 Painted dragons and scenes from Norse mythology festoon the houses around pretty Ă…lesund. Norway's grandest fjords seem awash with vibrant blues and minty greens, filigree waterfalls tracing their way down sheer rocky drops but barely leaving a ripple on these glassy fingers of water that run for miles inland. Toy-town wharves lined with clapperboard houses greet the visitor in Bergen, while Scotland's remote islands and her Highlands fire the imagination with Braveheart lore and legends of Loch Ness as alive as ever. Rounding up this Scottish reel is Leith, gateway to the Georgian splendor and dramatic cityscape of Edinburgh and her castle. Take in the view from Princes Street and be sure to walk the Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace.
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