The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means, or those of more humble origin who could find a sponsor. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transport in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage. Though primarily associated with the British nobility and wealthy landed gentry, similar trips were made by wealthy young men of Protestant Northern European nations on Continental Europe, and from the second half of the 18th century, by some South and North Americans. The tradition declined with the lapse of neo-classical enthusiasm and after rail and steamship travel made the journeys much easier when Thomas Cook made the “Cook’s Tour” of early mass tourism a byword.

And so our clan of Scottish origin sets off on a personalized, albeit somewhat Scotland specific, Grand Tour. The children are heading rapidly to the age where they will not have any great interest in “hanging” with their geriatric parents on vacation and so I have decided to take them on a tour of their ethnic roots before it is too late.

Eighteen hours of air travel stuffed inside a variety of low humidity aluminum tubes with a succession of coughing and snoring people with whom one would never, in normal circumstances, choose to be in such close proximity for even the shortest time never mind a six hour trans-atlantic journey.  

• Touch nothing
• Maintain a good level of hydration (non alcoholic)
• and try not to lose it with your fellow passengers no matter the provocation.

Hopefully there will be a “DAY 02” entry tomorrow – wish me luck!