Will Meurer

Shetland I took the overnight ferry to Shetland. I couldn’t convince any others in the family to join me. I originally thought I would bring my bike. There were marked bike routes. Then maybe I’d hire a bike. It was foggy and hilly when I got there. (It’s probably been hilly for some time.) So I aborted the bike idea (it would have taken me a LONG time to cover the 25 miles to Sumburgh to see the lighthouse.

Shetland

I took the overnight ferry to Shetland. I couldn’t convince any others in the family to join me. I originally thought I would bring my bike. There were marked bike routes. Then maybe I’d hire a bike. It was foggy and hilly when I got there. (It’s probably been hilly for some time.) So I…

Old Aberdeen Well. I haven’t been super great about regularly posting - which means I could probably post things for years going forward. I do have some things to report about Isles and Trials too so stay tuned. This is from University of Aberdeen’s website “The most iconic of our buildings and located on the picturesque Old Aberdeen High Street, King's College was built to house the University after it was founded by Bishop Elphinstone under a Papal Bull issued by Pope Alexander VI on 10 February 1495.

Old Aberdeen

Well. I haven’t been super great about regularly posting - which means I could probably post things for years going forward. I do have some things to report about Isles and Trials too so stay tuned. This is from University of Aberdeen’s website “The most iconic of our buildings and…

Dolphins jumping

Went on a dolphin watching cruise in Aberdeen Harbour!

No clouds at all for our trip to #isleofskye last week. Our first real trip to a separate island from the mainland of Scotland/England/Wales. #scotland

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Beautiful sunset on @lner (which didn’t have cleanest train windows) overlooking the River Tay near Dundee. By the time I had presence of mind to go up to the cleaner window at the door in the vestibule … the sun had passed under the hills.

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It was cloudy and rainy all weekend. The sun came out a bit right before dusk yesterday. It illuminated a stained glass window in our bedroom – I hadn’t noticed before that these old white dudes had labels! Homer! #scotland #aberdeen #rubislaw

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I just don’t know why I started giggling at “Butchery at Its Best.” Perhaps it’s because I’m at a garden store that also sells liquor and high heels named after an elf. Oh it has a restaurant as well. #scotland #dobbies

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While correlation does not equal causation – my impression is that a lot of people smoke here. And they put these scary pictures on each pack of cigarettes … So maybe the pictures are actually encouraging smoking? #scotland #uk

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Nice view from an ancient stone circle. (A less ancient nuclear bunker can be seen in the foreground.) #scotland #aberdeenshire

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Both Google and Apple Maps thought I could drive another 2.7 miles along the loch to get closer to the Falls of Glas Alt. Well. No. #scotland #highlands

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As I walk to my host institution, I am humbled by these wise words. I hope we can know more tomorrow than we knew today. Within the lifetime of my parents, we did not even know the structure of DNA and much of how it works. I wonder what we will know within the lifetime of my kids.…

This 1877 house we are living in has some very ornate stuff. I just noticed this last night. An angel playing a violin with a machete. #scotland #angel #architecture #rubislaw

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Lovely rainbow on the train back from Glasgow yesterday.

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Glasgow feels a bit more like home. Beautiful city that they ran big expressways (motorways) through. Didn’t really see that in Edinburgh or Aberdeen. #scotland #city #concrete #expressway

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More buildings art. (Also intentional.) Fortunately a local pointed this out to me as the bus I was in was driving by. This is Denis Law perhaps the most famous footballer from Aberdeen, ever. He grew up in a flat near there. #aberdeen #scotland #football

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Everyone was really amused that Scotland’s secret bunker was very easy to find and well marked. It even had EV charging! The degree that they needed to forecast fallout spread using … fairly primitive technology is interesting. The Cold War always freaked me out. I watched and read a lot about all…

Sometimes public art makes you do a doubletake. Particularly when you are in an unfamiliar land. So seeing this on a government building … I wondered – was this ever a thing in the UK? Cops on ostriches? It seems so artistic and intentional. Well, after going down a few rabbit holes I learned a few…

I know – boring photo of a lot of words. “For over 500 years, teaching, learning and discovery has flowed through the veins of Aberdeen. The lives and careers of the medical pioneers featured here testify to the city’s emphasis on education. Their revolutionary research has saved countless lives…

Generally selfies have been the province of some other accounts. That said, at the end of the last century – I taught my right cerebellum how to handle a manual transmission. Here I am seeing if my left side can figure it out. Also – love my @erraticrunclub hoodie.

