Hello Highlands!

Sorry it's taken me so long to get this post up!

Two weekends ago, on 8 October I got on a bus at 7:45 am to experience the Scottish Highlands.

9:15 - Pick up Ross, our singing, storytelling, all around awesome tourguide and breakfast at a supermarket

9:45 - Waterfalls, Scottish style!

11:15 - Lunch in Pitlochry (Home made steak pies from the butcher!)

2:45 - Glenfinnan Viaduct where we watched a steam train cross the viaduct used in the Harry Potter films!!

5:30 - Check into Hostel in Inverness

After dinner (pizza) at the hostel we went exploring. Ended up watching Scotland play Czech Republic in a qualifying match. Unfortunately they lost but the Scots were in surprisingly good spirits. I was told they didn't actually expect them to win.. Then we wandered into a pub called the Hootenanny (REEBS!!!) for some folk music. (acordian, electric flute, and acoustic guitar) We danced and had a great time.

Day 2
9:00 - Culloden Battlefield where the Jacobites fought the last pitched battle on British soil. It was a very foggy morning, perfectly eerie for the sight at hand.

11:00 - Sheep dog display in Kingussie. This shepherd is one of only two left in the area. He has something like 10,000 sheep and 28 working sheep dogs. Each sheep dog learns the same verbal commands but also has their own set of whistle commands. This allows the shepherd to control each dog individually. It was fascinating. Then he brought out a bucket full of 7 day old puppies which we got to hold and play with! Unfortunately we got caught sneaking one on to the bus so no live souvenirs this time...

12:30 - Lunch in Aviemore. We got fish and chips and then explored the town a bit. Found a stone circle. Anyone read Outlander? Apparently someone touches a stone and is taken back in time to the Highlands. I touched them but I'm convinced I'm still in current times. Not to worry, perhaps it just takes time to catch up!
3:00 - GlenGrant Distillery Tour. We got two samples. I personally thought they were alright. Most of the group wasn't a huge fan of scotch.. who'da thunk? I befriended some Swedish Airforce pilots during our tour.
5:00 - Back in Inverness for dinner
Went out to explore the city a little more after relaxing in our rooms for a while. It was bigger than I expected, but really not much to report!

Day 3

9:00 - Cruise on Loch Ness. Dierdra tried hard to convince us that Nessie is in fact, a boy and in love with the monster in Loch Linny. Take your right hand, bend your hand down as if trying to touch your forearm. Do the same with the left. Sea monsters!! Now touch your elbows together. It's love!!

10:30 - Our cruise drops us off at Urquhart Castle (or what's left of it)

12:00 - Lunch in Fort Augustus

2:00 - Photo stop in Glencoe, a beautiful valley! Some claim it's the prettiest part of Scotland.

6:30 - Arrive home

It was a long trip! Saw a lot of things, especially the country side out the bus window. I'm in love.

While on the tour Ross sang us two songs. Here are links so you can listen to them yourselves!

Flower of Scotland (the unofficial national anthem) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPaJhlIIYjM

Massacre of Glencoe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cPitxtk4m0