06 Jun 1985, Posted by Scott An Chora in Travelogue, No Comments.

06/06 Edinburgh, Scotland

We headed north into Scotland.  Initially we didn’t wander too far from the train stations but eventually we stretched our arms and headed into the countryside.  The weather had been wonderful.  I truly believe the sun had been following us for weeks.  The primroses were in bloom and the fields were scattered with frolicking rabbits.  The clouds were absolutely gorgeous.  There were clouds on top of clouds on top of clouds.  Again, if somebody had painted this landscape it would appear unreal, dreamlike as if it was only imagined.

I normally make an attempt to assemble the entire picture before I up and leave a place.  I like spending some time watching the locals migrate from place to place, watching the children play and have a conversation or two over a pint or a cup of coffee.  These observations help me calibrate myself to the environment that surrounds me.  I plan on learning something.  But for the past couple of days it seemed most of the people we were meeting were in pubs.  ”You’re from California, why would you come here”?  Yea Jim liked people to know.  I got the impression that they viewed life as an obstacle course with no cheese at its end.  They had already gotten to know one another, yet they were still focusing on each other’s differences rather than their similarities.  Maybe they hate the similarities, but I wasn’t giving myself the time to find out.  They didn’t seem to enjoy the things that they had and self medicate.

Have you seen so many people, hanging around in bars?
locked in faces, neon light, no shadows from the stars
Have you seen so many people, drifting through the town
drinking up, another cup and trying not to drown

Feet are slow, the damage high and sing a song, of days gone by
news is bad, so glasses high and sing a song, of dreams goodbye

Have you seen so many people, whose leaves have turned to gold?
slowly fading, from spring to fall.  still hiding from the cold
Have you seen so many people, when looking from above
who drink and dance, another song, just play at making love

Feet are slow, the damage high and sing a song, of days gone by
news is bad, so glasses high and sing a song, of dreams goodbye