Scottish food? Hmm...

Former quaint little fishing village, Portpatrick remains true to its origins and was an epicurean highlight of our trip to Scotland. Though the country is only about the size of Massachusetts and possesses an awesome transit system, there's a lot of rural settings you'll miss if you don't rent a car. The vehicles in Scotland are remarkably frugal on petrol in most cases and you'll get to test drive something they've never heard of back in the States! Driving on the left side can be challenging, but fun. Keep in mind that whoever rides shotgun is the lookout for the drop-off the driver can't see. My co-pilot kept disturbing me with a panicked, "Close! Too close!" so I was forced to slow down a bit. Also, you don't look under the hood; you glance beneath the bonnet and put your stuff in the boot.

Portpatrick, which hugs the west coast of Scotland, is picturesque as you can see and has its own lighthouse with souvenirs available on the ground floor.  (Just to confuse us, in the UK the first floor is called the ground floor and the second is the first!) The four of us had an excellent seafood meal, caught locally, served up at the Waterfront Hotel and Bistro and easily the best meal we had all week.

The day before, one of us had ordered a chicken and mayo sandwich at a deli in Ayrshire. The chap behind the counter buttered the bread, slathered on the mayo and put a smidgen of chicken on top. Yuck!

The Scots have a reputation for pinching a farthing or two, so feel free to let your frugal flag fly! If you're going to buy a sweater, know that they're not cheap(er) unless they're made with less material.

Another Frugal tip: If you're from a more temperate climate like California, (like we are) and on a budget, (like we are), consider buying the heavy clothes you're going to need for a chillier, more humid climate at a second-hand store like Goodwill. You won't need them when you get home, so see they get donated to a local shelter and voila! You've got more room for souvenirs!

And, for goodness sake, try the haggis!