July 26-30, 1984

July 26-30, 1984

From Paris I took the train to London and then a night train to Edinburgh arriving very early in the morning of the 27th. I had met Neil, a Scotsman and a medical student, when he was studying in the US. He had traveled to Boston for some medical classes with some old Illini classmates attending med school in Chicago. I had given them a tour of Boston and was now expecting a return of the favor. He picked me up at the train station and took me to his apartment. He and his roommates were fussing about the opening ceremony of the Olympics that they had taped. They were all enamored with the “over the top” spectacle Los Angeles had put on. Since seeing the torch relay back in May, I had completely forgotten about the games. But this made a nice bookend to my European travels.

Neil took me on a walking tour of the city starting with Edinburgh Castle looming darkly over the center of the city. From there we walked down the Royal Path in the town center, past the High Kirk of St Giles, to Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the queen when in Scotland. From there it was up to the Salisbury Crags on the outskirts of town. The Crags and the volcanic cone called Arthur’s Seat, are geologic features overlooking the city.

On Saturday Neil and his friends were going to some black-tie party with his friends. (From grad school I knew Europeans love their formal parties). Not wanting to be left out but not having anything but blue jeans, I improvised with my Arabian outfit. After all the British Empire spans the world! At the party I got a little indignant with one of his friends who said it takes three generations to make a gentlemen. Ohhh, the English and their old-world class-ridden society. I let him know only money and merit determine status in the US.

On Sunday I had dinner with Neil and his parents in Glasgow. I took the train back south to London, hit a couple museums, and met up with a British classmate for drinks in London. Graham is now working in the “City”.