Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Whether they are called bars, pubs, taverns, or (in Italy), osteria, there is something special about a place that you can go into where the same group of people show up every evening and socialize together.  There is sometimes  good music, sometimes singing, sometimes just catching up on the days events.  The conversation can be about sports, politics, the economy, or the recent layoffs and factory shut downs.  They are places where you can receive emotional support, laughs, tears, or if not solutions to your problems, at least understanding.  

I personally don't have a particular place like this where I am a constant and familiar figure, but it has been fun watching the people in some of these places, and in at least one case, we were so welcomed, it felt like we have been there for years.

Inverness, Scotland

One of the first places we went to in Scotland was not even really open.  It was probably about 4:00 pm, and there were only a couple of people at the bar.  We ordered a drink, and sat for a bit, but it wasn't really time to be there yet, so we left.  I did like the inside, though.  It was the type of place we wanted to find, but not the right time of day.



Later that day, we learned of another pub called Gellions where there was going to be traditional Scottish music that evening.  We went at 8:00 because that is what time we thought the music started, but we were the only ones there.  We did have a good meal, but then went out for a bit (ice cream :) ), and returned back at 9 for the music.   It was wonderful, but since I forgot my camera, there are no pictures.  (I remembered later that I had my cell phone.) We enjoyed a group called Schiehallion lead by Kenneth Jamienson who has a wonderful voice.  Here is a YouTube clip with Kenneth singing.  I think this is a more formal setting (notice the shirts and ties), but the feeling is the same, and it is in Gellion's.




The next night there was another group playing at a pub called Hootananny's.  This is (of course!) a Thai restaurant/pub, and although the group that was playing was ok, it was more Irish-celtic jig music than what we had enjoyed the night before.  It was heavy on fiddle, and not as enjoyable....but the Thai food was excellent.

Hootananny's, Inverness

Next door to our hostel was the Castle Tavern, and actually the first place we went to after we got set up in our room.  We had a nice meal, and a drink.  No inside pictures, but we do have some of the outside.  And you can read more about it here.

The Castle Tavern









Edinburgh

On to Edinburgh.... a real party town.  Going from the very quiet of Bute to the moderately restrained Inverness, and then hitting Edinburgh was like going from Estacada to Salem to Portland.  Ok, maybe a little wilder than Portland. Quite a surprise.  The parties didn't exactly stay in the pubs.  They seemed to continue all night at times, and right under our window in the hostel.  The tall old buildings, cobblestoned streets, and long alleys make for excellent acoustics, and the sound carries quite well... both up, down, and across everything.

I don't remember the name of this one, but we had dinner there.  They had a really good beer tasting sampler. 


We went to several interesting places.  One wasn't even a pub, but a whisky store.  There Brian, the whisky expert, gave me a "wee dram" of an incredible 27 year old scotch whisky that he warned me (rightfully so) would ruin me for any other scotch. 

It didn't burn going down, it lingered on the tongue for at least 1/2 hour, and made every other whisky I tasted in Scotland seem second rate. I did stop by to "thank him", but he was gone for the day. The other fellow who was also there at the time said he would "surely pass along the message".   This is the history of the brand

Dailuaine 27 year old Scotch Whisky

The other place we went that was a pub, although we ate there upstairs in the restaurant, is worth a mention for the ceiling.  Oh, and it was the place I had Haggis.

Ceiling of the Deacon Brodie's Tavern

I think I will continue with Italy in a second part.  It seems the more pictures I ask the program to insert, the longer it takes. 

Dee