The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Many foreigners who have not visited Britain call all the inhabitants English, for they are used to thinking of the British Isles as England. In fact, the British Isles contain a variety of peoples and only the people of England call themselves as English. The others refer themselves as Welsh, Scottish, or Irish, as the case may be; they are often slightly annoyed as being classified as English.
The Highlands
The drive from England to Scotland provides the traveler with many pleasant changes of scenery. As it is a fairly long journey, it is good to be able to travel with a friend who can take turns with you at the wheel.
A patriotic Scotsman travelling with an English friend may tell him he is going to see, in the Highlands, the finest scenery in the world. This may sound exaggerated, but on arriving in the Highlands most people really agree that the scenery is indeed magnificent.
The Highlands are, as the name implies, the hilly or mountainous region of the country; they form the greater part of the western half of Scotland north of Glasgow.
On the first night in Scotland a tourist may choose to put up at a hotel in the little town of Callander, which is known as one of "the Gateways" to the Highlands. On the following day he can set out to see the various lakes in the neighborhood, and will be delighted with the wild and romantic aspect of the countryside. When he returns to his hotel he will be glad to eat a "high tea". This is a meal which, in Scotland and many parts of northern England, takes place of tea and dinner. It consists of one substantial course, such as one would have at dinner, followed by bread-and-butter, with jam or honey, and some kind of cake or cakes; tea is drunk with the meal, which is taken at about six o’clock in the evening. One has a light supper late in the evening.
The next morning many tourists journey on to the west coast, passing on their way Loch Lomond, one of the largest and most famous of the Scottish lakes. The road twists and turns, dips and climbs, but is not erous. The greatest hazard is the black-faced sheep: these animals are as active as goats, and frequently wander recklessly into the road. The tourists may also see a herd of long-haired Highland cattle, which look savage but are no more so than ordinary cattle. ually the road runs parallel with the sea, along a coastline fringed with little islands and made ragged with rocky bays.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is a fine old city built partly in the valley of the River Leitfi and partly on the rolling hills which surround it. The city is dominated by the castle, an ancient fortress (要塞) standing on the summit of a massive rock, which has been the scene of many battles throughout centuries of Scottish history. Today what remains of the original castle is preserved as a museum piece.
The road from the castle to the royal palace of Holyroodhouse is known as "The Royal Mile". It is a very old road running through the oldest part of the city where there are many famous historic houses and narrow lanes called "closes". The newer part of the city lies north of the famous Princes Street, which is the widest and most impressive of the many wide streets and elegant square that are to be found in Edinburgh.
The trains bringing visitors to Edinburgh run right into the heart of the city. Climbing up the steps from Waverley Station, the visitor is greeted by a blaze of color in Princes Street Gardens and a splendid view down the mile-long length of Princes Street itself.
The grey stone buildings that line one side of Princes Street have been described as "a series of palaces"; they are, in fact, department stores and shops. In some shops you can see beautiful display of Scottish cloth, Edinburgh rock and, of course, Scotch whisky. About half way along Princes Street is the tallest tower in the city—a monumental memorial to Sir Walter Scott—and a little further on is the Floral Clock. This unique clock, made entirely of growing flowers, is always in full bloom during the Edinburgh Festival.
For three weeks every summer, Edinburgh is alive with excited festival-goers and performers who come from all over the world, and the city is gay with flags and decorations. This international festival of the arts fills every theatre, concert hall, exhibition gallery and assembly room with performances of opera, dancing, music, plays, films and puppet shows. The festival is not limited to indoor activities: every weekday the noise of music as the Scottish pipers march along Princes Street. But the most spectacular of the festival is undoubtedly the military tattoo (军乐团). This takes place under searchlights with the floodlit castle in the background. Nowhere could one find a natural setting more impressive and appropriate.
Wales—Land of Song
On the western side of Britain lies one of the most beautiful parts of the British Isles: Wales. The Welsh mountains have a beauty which is rugged and forbidden, but the slopes are as green and fertile as the valleys and provide rich pasture for sheep and cows.
In central and north Wales, farming is the main occupation, but the valleys of south Wales are very heavily industrialized. Here the wealth of the land lies below the suce in rich coal layers, and the mining village have grown into busy towns around iron and steel plants, chemicals works and oil refineries.
Wales is very popular for holidays. Every year, thousands of people spend their summer holidays at the seaside resorts on the North Wales coast or, if they prefer it, enjoy undisturbed beach and quiet in isolated villages remote from town life. Those who like to be energetic will probably choose Snowdonia. This part of the country round Snowdon, the highest peak in the Welsh mountains and the second highest in Britain, is ideal for climbing and walking holidays.
Wales has been called "The Land of Song". The Welsh people are renowned for their good voices and it is rare to find a village without at least one choir competing in an arts festival. The biggest festival of all is the International Eisteddfod held every year in Llangollen in Clwyd. Singers, dancers, musicians and poets come from all over the world to compete for the awards, often wearing colorful national costume. The streets of this small country town move busily with the comings and goings of visitors speaking many languages. One of the foreign languages heard will be English, for in North Wales many of the local people speak Welsh as their native tongue. Today only about a quarter of the Welsh population speak this ancient language as their first language, although many more who use English can understand Welsh as well, and encourage their children to learn it at school. The Welsh people are proud of being Celtic, different from the AngloSaxon English, with an ancient language and a heritage of their own.
What can you learn about the Princes Street