Lets Talk about Scotland.

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Hi All, I'm finally trying to catch up with the last few places we have been. The blog on Prague a couple of days ago only touched the surface of what we did there and I'm afraid I'll have to catch up with our trip through Scotland. We arrived in Glasgow and had one night there before Charlie and Viv arrived and joined Di, Pam, Warwick and I for the tour of Scotland. That afternoon we joined everyone else for our tour. A couple of Aussies, some Americans and Canadians. A mixed bag but good people, all. We have diffidently left the hot behind and have moved into the lower temps and also the damper weather. Glasgow was an interesting city but our trip, starting early Monday morning, out of the city, into the country and heading toward the highlands was lovely. So much history to absorb and look at. We had a week of early rising, bags out by 7, early breakfasts, back on the bus at x time and a routine life that comes as part of going on a bus tour. The good thing is that you don't have to think to much and that you can catch up on your sleep while watching the sights go by. We went up to Loch Lomond, went out on a cruise on the famous Loch and continued on to Inveraray Castle. So many things to see and to stop at. The next day we crossed by ferry to the Isle of Skye before continuing across the Isle then back onto the mainland by bridge,past the famous Castle Eilean Donan, probably the most photographed Castle in Scotland, to visit the famous Loch Ness, known for it's continuing search for Nessie, the Loch Ness monster. Travelling through Inverness we arrived at Nairn were we spent the night. During the whole trip the scenery of beautiful old castles, amazing rivers, old homes, beautiful Lochs, palaces and the dramatic highlands was truly breathtaking so much of the time. This is a beautiful country and of course in the space of a week you can't take it all in or see everything. Also there is so much history and I did learn a huge amount about this as well as much else. Scotland is a lovely country and even though I had been through here in '98 I enjoyed every mile of it. Pip/Rod

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Photos

Ready For aTour.
Viv and Charlie join us for the tour of Scotland.

Hello Again.
Di comes into contact with another giraffe.

Lochs and Highlands
The start of our tour and the first of our lochs.

Life Is A Bus.
Just rattling along.

Chilling Out.
Literally, on the boat on Loch Lomond.

The Piper Pipes.
Most places we pulled into there was a piper going full steam. Love the sound of these, it brings on goose bumps.

Who Did You say You Were.
A strange looking highlander. Familer but strange.

Taking It All In.
After a hard day on the bus, Di takes it all in.

Yea! Just Like At Home
Reminds me of sitting around in the lounge at home.
Some of the grand old houses were amazing.

A Group of Famous People??
Na! Just some NZers just pretending to be. Beautiful old estates, castles and palaces that can take your breath away.

Lovely.
Lovely settings and the gardens were great.

Expansive Landscapes.
Spectacular highlands that seem to go for ever.

Loch Sheil.
A monument on the banks of the loch of Bonny prince Charlie.

So Much History.
A beautiful spot to see.

Over The Sea to Skye.
On the ferry going across to skye. The songs just keep coming back. So many that I heard when I was young.

History.
When I was a teenager I spent New Years a couple of time at Waipu in the far north and attended the highland games in celebration of the Scots arriving.

Loch Ness.
Looking for the Loch Ness monster, Nessie, on the shores of the famous Loch. It was an ideal day for monsters to come out of the deep. Misty and mysterious.

Yep!! Found Her.
Lots of these around to remind people of the legend.

History.
Every were we went, much was made of this battle, the last of Bonny Prince Charlie's battles. This changed the history of Scotland. The battle ground encouraged a lot of thinking with feeling.

So Much History.
An extraordinary place that seemed to affect all who came.

An Unusual Occurrence.
There are not many doorways that Di has to lower her head.

Comments

[Steve Case]

Safe at last
So good to see Diane with a giraffe and she seems to have weathered it okay this time! The pictures were spectacular, and I know it's even more beautiful in person.

[Charlie Grant]

Good Summary
Great description so far