Tag Archives: Starz Outlander

Never Reckoned on this: Spoiler free reflections on Paleyfest

I really feel that I should start this blog post with a few abject apologies. I know I haven’t really posted anything since my return from Scotland. I blame that completely on the effects of #Droughtlander. You know, this funny thing happened over the last few months. I remembered that I had a life before all things Outlander consumed me for the past year. It was nice to have a chance to reconnect and do some things that had fallen by the wayside.

However, now that the end of #Droughtlander is in sight, I’m ready to get back to it. I’ve truly missed writing these posts and I definitely need to get back in the groove before May. Oh, did I not mention that I’m going back to Scotland in May for the OutlanderUK Gathering and more? Don’t worry, it will be fully covered! Not only will I blog it here on GreatScot, but I’ll also be meeting up and spending a week with the lovely ladies from The Outlander Podcast. No telling what hi-jinx we’ll get up to, but I fully expect it to be covered in two mediums!

Up, up and away

Many of you know by now that I usually start these posts covering a trip with a shoe pic (it’s become something of a tradition because of the pics that Terry Dresbach usually tweets at the start of her trips). However, I’m starting my coverage this time with the airport. Sitting around in the airport in Atlanta is not usually that much fun, but I have come to realize that it pays to keep your eyes open around any flight from ATL to LAX. Atlanta has become a very popular location for the TV/Movie industry with the likes of The Walking Dead and Vampire Diaries filming in the area. Knowing this, I kept my eyes open for any celebrities returning to LA and, sure enough, I was not disappointed. As I entered the jet bridge, I realized that actor John Lithgow (3rd Rock from the Sun, Shrek) was only a couple of people ahead of me. Even after boarding the plane and taking my seat (I was lucky enough to be upgraded to business class), I saw several other people who looked familiar but no one to whom I could definitively put a name.

Eventually (the plane was delayed a bit by an equipment change), I took my shoe pic and then we were up in the air and on our way to the land of movie stars. I don’t usually comment on the flight itself, but I’ll make an exception in this case as it was one of the more bumpy flights I’ve ever been on. We had over an hour of pretty constant turbulence. On our arrival into LA, the bright lights were pretty spectacular. I know the picture I took from the plane is a bit blurry, but I think you get the general idea.

Gotta love room to stretch.
Bright lights, big city!

Upon arriving, I was lucky enough to have Candida pick me up at the airport and whisk me off to her house. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again (and probably again and again…), the best thing about Outlander is all the truly special people I have met and the lasting friendships that have been forged. It’s wonderful to have such a great home base for this trip and to get to spend more time with Candida. 🙂

The Big Day

After waking up early (thanks to a body still on Eastern Daylight Time), and accomplishing a few work related conference calls, it was time to get ready for the big event.  Thanks to the President being in town to film an appearance for the Jimmy Kimmel show (I’m pretty sure the President is following me as he was in Atlanta two days earlier), we decided we needed to head over to Hollywood well in advance of the 7pm start time for the Outlander Paleyfest panel.

This would probably be a good time to explain Paleyfest for those who may not be familiar. Paleyfest is an annual fundraiser for the Paley Center for Media. William S. Paley was the founder of CBS (a broadcast network in the US) and also founder of the Paley Center for Media. Paleyfest is composed of panel events for selected television shows and it is an honor that Outlander was selected to be included in the event! Continue reading →

Ending on a high note – will ye no come back again? – Scotland Day 15

Awoke early on my final day in Scotland as I just didn’t want to miss anything. I also made a start at figuring out just how I’m going to get everything back in my suitcase. With one suitcase packed, I called it a good beginning and resolved to worry about the rest later.

Candida and I headed out on a final day of visiting Outlander filming sites, not feeling in the least guilty that we hand tempted Miss S. to join us once again. We arrive at our designated meeting place at Linlithgow Palace in good time only to find the car park and street overflowing with cars. Turns out that there was a funeral at the church just adjacent to the Palace. We backtracked and found a spot at a pay and display lot and then walked back up the hill to the Palace.

Found our compatriot with no problems, purchased our tickets and ….within minutes lost Candida in the myriad nooks and crannies available in Linlithgow. S and I just caught a glimpse of her every now and then. Eventually we just grabbed a seat in the courtyard and waited for her to reappear as she always does.

