And in a celebration of John Muir, the wild Scots-American, a quote from his dad, Daniel.
Bairns, you needna learn your lessons the nicht, for we’re gan to America the morn
Scots explorer and conservationist John Muir’s faither Daniel Muir
My own uncles had a similar spontaneous tale to tell just like John Muir, the wild Scots-American.
They had taken shelter in the opening of the American Embassy from the pouring Glasgow rain.
And they then decided to seek their fortunes anew in the States.
The Muir story
The Muir statue in Dubar: And Murty
Millions have followed a similar path.
With those from my own homesteads, Scotland and Ireland, up there proportionately with any of them.
John Muir’s story has crept up on me where, of course, it ought to have been front and centre of my Scots education.
And now I’m living in the East Lothian of his informative years, his presence is more visible.
And a playground: For my Luminous Laurie
But it is true that the Great Conservationist is more celebrated in his adopted America where he and his family went to live when he was 11.
Than in his own homeland of Scotland although he would visit here in later life.
And he would write lovingly, and often, about how Dunbar, 30 miles east of Edinburgh, had shaped his life.
Where it all began
The Muir house: And the two flags fly proudly
You can learn all about John Muir at his birthplace in the main street of the once fishing and farming town where the population would be split between Shories and Streeties.
Dunbar has reinvented itself around Muir with a statue in the high street of the Great Man exploring nature.
And a country park and adventure playground on the way out of town.
Still, even if I do it, it will be as nothing compared to Muir’s 1,000 mile jaunt from Indiana to Florida, his much-celebrated 1,000 mile walk to the Gulf.
His five days trekking in America’s Great Outdoors with President Theodore Roosevelt, he of the Teddy Bear.
Or the circumnavigation of the Earth which you can track on the globe at his old birthplace.
Hail Caesars Palace and 55 years of the most famous entertainment hotel on Earth.
Caesars has no apostrophe maybe because the Ancient Romans didn’t use them, although the pitch is that it’s becasue everybody staying at the hotel is treated as a Caesar.
The pedant in me would say the apostrophe should go after the final ‘s’ then.
But leave your pedants Caesars and Vegas is all about pleasance.
Fab, fab, fab
Yes, it’s Fabulous: Las Vegas
The resort, on the west side of the Strip between Bellagio and the Mirage is truly immense with 121,181 sqft of gaming space, a 22,450ft Colosseum showbiz venue which all the greats have, and do, perform at with Celine Dion the latest.
And 3,960 rooms so there will be one free for you!
You want to know what’s on offer. Me too.
Hail Caesar
Iconic: The Caesars’ statues
Joe Biden who we have all had such high hopes for is dragging his feet on allowing us back in (or is that just me).
And he’s supposed to be making an announcement on Labor Day, Monday, September 6, which makes it tight for me attending my American Travel Fair, IPW.
Fear not though whatever happens in Vegas will not stay in Vegas either way and I’ll continue to bring news of Caesars and all the resorts and fun you can have in Sin City.
Deals, deals, deals
Miss America meets Mr Scotland in Vegas
Caesars is offering 25% off rooms.
Our friends at British Airways have given us more skinny on what Caesars Palace has to offer.
The Palace has a choice of eight pools, at the Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis.
And you can even play swim-up blackjack. Or unwind in your private cabana with attentive waiters on hand.
Every woman loves a shop and you can treat yourself to luxury retail therapy and enjoy fine dining at Caesars’ exclusive shopping destination, The Forum Shops too.
What happens in Vegas: With Cami
BA is offering three nights in Vegas for less than £1,000, actually £927 which gives some extra bucks to splash on the tables.
While our old friends at Harrah’s which is linked to Caesar’s will offer you party bar fun.
And Jo White, who runs the UK and Irish Media Press Office for the Irish Travel Fair, IPW.
Over to the experts then on where we lie.
The old Shapps club
Jo Dooey takes aim at Shapps and the Scottish Government in equal measure.
She says: ‘It would be churlish not to say that any moves towards the reopening of travel regulations are welcome.
“However, Scottish travel agents and travellers still need to know that Scotland will swiftly follow suit.
‘We continue to raise the question of travel certification and how Scotland will deliver a scheme to allow the public to provide proof of vaccination status in order to fly to other countries.
“Currently English travellers can use the NHS app to prove their certification status.
“And this integrates with the EU Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC) which gives digital proof of a traveller’s vaccination, testing and recovered from COVID-19 status.
‘The Scottish Government needs, as a matter of urgency, to tell us what stage, if any, the development of a Scottish app is at.
“Currently, Scots who wish to travel, have to apply for a paper certificate.
“And we need to be operating at the same level as the other countries which have developed and are already using this technology.
One price for one…
‘While Scotlnd faces more expensive testing that in other UK nations, we persist in lobbying for the cost of testing to be at least equitable across the UK.
‘However, we look at it, 2021 has followed 2020 as a second catastrophic year for our industry.
“And also is cancelling a raft of holidays to some of the most popular holiday destinations up to 31 July only supports this view.
‘Travel agents have been forced to remain open for 16 months now to help their clients rebook – sometimes for the sixth or seventh time – yet are still receiving no income.
‘There is little, if any, customer confidence in travel at the moment.
“And the whole sector needs the Scottish Government to get behind a restart to international travel and boost the Scottish economy.
‘If the Prime Minister’s strategy is, from 19 July, to remove legal curbs on people’s behaviour.
“And to end restrictions and allowing people to make their own decisions, then surely people should be allowed to travel internationally with more choice.
“We remain in consultation with the Scottish Government to outline the way forward for Scottish travel.
“And the role testing and vaccination certification will play in this.”
Meanwhile in America
The 47th President of America: In Washington DC
And for those of us for whom our annual conference with our American Travel partners is key.
To driving business this is also a major concern.
As is the slow progress of opening up the US borders which is key to our travel providers.
And those for whom America is their favoured destination.
While talk that they are being selective too about those who have had the AstraZeneca jab.
And with continued confusion about quarantine.
Well, over to you Joe Biden. No hidin’…
Prove us all wrong and Billy Connolly who might say, they’re all a load of old jobbies…
What I WILL say is.. follow my Holidos and Don’ts A United approach.
The Tarts and Tramps was always a rite of passage for Aberdeen University Freshers students in the Eighties, and I dare say it’s their Pride and joy still.
Quite whether students get a chance to glam and glum it up in a meaningful Freshers week in September remains to be seen.
Hugs around the world
But encouragingly Pride events will be held around the world this month.
But I know, and respect, how important the coral is to us, and what the likes of the Florida Coral Rescue Center are doing for us and what lives under the sea.
Turtle recall: I’ve seen you around
