My Scotland Voyage

Yes, I've been back in the country for a couple of weeks, but continuously on the go (somewhere else)...were you thinking...how long is this trip? Well, all I can say is that it was FANTASTIC! Kind of wish I was just getting back...I could have stayed forever! Not one thing stands out as this is the best part of the trip. I remember all of it as each day had it's own best parts that doesn't weigh over any...probably why I could have stayed forever...definitely in the Highlands.

Some of my most memorable moments:

• Plane delay in DTW, causing us to miss our flight from AMS to EDI, which then we were placed on separate flights...are we ever going to get there?
• First views of Edinburgh Castle up on the hill.
• Wondering if we'd ever find a restaurant that served food after 8:00 pm in Edinburgh.
• Checking out the men in skirts...proper term...kilts.
• Driving in a Right-hand Drive car on the Left side of the road -- only bounced off the curb one or two times, or was it three or four...what can I say, the roads are more narrow & those trucks seem to really come at you. Which B road is this?
  
• Remembering to look Right-Left-Right vs. Left-Right-Left when crossing the road.
• The drive from Edinburgh to Fort William...or really Stirling to Fort William...what a view.
• Seeing snow still on the mountains.
• Seeing heather on the mountainsides ... just like the postcards.
• Seeing a Highland Coo (Cow)
• Climbing the wee hill behind Glenfiddan & capturing views of the glen & of the Harry Potter viaduct & steam train.
• Inverness ... love this town!
• Having the sun rise at 4am and set at 10:30...or was it later & earlier....just always seemed to be there!
• Drive to Skye...or was it the drive back seeing the things I didn't see going out.
• Leaving my mark on Scotland as I had to go really bad :)
  
• Stopping by several Standing Stones that date back 4000 years+
  
• Eating a great deli sandwich outside the Beauly Priory when it was in the 80's (25C)
  
• Chatting with the Earl of Mar at Castle Leod.
• Wading in the sea at Nairn...collecting shells & rocks for the kids
• Dinner outside at Findhorn watching the tide go out...great Fish & Chips!
• Walking through the Battlefield of Culloden.
• All the meals in Inverness...best yet!
  
• The views & tasting at Glenfiddich distillery.
• Staying at the Dinnet house, a more recently built (100 years old) manor house & having dinner with our host & other guests...great conversation.
  
• Mist rolling in over Dunnotar Castle & St. Andrews.
• Seeing the 8th century Pictish Stones at Meigle & St. Andrews.
  
• Attending evening service at Roslyn Chapel after touring it.
• Staying at Borthwick Castle...where Mary Queen of Scots & her 3rd husband Lord Bothwell spent their honeymoon...mind your head when going into the loo.
• Breakfast conversations with other guests at Borthwick Castle...is 2 hours too long for toast & cereal?
  
• Trying to decide on which abbey was my favorite, Jedburgh, Dryburgh, Melrose...Melrose won out!
• Seeing all the castles...Best Ruins: Dunnotar & Urquhart; Best Rebuilt: Eileen Donan & Stirling will be when complete; Best still occupied: Castle Leod & Glamis; and I'm sure my choices will change when I start revisiting my pictures.
• My daily Scottish breakfast of Two Fried Eggs, Bacon, Grilled Tomato, yogurt & granola, fruit & in Inverness add Porridge with scotch liqueur & real cream.
  
• Amazed that others were more obsessed with our Presidential race then we were!
  
• Digesting all the centuries of history that has occurred in one country!
• Lucking out and only have a couple days of light rain off & on...blue skies & sunshine!
  
• And course, spending it all with my sister.