On day 4 we woke up to rain.  Not too big of a deal since it seems to stop quite quickly.  The breakfast selection was the same as the morning before.  Only this morning I actually tried a very small bite of the blood pudding.  NASTY stuff.  Will not be doing that again.  I’ll eat haggis again first.

By the time we left the rain had quit but it was windy.  We had rain off and on and the funny thing was every time we got out of the bus the sun was out and the rain quit.  We went through Fort William and I’m sad to say that the only thing left of the fort today is a small piece where they used to land the boats.  The rest of the fort was destroyed to put in train tracks and road. S

Stopped at Glenfinnan Monument.  This is where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard with all the highlanders he had gotten to support his cause and was off to take back the Scottish throne.  If you turn around to face the mountains you will see the railway Viaduct that is used in the Harry Potter movies.

We drove into Mallaig to take the ferry over to the Isle of Skye.

Yes, that is our motor coach pulling onto the ferry.

We then visited the Clan Donald center and the castle ruins.  You wouldn’t be able to tell that there is no room on the ruins until you get up close to them.  The castle is really just a shell now.  There are no floors separating the levels any longer.  The outside looks really good though.  We were able to take pictures through the windows but couldn’t go in because of the rubble inside.  Got some really good pictures of the grounds.

We didn’t get to see any more of the island.  We left and got back on the mainland and stopped at Eilean Donan castle for some pictures as well as Urquhart castle.  Ok, this one was different.  We were all told to get on the wall for our picture instead of going down to the castle.  We then drove by Loch Ness.  No, no sitings of nessie.   Then on to Inverness and our hotel.

Day 5 – Culloden battlefield

So on our way out to the Sheepdog trials we learned that they burn the heather in the hills in different stages.  They do this because the young grouse rely on the new heather for food.  So by burning it, the heather is always having to grow back and there is always new growth.

The sheepdog trials was very interesting.  They train the dogs to respond by voice commands, sounds (they each have their own sounds) and body language.

Culloden battlefield was our next stop.  The vistor center was really neat because at the end they have three projectors set up for a display that shows how the battle went along with commentary.  You can see the men moving and falling as they were killed.  It really was very interesting.  We then got our headphones for our guided audio tour and went outside.   The wind was blowing so hard you couldn’t hear anything on the headset and it would stop you in your tracks even if you were still trying to move.   Because of the wind we didn’t go through the entire battlefield.  We did make it out to the memorial cairn in the middle.   Those rotten British soldiers make the townspeople come out to the moor and bury the dead highlanders in mass graves after the battle was over.  So there are mounds were the bodies were buried and stone markers indicating which clan was buried there.

You can’t see it very well but the marker is sitting on a mound.

The customs lady we got did not have a sense of humor at all.  Of course Dwayne was being himself and tried to crack a joke and she wasn’t having any of it.  Got through customs then tried to find our way out of the airport.   Glasgow airport is smaller than I would have thought it would be.

So we get to our hotel and our room is not ready (of course it’s 8 in the morning).  So we had time to kill.  We walked around Glasgow and took some pictures.  They have a train station in the middle of town that is really neat.  The walk signs take forever to change but as we learned you wait for the sign.  One because they have signs saying they will haul you off to jail if you break a law and two because the drivers are right up next to the curb and if you step off you are likely to get run over.  Finally got our room and I think we laid down for a couple of hours.  Went for our bus tour around town.  Went past Glasgow Cathedral, that’s right I said past the Cathedral.  We all assumed we would get to go inside but noooooooo.  Just a drive by.  Went to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.  That was really neat.  They have a huge organ that they play at 3:30 everyday.  We got there while they were playing.  Then back to our hotel for drinks and dinner.  Dinner was actually pretty good.

Day 3

Breakfast was a nice buffet.  We had our choice of fruit, juices, danishes, cold cerials, sausage, eggs (scrambled and poached), haggis, blood pudding, ham.  Yes I tried a small bit of the haggis.  Didn’t think I would but since I’m here had to at least say I tried it.  Ok, not something I would eat regulary but not totally offensive either.

We went on a boat ride of Loch Lommond.  This is a very pretty lake.  The picture I’m including does not do it justice.  I will post a much better picture later when I have a better connection.

We then visited Inverary Castle which was neat.  The current Earl and family still live there so only part of the Castle is open for tour.  Of course no pictures are allowed, but I didn’t see the sign until after I had taken one picture.  =)  That’s me the rebel.  Went to the gift show and got a book about the castle and who was there signing the books?  Why the current Earl was in the gift show signing books.  Of course I got a signed on.

Then it was off through Rannoch Moor which I have to say is really quite pretty.  Then through Glen Coe.  All the while learning about learning about the massacre of the Clan MacDonald at the hands of the Campbells’ in 1692.  Those underhanded sneaks abused highland hospitality in a big way by killing almost the entire clan after the MacDonald’s had fed them and entertained them.  Outside our hotel is three small islands in the loch.  The larger of the three islands was used to bury each chief when they passed.  The MacDonald chief and his wife that were murdered by the Campbell’s is buried out there.

Meals over here so far have been three courses.  Tonight I had a fruit plate to start, then leg of lamb (trying new things) and bread and butter pudding for desert.  Tomorrow we are off to the Island of Skye and then into Inverness.  With a stop at Eilean Donan Castle and Urquhart Castle.

Happy Birthday from Glasgow Aunt Cheryl. =)

got lucky and had a empty seat next to us on both flights so we got to stretch out. Flight from New Jersey to Glasgow at least had meals and a free music/movie system

not bad

Ok, so this morning I was a little excited to get the party started and to get on the plane. Three times I tried to board the plane before our seat numbers were called. Finally it was our turn. Although why I was excited to hurry up and get on the plane I have no idea. Now we are sitting in Newark airport for another hour waiting for our next flight.