Corinne CrawfordI got lucky on my train rides to Lanark in Scotland from Leeds. The journey originally had almost an hour wait in the Preston station for a transfer to a station just outside of Glasgow. But a delay in the train heading to Glasgow allowed me to catch it and continue on my journey without much delay.
After disembarking in Lanark, I walked the 12 minutes to the bed and breakfast I had booked. Lanark and the surrounding area was small but not tiny, however, finding a suitable budget accommodation was not easy so I decided to splurge on a nice bed and breakfast for the two nights I was going to be there. I was going to the area because I thought it would be neat to wander around the area where supposedly my last name, Crawford, was born. Not that I thought I had any long lost family members there but simply to experience that slight connection to history that so often delights me. I figured if I was staying in a smaller B&B type accommodation I would have more of a chance to chat with folks and get a feel for the local area. The property, Rosemount B&B, was absolutely lovely with gardens and flowers galore. The room was in a back house that seemed to be newly built with just two rooms side by side. It was roomy and very comfortable and private. Breakfast was to be served in the coach house up closer to the owner’s main house. I chose a full Scottish breakfast for the following morning. When it was getting close to dinner time, I walked the block and a half to the Crown Pub and ordered a pint and read my book for a bit before ordering dinner. In many pubs in the UK, there is a special menu on Sundays called Sunday Roast. They serve it until they run out. I asked if there were any left and the gal told me I was getting one of the last three they had. Today’s roast was roast beef. As I was finishing my starter, the group at the next table asked me if I was on my own. As soon as I answered and they heard my American accent, they started asking a lot of questions and seemed quite pleased to engage me in conversation. They must get a handful of tourists but as it really is not a spot for site seeing, I don’t think it is an every day occurrence. Next thing you know, I am chatting away for hours with Mary, Mary Margaret, Ian and his wife Jennifer, Arleney and her mother.
The drinks flowed and we had a grand time with them giving lots of recommendations for things to do and see not only for the local area but for other areas of Scotland. When I mentioned that I came to the area because of my last name, Ian suggested I go to the library tomorrow and visit with Elena and to tell her that Ian sent me. I love to visit libraries anyway so that suited me just fine. If the reception and welcome I got at the Crown Pub in Lanark was any indication of how the rest of my time in Scotland was going to be, then I was in for a memorable month.
