I have been reading with great interest the comments on Glasgow (good luck in your studies, Emily), my family's ancient homeland (we are talking 1650s here, so I am not sure I even count as Scottish anymore), and how friendly people are there. From a visitor's point of view, would they find people in other parts of Scotland, Edinburgh, for example, as friendly, or are they a bit more reserved?

Actually, we found most local people we came in contact while touring the Western Highlands to be very friendly, talkative and very helpful. We spend some days at Inverness and every day we had tons of stories at the end of the day about friendly locals. Absolutely loved Scotland. Beautiful land, amazing history.

All Scots are friendly, Greg,it's in our gene pool. <BR> <BR>And of course you qualify. People who have lived here for 25 years are not accepted as local, but someone whose family lived here 350 years ago? No problem. <BR> <BR>Where were they from? Would you like to know anything about the area?

Greg--you're American or Canadian or whatever, not Scottish.

During my trip to Edinburgh 2 years ago, I found people to be very friendly. <BR> <BR>My mother & I stopped at a tea room on the Royal Mile for lunch. It was one of those places where you just join in at a table that has space. We ended up talking through the entire meal with 2 people from a neighboring town. <BR> <BR>Very friendly and a wonderful way to spend a meal. Be sure to stop in at tea rooms for lunch. You never know what kind of suprise you will find ( and good food too!) <BR> <BR>dk

I was delighted to hear so many possitive comments about the friendliness of my fellow scots.I have a hotel on the Isle of Skye and enjoy and look forward to each guest's visit.No matter what the weather is like or the time it has taken them to travel to this remote place, our guests are always happy and have extremely intersting tales of their travels.

I live in Edinburgh and dont see a whole lot of difference between the people of the city and other areas of Scotland. Maybe the small-town-mentality is there in some of the smaller towns funnily enough but they are usually reserved for the non-tourist places. Mid Calder being a fine example. Walked into pub few years back with girlfriend, a local, all the males aged 16-35 grolwed at me and accused me of staring at their pint/girlfriend/anything. <BR> <BR>I would agree with Rick, Greg, you're not Scottish. Your ancestors were but you're not, a trait I find peculiar with North Americans - what's wrong with calling yourself American or Canadian or whatever, why all the sodding prefixes: Irish-American, Afro-American or the dreaded Scotch-Irish etc??? <BR> <BR>My great grandfather on dad's side (the robinson crusoe side of the family) was English but I dont parade myself as anything other than a Scotsman. <BR> <BR>Check your passport for clarification.

Have been to 19 European countries,and without a doubt the friendliest people we have encountered are in Scotland, from the boarders to Edinburgh to Inverness and everywhere in between!

Tony, <BR> <BR>While I too find all the prefixes annoying, I don't think it's all that surprising. <BR> <BR>First of all, there are an awful lot of Americans whose parents or grandparents immigrated, so memories of the "old country" are often pretty fresh (I grew up with children who still spoke German at home - after several generations). <BR> <BR>And second, there's not much American history from the era of Wallace and the Bruce, so we Americans have to borrow from Scottish, or German, or Chinese history to satisfy a certain need that many people have - myself included - to be a part of the past. <BR> <BR>Dave

While there are a number of Americans whose parents or grandparents immigrated here, the overwhelming majority are much further removed from "the old country." <BR> <BR>It frustrates me when Americans call themselves Irish-Americans, German-Americans, etc., but know absolutely nothing about the country they claim as their own. <BR> <BR>I'm an American, my wife is Irish, and our children will be either Irish or American, depending on where we decide to raise them. <BR> <BR>Although I don't have Irish ancestry, I know more about the country than 99% of so-called Irish-Americans, not because of my wife, but because I READ!!

I like the Nertherlanders, the Irish, but the Scots are my favorite people..ps. I'm not a scot by lineage. <BR> <BR>We spent 2 weeks in Scotland, and 1 in Ireland. Both people were brilliant! But! <BR>I found the Scots to be very friendly to strangers. I keep pushing Galloway and the town of Kirkudbright on this board, but I do believe they are the most welcoming of people! <BR>

Hmmmm, makes me wonder what went wrong? <BR> <BR> While in Edinburg I was told on several occasions by Scots, English & Americans that Edinburg was a cold, dark city and that if one wanted warmth and friendliness one best move on to Glasgow or just about anywhere BUT Edinburg. Three of us came away with the feeling that this was a fairly accurate analysis. <BR> <BR>I've been around the U.K. and, at least judging by my apparel and demeanor, many folks, trying to be freindly and start a conversation, will begin by asking where I'm from. In other words, it is not outwardly apparant that I am from anywhere in particular or even that I'm a traveler. When I walk into a pub I try to put on a smile and nod to or verbally greet the clientle and the barman. I certainly don't walk in with an attitude of any sort and throughout my travels have been at least cordially received. <BR> <BR>This was not the case in Edinburgh. In the pubs there I don't recall anyone ever trying to start a conversation nor do I remember anyone saying much more what was basically required of them if I (or my friends) asked a question. <BR> <BR>It is a beautiful city, well worth seeing, and judging from the other postings we are in the minority. But of all the wonderful things I could say about Edinburg, I could honestly say that no, I didn't find it to be a particularly friendly place. In fact, I could say it was perhaps the unfriendliest place I've been excluding certain areas in the States. <BR> <BR>But it wouldn't keep me from going back. After all, failure to learn through communication, to develop friendship with folks from different locations and walks of life, seems to me that it's their loss, not mine.

It's a legend that people from the west are friendlier than those from the east. There is a famous Edinburgh greeting to a visitor "You'll have had your tea?" meaning, it's assumed no hospitality need be offered. <BR> <BR>It's garbage, of course, but anich story, the people in Edinburgh are just as pleasant as those from elsewhere. Of course, if Buzz kept referring to it as Edinburg (as he does in his post) it may well be that folk thought he was taking the mickey and treated him accordingly

If everwhere was the same there'd be no point in travel.West is warmer IMO.

Myself and two freinds drove from Glasgow to Edinburgh. We stopped at a pub on our way to collect our thoughts, and figure out how to get to our hotel. <BR> <BR>We walked into the pub, grabbed a pint and took a seat. Jerry Springer was on the television discussing the ever important "one night stand". I said to my friend, "I thought we could escape this by leaving the states". We all had a chuckle and caught the attention of Ian sitting at the bar. Ian was a kind gentleman that had lived in Edinburgh all of his life. <BR> <BR>We talked about our travels and the need to forget about ordering a Tennants when you're in McEwans country. <BR> <BR>While sharing a pint, we asked Ian to help us with our map to get to our hotel. Ian would hear nothing of the sorts, he offered to drive with us to our hotel. We made it to the other side of town learning all kinds of entertaining tid bits along the way. <BR> <BR>Once we arrived at our hotel, we offered to pay for a taxi, pint, etc., but Ian explained that he had a bus pass. We expressed our Thanks and said goodbye and felt better for meeting Ian. <BR> <BR>It was so refreshing to meet someone like Ian. This would hardly ever happen in the States. <BR> <BR>From the east coast, to the west coast of Scotland, we found the residents to be very friendly and genuinely interested in talking to us. <BR> <BR>I can't wait to go back! <BR> <BR>Mel