Candida and S.
The detail on the fountain is incredible.
I spied Candida, but only for a moment.
View from the Palace.
Could this be a cell?
Takes big fireplaces to heat a palace.

After exploring the Palace, we were feeling distinctly peckish, so we headed down into the town in search of lunch serenaded by the skirl of a bagpiper playing on the hill. We decided that only fish ‘n chips by the loch would do for this final day of fun, so we placed our orders and carried our bounty down to a picnic table by the water. It was very beautiful and peaceful, at least until we opened out boxes and took out the first chip. Then we were descended upon by dozens of birds. We proceeded to eat our lunches but the ratio of chips consumed by birds vs humans was at least 10 to 1. Continue reading →

A Day at the Folk Museum starring Miss Candida N. – Scotland Day 14

Candida and I were just a little bummed this morning to be packing up to leave Pitlochry. It’s been such a wonderful home base for our explorations. Thanks again, Susan! I was also just a bit worried looking at all my packages and parcels about getting all the stuff I’ve bought into my suitcases for the trip home. But, like Scarlett, I’ll think about that tomorrow.

Our last morning’s view of the loch.
Lovely house.
All the comforts of home.
Lovely view from the Master Bedroom
Skylight view in 2nd bedroom

We did finally get our stuff loaded though and headed north for the final time. This time our destination was the Highland Folk Museum at Newtonmore.  Arriving, we checked in at Reception. There is no charge for the Highland Folk Museum, just donations requested to help maintain it, and the friendly person at reception was happy to orient us to the mile-long site. Weather being extremely Scottish at the moment, Candida and I chose to head straight for the 1700’s replica township on site. (Only a 5 minute walk we were promised. I’ve been to Scotland before, so I knew better. Apparently, whoever sets these times walks much fast than I do!) Continue reading →

Lights, Camera, Outlander! – Scotland Day 12

The day started bright and early this morning as we had an action packed day planned. I probably owe Candida the first shower tomorrow as I apparently used more than my half of the hot water. Oops. After a quick breakfast, we hit the A9 south towards Stirling where we were meeting one of the Outlander UK girls at our first Outlander filming location of the day.  We arrived right on schedule and found our compatriot with no problems. She led us on a short hike up the hill to a very familiar location to those who have either seen episode 105 – Rent or keep up with Matt B. Roberts’ pictures of the Day.

University of Stirling
Cottage used in Episode 105 – Rent

Next up, we headed over to Culross. Culross is the village used by the Outlander team for the fictional Crainesmuir as well as some of the outdoor garden scenes at Castle Leoch. The Palace itself was closed but we were able to explore the gardens to our heart’s content. We then ventured up cobblestone streets to the house that was used for Geillis and Arthur Duncan’s house. It has scaffolding because they are still in the process of returning the house to its pre-filming color. Continue reading →

From partly cloudy Skye to rainy Inverness to sunny smiles in Glasgow – Scotland Days 5 and 6

Woke up to vastly improved weather conditions in Skye on Tuesday. But if I have learned anything in my time in Scotland, it is that you can’t judge the next 5 minute’s weather by the last five minute’s weather! A side effect of the clearer weather though was chillier temperatures and the morning air had a decided nip to it.  After a breakfast of scrambled eggs and tea, I hopped in the car to begin the day’s adventure. The plan was pretty ambitious: drive round the Trotternish peninsula, find the Fairy Glen and the Fairy pools, and then head back over to the mainland and arrive in Inverness in time for dinner and drinks with some of the Inverness Outlanders group.

With no time for dilly dallying, I settled the tariff at the B&B and set out. (Don’t you love the way I’m starting to talk like a native? 😉 I’m telling you, another week and no one will know I’m from Georgia!) I made it at least a few hundred yards before stopping to take some photos. With all the rain of the last few days, there were waterfalls absolutely everywhere. I snapped a few and then also got a photo of the rock formation known as the Old Man of Storr in the distance. I also stopped to take some photos of Kilt Rock, which reminded me very much of the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland with the addition of a lovely waterfall into the sea. Continue reading →