We're going to Scotland!

We did it! We signed up online for the Rick Steves Best of Scotland in 10 Days Tour! "Why Scotland?" you may ask. Well, Dennis loves bagpipes and whisky, they speak English (although it may needЧитать далее
The 1 month countdown begins!

After months of reading travel guides, making checklists, saving Pinterest posts and bookmarking websites, it's time to actually start packing. The Rick Steves tours advise just one carryon, as weЧитать далее
Here we go!

We're packed, double and triple -checked my lists, ready to go! Dennis looks a bit doubtful, Keeper is begging to go along.
UPDATE 9:55pm EDT, JFK Airport: So far, so good. Flights on time, ready toЧитать далее
Edinburgh at last!

Due to our four hour delayed arrival, there were no gates available at EDI, so we had to wait for stairs to be brought for deplaning, then wait for bus to take us to Customs. Because we weren't at theЧитать далее
Wow! Just Wow!

We wound our way along the wynds and closes to Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, where the Royal Military Tattoo is performed nightly in August. What a spectacle! The Tattoo is not only a gathering of someЧитать далее
Scenes from Edinburgh

After missing a night's sleep yesterday, we slept in this morning, then took a walk to find lunch. We're quite good at getting lost; the curving streets that change names several times don't help.Читать далее
To the battlements!

Today, we conquered Edinburgh Castle, from the inside this time. Our local guide, Rita, had many fascinating stories, such as describing how the Scottish Crown Jewels were buried in a cellar under theЧитать далее
Bobby and Harry

Our walking tour with Rita ended at the National Museum of Scotland, where we meandered among the treasure trove of ancient and modern artifacts. We then joined up with fellow tour members Patrick andЧитать далее
Charming Culross and St. Andrews

We left Edinburgh this morning via coach in the capable hands of our driver, Colin. Although there are only 26 of us, the coach has seats for 50, so we can spread out. A mention about traffic inЧитать далее
A check on Dennis's bucket list.

Our day began with a visit to the Crannog Centre, where we were able to go inside a reconstruction of an ancient home built on Loch Tay. The reconstruction is based
on underwater archeological findsЧитать далее
Into the Highlands

Our drive today took us into the beautiful, rugged Highlands. The combination of rocky outcroppings, green trees and grass, and patches of purple heather against the bit of blue sky peeking throughЧитать далее
Where's Nessie?

Thursday's adventure began with a cruise on Loch Ness to the ruins of Urquhart Castle. Sadly, we didn't spot Nessie, but did enjoy the scenery along the loch.
We had plenty of time to clamber aboutЧитать далее
Through the Stones at Clava Cairns

Leaving Urquhart Castle, we continued our journey back in time to 2000 BC to the mysterious mounds and standing stones at Clava Cairns. Although archeologists are not sure who built them, they supposeЧитать далее
Lost in the castle gardens

Our last stop on Thursday before returning to Inverness was at Cawdor Castle, a more "modern" castle (15th century with numerous additions) that is still a home for the Dowager Countess of Cawdor.Читать далее
Through the Great Glen

Friday morning and we're off across the Highlands on our way to Oban on the West coast of Scotland. Although it was raining for our stop at Aonach Mor' to ride the gondola to 3300 feet for a shortЧитать далее
A picture postcard day.

Saturday we sailed by ferry to the Isle of Mull, where we were picked up by a local driver/guide Christopher. Mull is one of the largest Hebridean islands, and due to the single track roads, it tookЧитать далее
Peaceful Iona Abbey

The tiny island of Iona has been a place of religious significance since 536 AD, when St. Columba traveled from Ireland. It is a peaceful place, with only 150 year-round inhabitants. We had plenty ofЧитать далее
Unicorns everywhere!

Sunday already! We left Oban for the drive along the bonny, bonny banks of Loch Lomand to Stirling. Stirling Castle, royal residence of Scottish kings and queens, including Mary Queen of Scots, wasЧитать далее
The Magical Kelpies

Leaving the unicorns behind at Stirling, we headed back to Edinburgh on the final leg of our journey with the Rick Steves tour. As a special request "because we were good," guide Brian stopped inЧитать далее
Farewell to our tour buddies

Sunday evening was our last dinner with our fellow Rick Steves tour travelers. We had a wonderful dinner at The Bonham Hotel, where we started the tour just over a week ago. Our guide Brian startedЧитать далее
A day on the yacht with the Royals

Tour over, we joined up with the ladies from Bend for a visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia. The Queen no longer has a yacht, as travel is by air now, but the Yacht took her around the world manyЧитать далее
Over the sea to Skye

We enjoyed a wonderful 41st anniversary dinner Monday night at Two Fat Ladies in Glasgow. Up early Tuesday morning, we began our journey by train, ferry and automobile to the Isle of Skye. The WestЧитать далее
A bonnie bright day!

Wednesday started with a delicious stuffed croissant and fruit breakfast served by Charlotte. Then we started our exploration around the Trotternish Peninsula. First stop was The Old Man of Storr, aЧитать далее
Continuing around the Trotternish

We continued our journey around the Trotternish Peninsula to the otherworldly Quiraing. This was our first experience on the two-way single-track roads. Not only is the road steep, with several veryЧитать далее
Cows on the road, cows on the beach!

Up bright and early for our drive to Elgol. Having read reviews, guide books and listened to advice from our hosts, we were somewhat prepared for the 15 miles of single-track road to the very tinyЧитать далее