26 - Sunday, April 22, 1990 - North Shore News the lure of Scotland. Brits . themselves, are spending more time vacation- ing in Scotland as tourist packuges become more creative and convenient. Photo submitted Easy to be swayed by romance of Scotiand EDINBURGH — THE oc- casion was a party for travel agents at the city’s fine old Caledonian Hotel, which anchors one end of Princes street. There were bagpipes, dancers and whisky, and the man from Dallas was having the time of his life until the waitress put a plate of haggis in front of him. But the girl did not miss his stunned reaction, tapped him on the shoulder and said: ‘“Dinna worry, sur, the next course is salmon, and it'll be here by the time you've danced this reel." Americans, and Canadians too, are a sight to behold at a Scots night. Accordians and fiddles play Amazing Grace and My Ain Folk, and eyes glaze as the sentiment finds roots in the Highlands, im- migrant ships and forebears who worked hard in a new land. “Two glasses of whisky,” said an agent from Toronto, ‘and we’re all Rob Roys.’’ It’s a hard man who doesn't get swayed by Scotland’s allure of his- tory and romance. This year, meanwhile, Glasgow is en fete as European City of Culture, Dumfries hosts the !50th anniversary of the invention of the bicycle, the British Open golf championship is at St. Andrews July 19-22, and the great airport debaie is over. Prestwick has finally lost out to Glasgow as Scotland’s major air- port, and while there is still no word of direct service from Van- couver to Glasgow, British Air- ways does a first-class job with summertime daily non-stop flights between Vancouver and London and a continuous shuttle service up to Glasgow, and Edinburgh as well, Edinburgh gets better all the time, a city of Mary Queen of Scots, Deacon Brodie, Greyfriar’s Bobbie, end the New Town, ele- gant Georgian buildings and car- riage irade shops. Guests at the Roxburghe Hotel can have Charlotte Square all to themselves by collecting the park key frorn the porter. It’s a city for walking on cobbles up old closes where body snatchers used to dodge the law (one reason Edinburgh became famous for medicine was the ready availability of bodies for research. A good corpse fetched $15). The castle is worth the trip alone, a cannon shot away is the new and cleverly done Scotch Whiskey Heritage Centre, and there’s drama and music galore. After dinner in the Caledo- nian Hotel some guests spilied into the Rutland bar where a live band socked till midnight. David Wishart Up the coast, and over the Forth rail bridge (celebrating its 100th birthday this year) are picturesque villages such as Crail and Pit- tenweem, along with a string of castles such as the ruin of Dunnot- tar near Stonehaven. What’s interesting is that the Bcitish themselves are spending more time in Scotland. It used to be no summer was complete without a trip to Spain or Greece, but wonderful weather at home last year, coupled with air conges- tion and traffic controilers’ strikes in Europe, is changing all that. The Scots are making it easy for tourists with convenient packages around the Western Isles by Caledonian-MacBrayne ferries, BritRail has money-saving tickets, car rental firms such as Budget have efficient operations and at- tractive cars such as Rovers with sunroofs, and hotels are promoting themselves with marketing plans as slick as anything this side of Disneyland. A group called Scotland’s Heritage Hotels has 26 privately owned and run hotels with either architectural or historical interest. They offer good food and at- mosphere that you’d expect at a Scottish country house. Typical is Arthur Neil's elegant Open Arms Hotel at Dirleton, 30 minutes from Edinburgh and half way between the golf courses of Muirfield and North Berwick, and with another dozen golf courses within as many miles. The Ardfillayne Hotel at Du- noon, built in 1835 for a Glasgow University »ctofessor as a retreat where he wrote romantic novels, has a restaurant in the style of Charles Rennie Mcfntosh, and up at the Crinan Hotel, Nick Ryan sends out his own fishboat daily. One phone call by your travel agent can reserve four and five- night packages. Daily Lunch Special a aa Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. * Not Including tax adh y s Tacamnis? Puta little spice in your iifet rif Su Call Donna Scarr 922-4131 She's been there! BRITAIN «& EUROPE We'll put it together for you a with special savings! | | BCAA SUPER SPECIALS! Britrail [Plus much more... PaSSeS |e London theatre tickets from $114 _|e Britrail ‘n Drive Regular price from $179)! 4 Insight Motorcoach Eurail Passes) tours from $359 _—_|© European Castle tours | (Regular price from $408)] @ Hotel bargains Car Rentals First week FREE! Save up to $129 per week in Britain or from $132 to $179 per week in Amsterdam, Vienna or Barceiona. 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