Scottish Highland Games
31st Annual Scottish Highland Games-2008
Mark and I have been wanting to check out the Highland games for quite some time. These games are the largest single event in Seminole County, it's amazing that we haven't attended before now.
This year we had an offer too good to pass up, a Scotch Whiskey tasting. Rick, being a Winter Springs Commissioner and business owner, was a games sponsor this year. He had two extra tickets, and we got the call on Friday afternoon. Mark and I headed over to the Altamonte Hilton for a Scotch presentation from Ardbeg. 7 shots later, Mark was absolutely certain that he hasn't been drinking enough Scotch. Unfortunately the next morning, he remembered why.
The tasting and dinner were fun, highlights included the presenting of the haggis, the awesome bagpipe and drum corp, and hanging out with some of our favorite Seminole republican politicians. (that's a joke) Denise (Ricks campaign manager) was kind enough to avoid introducing us as the token dems.
Next day we headed over to the games, where just about everyone wore a kilt or Scottish dress of some style or another. We walked through a plethora of Clan tents and headed straight for Clan Donald where we learned historical factoids and that we may become immediate clan members. (Mark being a decedent from the Macdonalds)
I loved the shopping most of all. It was just like walking down a street in Edinburgh. There were an uncountable number of tartan vendors displaying all of the accoutrement required for formal Scottish attire. Celtic jewelry was everywhere and I even met a genuine Bruce clan member who actually authored a series of historical novels about Robert the Bruce-I purchased all three and had them signed.
The games themselves were enlightening, we watched the caber toss. In this sport, very athletic and muscular guys carry a 22 foot log weighing 180 pounds, and they carry it vertically from the one rounded end, with the other end straight up in the air. They walk about 20 feet and toss the log so that it lands on the up-ended tip and hopefully falls forward at a perfect 90 degree angle. The closer to 90 degrees, the higher the score. It was actually a lot more interesting than it sounds. We learned that cities across America have these types of games and that there are actual professional associations supporting these events. We also had the chance to watch the Scottish dance competition, the Tug of War and the Battle of the Scottish Pipe and Drum bands.
We were only there for a few hours, but we definitely plan on attending the games next year.
Mark and I have been wanting to check out the Highland games for quite some time. These games are the largest single event in Seminole County, it's amazing that we haven't attended before now.
This year we had an offer too good to pass up, a Scotch Whiskey tasting. Rick, being a Winter Springs Commissioner and business owner, was a games sponsor this year. He had two extra tickets, and we got the call on Friday afternoon. Mark and I headed over to the Altamonte Hilton for a Scotch presentation from Ardbeg. 7 shots later, Mark was absolutely certain that he hasn't been drinking enough Scotch. Unfortunately the next morning, he remembered why.
The tasting and dinner were fun, highlights included the presenting of the haggis, the awesome bagpipe and drum corp, and hanging out with some of our favorite Seminole republican politicians. (that's a joke) Denise (Ricks campaign manager) was kind enough to avoid introducing us as the token dems.
Next day we headed over to the games, where just about everyone wore a kilt or Scottish dress of some style or another. We walked through a plethora of Clan tents and headed straight for Clan Donald where we learned historical factoids and that we may become immediate clan members. (Mark being a decedent from the Macdonalds)
I loved the shopping most of all. It was just like walking down a street in Edinburgh. There were an uncountable number of tartan vendors displaying all of the accoutrement required for formal Scottish attire. Celtic jewelry was everywhere and I even met a genuine Bruce clan member who actually authored a series of historical novels about Robert the Bruce-I purchased all three and had them signed.
The games themselves were enlightening, we watched the caber toss. In this sport, very athletic and muscular guys carry a 22 foot log weighing 180 pounds, and they carry it vertically from the one rounded end, with the other end straight up in the air. They walk about 20 feet and toss the log so that it lands on the up-ended tip and hopefully falls forward at a perfect 90 degree angle. The closer to 90 degrees, the higher the score. It was actually a lot more interesting than it sounds. We learned that cities across America have these types of games and that there are actual professional associations supporting these events. We also had the chance to watch the Scottish dance competition, the Tug of War and the Battle of the Scottish Pipe and Drum bands.
We were only there for a few hours, but we definitely plan on attending the games next year.
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