can't help it, it is probably the way they were raised. Or the Scotch they drink.

They wouldn't even go to the Whiskey Experience where it is purported that one can learn about the Whiskey brewing process while RIDING IN A PERSONAL WHISKEY BARREL.

Instead we had to go on a hike up to the green and craggy volcano remnant in the center of Edinburgh. The only highlight of scrambling up the hill is that Hans lost 2 pence to me in a bet that we were taking the correct path to the top. The view from the top was inspiring with the blue sea stretching to the horizon and the greenery of pastoral Scotland stretching out to the west. You wouldn't even imagine that Roberta and Hans had made a thorough dent in the stock of available Whiskey in this country the night before. They were spry and healthy despite being happy, loud, tipsy and incompetent at navigating on the long drive back to our campground.

PS- I couldn't get my photos to load so here is a gratuitous picture of a cat in Scottish attire.