From August 22nd to August 29th, I participated in an art festival called "Fringe" in Edinburgh, Scotland, then performed several concerts in neighboring Ireland, and returned yesterday, the 6th (of course, this was for my main job). So, I'm hastily writing this manuscript now...

When you mention Scotland, you can't *not* go to Loch Ness. However, I only had one day off in Edinburgh, and a tight schedule meant I had to fly to Dublin in the middle of that night. So, with the thought of at least getting a glimpse, I went, but it truly was just a glimpse. Reaching the edge of the lake was all I could manage... a shame.
Anyway, here are my spoils from the trip.

Edinburgh
I bought an Ichthyosaur vertebra from Dorset at a shop called "Mr Wood's Fossils" that I had researched beforehand. I liked the ancient shark Stethacanthus on the shop's sign (Photo 1). It seems to be a local specialty around here. The magnificent "Royal Museum" doesn't have dinosaur exhibits, but the fossil and reconstructed models of ancient fish, as well as the creepy giant anatomical models of mollusks, are impressive. I bought many dinosaur models here, including two action figures, but not a single one was made in the UK (Photo 2).

Loch Ness
If I had carefully searched the town of Inverness, I might have found some good things... Photo 3 is all I have. But seriously, when it comes to tourist souvenirs, even in Japan, why do they always end up being these half-heartedly cute things? Personally, if there was a "Nessie Photography Kit" containing, for example, an accurate replica of the model used in that doctor's hoax photo, I would jump at it.

Dublin
The natural history museum in this city is worth seeing. In the dimly lit, open-plan hall, taxidermied animals, dusty and frayed in places, are packed in. The walls are lined with rows of cattle and deer heads, giving off a strong scent of an ancient museum. Most of the paleontological exhibits are Irish elk, with dinosaurs only found in the gift shop. Here, I impulsively bought some unpurchased items from a German-made prehistoric animal model series that isn't commonly seen in Japan (Photo 4). The model of the giant Ichthyosaur Shonisaurus is rare.

Bonus
The last Photo 5 is of mermaid and fairy fossils I bought at a suspicious souvenir shop inside a crumbling church in Edinburgh. I really love them.