March 27, 2017. A day of history

LOCATION:  Housesitting on a farm outside of Cupar, Fife, Scotland

WEATHER:  Another beautiful sunny day. High around 60

 

The morning flew by working on hotel plans for Italy and France.   We had a hard time finding a place to stay in Milan.  We think our dates coincide, unluckily, with the Gran Prix. We finally found an "albergo" in a suburb.

 

Then, we were off again.  We are taking advantage of these sunny days while they last.  Today, our destination was Falklands, an official "royal burgh" about 20 miles from here.  It was built in the 1500s and was the holiday house for the Stuart royalty, and especially for Mary Queen of Scots.  They liked this house/castle because of the hunting in the nearby forest.

We learned that the king and queen always traveled with all their furniture.  When they were not here in this palace, the place was empty.  They brought this kind of furniture, that would dissemble, every time they visited.

We had an amazing lunch in an obscure pub.....crab and prawns wrapped up in a filet of smoked salmon. 

Then, we returned to the palace to stroll around the gardens.  Volunteers were busily preparing for summer.

Next to the gardens is the world's oldest tennis court.  The king had it built there for his pleaseure about 500 years ago.

We strolled around the village.  Many of the houses have these marriage lintels above the doors of their houses.  These were placed there when a couple got married and moved into their first house together.  This one has a date of 1771...

And this one has a plaque wishing contentment and great riches. 

The town has escaped modernization and has won awards for its flowers in the spring.

Back home, we sat outside in the sunshine, watching the chickens snack on some vegetable scraps.    

DINNER:  I made a cheesy cream of cauliflower soup. I kind of made it up, and it turned out beautifully.  

Then, we enjoyed another beautiful sunset.  This area is away from city lights, so the night sky is always beautiful.