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Buildings Some buildings here are in disrepair and need to be renovated. Here is one viewed from an alley.

Buildings

Some buildings here are in disrepair and need to be renovated. Here is one viewed from an alley.

Smile – windmills If you zoom way in - there are some windmills. They can be seen from a golf course named for (owned by) a famous person back home. We didn’t visit this golf course.

Smile – windmills

If you zoom way in - there are some windmills. They can be seen from a golf course named for (owned by) a famous person back home. We didn’t visit this golf course.

Cool old suspension bridge Over the River Dee

Cool old suspension bridge

Another famous Aberdonian Another one from Provost Skene’s house. It seems like he was producer of GTA3-5 (not involved in one or two) - at least if I believe Wikipedia as much as a museum caption. Perhaps the distinction is akin to being responsible for the Star Trek motion pictures, but skipping the first one and just starting with the Wrath of Khan. Khaaaaaaaaaaaan!

Another famous Aberdonian

Another one from Provost Skene’s house. It seems like he was producer of GTA3-5 (not involved in one or two) - at least if I believe Wikipedia as much as a museum caption. Perhaps the distinction is akin to being responsible for the Star Trek motion pictures, but skipping…

Provost Skenes House A very cool museum in the Aberdeen city center - with salutes to famous Aberdonians. They made the first MRI scanner here! (And interestingly made their own iron lung after seeing one in America …)

Provost Skenes House

A very cool museum in the Aberdeen city center - with salutes to famous Aberdonians. They made the first MRI scanner here! (And interestingly made their own iron lung after seeing one in America …)

Seals! The seal preserve about a 30 minute drive north of Aberdeen was amazing! (I should have brought my American iPhone as my Scottish one doesn’t have as good a camera.) It is in Newburgh. (And to be clear - that is pronounced Noo-burra!)

Seals!

The seal preserve about a 30 minute drive north of Aberdeen was amazing! (I should have brought my American iPhone as my Scottish one doesn’t have as good a camera.) It is in Newburgh. (And to be clear - that is pronounced Noo-burra!)

Upcoming concert… What do you think? Should I go?

Upcoming concert…

What do you think? Should I go?

Palm trees I really love palm trees. Back in 2023 I was a bit taken aback to see them in Ireland. They have them here too. While Aberdeen is a beach town, it probably won’t crack 70F while we are here. (But if it does I will probably head to the beach.)

Palm trees

I really love palm trees. Back in 2023 I was a bit taken aback to see them in Ireland. They have them here too. While Aberdeen is a beach town, it probably won’t crack 70F while we are here. (But if it does I will probably head to the beach.)

On to Drum Castle, the grounds The final castle of our tour - Drum. An interesting find! Last time I saw a tree like this - it was at Muir Woods (named for the Scottish born American naturalist). This one is estimated to have been planted in the 1860s.

On to Drum Castle, the grounds

The final castle of our tour - Drum. An interesting find! Last time I saw a tree like this - it was at Muir Woods (named for the Scottish born American naturalist). This one is estimated to have been planted in the 1860s.

Inside Crathes Castle This is the ceiling with some intricate paintings. They nicely provide mirrors so you don’t have to bend your neck much.

Inside Crathes Castle

This is the ceiling with some intricate paintings. They nicely provide mirrors so you don’t have to bend your neck much.

A different flavor of castle! This one was apparently occupied until around 1950. They have a a ParkRun here! It also has a lovely garden – hope to be back there in spring when more of the plants are in bloom.

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