Welcome to Crail

Not much reading happened this past weekend here in Scotland.  Not for me at least.  Instead, I spent a glorious half-day on Saturday exploring the sea-side town of Crail and a full-day on Sunday exploring the lower highlands of Scotland.  Let’s call it a "figure-out-where-to-take-visitors” weekend.  Maybe at some point in the next three years you’ll benefit from my willingness to step away from the books.  It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.  Just for you.

Since there is simply too much to report on, I’ll leave the Lower Highlands for another post and take you with me to Crail in this one.  What a beautiful little town!  For those of you who know the Hafemann’s, Crail is the town in which they live.  For those of you who don't know, Dr. H is a former professor at Gordon-Conwell Seminary in Massachusetts (where I went) and was originally from Winona, MN.  I feel like I have a piece of home here.

Crail is a mere twelve miles south of St Andrews along the shore of the North Sea, and seems to be dependent almost entirely on tourism and fishing.  Like many of the towns in Scotland, the streets are lined with beautiful stone buildings twice as old as the United States is a country and cultures only marginally changed in the meantime.  And like many of the towns sea-side, it has a beautiful harbor filled with vibrantly colored boats, all ready to head to sea overnight and bring in a catch of fresh lobster in the morning.

Below is a picture of the harbor.  The Hafemann’s live in an incredible house immediately next to the harbor.  D is making friends with the fishermen while S looks on from his study.


My friend Sam walking the rocks at low tide.  There is a military vessel of some kind in the distance.

Low tide revelations.

My favorite picture of the day: A Scottish man walking his dog.  How cute?

So that’s Crail!  I have a feeling I’ll be taking quite a few half-day trips there over the next three years.  You’re welcome to come along!