Tag: scotland

This would make a wonderful blog post. Here’s a polished version that keeps your storytelling voice while improving flow and readability.

Title: Scotland, Castles, Kilts, and the Freedom of Dundee

Scotland has been amazing. We have spent our time exploring Dundee, Aberdeen, and the beautiful countryside that connects them. The buildings are absolutely stunning. If you continue following our journey, you are probably going to hear me say that over and over again. I love the architecture here—the stone buildings, castles, churches, and centuries of history around every corner.

Dundee has been a wonderful base for our adventures. The city center is just down the hill from where we are staying, although I should mention that it is quite a steep hill! The taxis have been easy to use, and several have wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Sometimes Kiya rides secured in her chair, and other times she sits beside us. The train system has been fantastic. ScotRail provides ramps, and the staff have been incredibly helpful. One thing we have noticed is that we do not see many people with disabilities out and about compared to what we are used to at home. We have especially enjoyed watching the Scottish countryside roll by from the train windows. I will post more picture below.

One of our favorite day trips was to Aberdeen, where we visited Drum Castle. After enjoying lunch and, of course, more scones (I am fairly certain we have eaten our height in scones by now), I took a guided tour of the castle while Mom stayed with Kiya because of the many stairs.

Drum Castle has a fascinating history and remained a family home until 1976. The two main bedrooms were eventually modernized to such an extent that they no longer matched the rest of the castle, so they were converted into an art gallery. One of my favorite stories involved a particularly arrogant young owner with bright ginger hair. Historians believe he had quite an ego because he commissioned an enormous portrait of himself as an angel and hung it in the library and great hall for everyone to admire. Apparently self-confidence was not in short supply!

While in Aberdeen, we experienced a small crisis—we lost one of Kiya’s shoes. If you know the Tartan Army in Boston or our Florida friends, I want to give a huge thank you to Kiya’s army of supporters. These were her favorite shoes, and so many people immediately jumped in to help. Special thanks to Diane, Kristy, and Erin, who have already arranged for replacement pairs to be waiting for us when we return home. We are incredibly grateful.

The art gallery was hosting an exhibition of ash wood artwork, and I was captivated by the pieces. The craftsmanship was exquisite, with each creation highlighting the natural beauty of the wood. It was amazing to see how artists could transform a simple piece of ash into something so elegant and detailed. Set within the historic castle, the exhibit felt like a perfect blend of Scotland’s past and present.

Back in Dundee, we stumbled upon what turned out to be one of the best experiences of our trip.

Mom spotted four young men wearing kilts walking through the city center. Naturally, we did what everyone around us did not do—we followed them. Now, keep in mind that they were moving at the speed of light while we were moving at the speed of pudding. We kept our eyes fixed on their heads as they stayed about a block and a half ahead of us.

Eventually, they led us toward a local high school. Curious, we asked a traffic inspector what was happening and learned that preparations were underway for the Royal Regiment of Scotland’s Freedom of Dundee ceremony.

Suddenly, we found ourselves standing right where the regiment was assembling. I was able to film the soldiers and bagpipers as they marched past us. Later, we returned to the city center and found barriers set up around City Square. I stationed Mom and Kiya along the fence while I found a spot to record the procession entering the city.

What followed was an incredible ceremony. I am struggling to post videos on here so I will post on Facebook.

On June 20, 2026, the Royal Regiment of Scotland was granted the Freedom of the City of Dundee—the first military unit to receive the honor in more than seventy years. The last regiment to receive the distinction was the Black Watch in 1954.

The Freedom of the City is one of the highest honors a city can bestow. Dating back to medieval times, it traditionally granted military units the right to march through the city with “drums beating, colours flying, and bayonets fixed.” Today, it symbolizes the trust, respect, and enduring bond between a city and those who serve it.

The Royal Regiment of Scotland, formed in 2006, is the senior infantry regiment of the British Army and carries forward more than 390 years of Scottish military heritage. Their motto, Nemo Me Impune Lacessit—”No one provokes me with impunity”—is shared with Scotland’s highest order of chivalry, the Order of the Thistle.

The regiment has served around the world, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Africa, and the Caribbean, while also supporting disaster relief efforts and assisting communities during floods, wildfires, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the soldiers marched through the streets accompanied by the sound of bagpipes echoing between the historic buildings, it felt like we had stepped into a piece of living history. What started as following a few young men in kilts turned into witnessing a once-in-a-generation event.

Without a doubt, it was one of the best experiences of our trip so far.

Sometimes the most memorable adventures are the ones you never planned.

That post perfectly captures the unexpected moments that make travel special. The image of following the kilts “at the speed of pudding” is especially memorable!