Day 4 5 & 6 - Inverness

No internet access at the last hostel - so I'm a little late posting this... ;-) Drive from Stirling to Inverness was interesting. Went through a lot of mountains - the heather is not out yet, so the hills look a little brown, but it was still a lovely drive. The Scottish Broom is out in full though - lovely yellow flower all over the hills. I'm finally getting the hang of driving over here - of course, highway driving is a little easier. However, getting the hang of the traffic circles is a little tougher.... ;-) But I've got the hang of everything now.... even driving on the wrong side of the road... getting used to that too... have to watch it when I get home!

Arrived in Inverness - lovely city. Parked at a Safeway, and walked up to the hostel (well, ok - we walked in circles a little bit to find the place, but we eventually found it). The hostel was in the middle of some old row housing - it was on the second floor of course, up some steep narrow stairs - our room was on the third floor. I'm starting to wonder about my luggage choice, but too little too late now.... Anyway, we also had to find parking. Parking was actually cheap in Inverness - £3.00 per day - compared to the £36 pounds we paid in Edinburgh for 2 days, this was quite cheap! The parking lot was not too far from the hostel, and it was a relatively flat - no hills to chug up and down. The hostel was really nice. We met up with an Aussie couple we had met in Stirling. After we got settled in the hostel, we went grocery shopping at the Safeway. Food prices weren't too bad, we got a lot for a little (watching pences very carefully...). Spent a little time walking around the city, then went to bed. This hostel was very nice and clean.

Day 2 in Inverness - we went to the Culloden Battlefields. We found it the first time too! (great navigating D!) The site was a little overwhelming - so much emotion on the battlefield were so many men lost their lives fighting for what they believed in. We walked the fields for about 2 hours. One thing to note about the fields - they are using Hebridian sheep to keep the brush on the fields down. Every now and then you would see this dark brown sheep munching away at the grass.... interesting... Anyway, after Culloden, we went to Clava Cairns. Interesting that these stone burial fields have lasted over 2,000 years. There were 3 stone circles, and it was very powerful. Sat in the car after that and had lunch. This dog came up to us - she looked like a sheep dog. She came up to say hello, then went on her way. Drove back to Inverness, and walked up and down the picturesque town of Iverness - did a little shopping (bought postcards and stamps mostly...). Went back to the hostel to make pasta (a favourite it seems... ;-)). Spent a little time in the common room - it was a great mix of people - some people from Australia, couple of guys from Poland (big flirts!!!!) and a Canadian who was staying there for a few months. After some conversation the cards came out (whoo-hoo!) Played UNO for a little while (Aussie rules are much different....) then decided to call it a night - we had a big day ahead of us tomorrow.

Day 6 - Happy Birthday to me, Happy birthday to me... we stayed in Inverness (Carbisdale Castle unfortunately didn't happen for my birthday, but it will later on in the trip). D and I had planned on doing a Loch Ness tour - we could get a discount because we were staying at the hostel, but their had to be room on the tour, and we had to be there for 10 AM. We arrived a little early - then D surprised me for my birthday - she bought a full day tour of Loch Ness for my birthday. It was a lovely surprise. It was a beautiful day (a little nippy, but 'tis ok). We started the tour on a bus - drove around a little of Inverness - saw the loch for the first time (anxiously looking for Nessie, of course) It was so beautiful - the perfect sunny day. We stopped along the side of the road, took a couple of pictures, took a pink granite stone from the beach, and went back on the bus. We then stopped at a shop where we could buy souvenirs. I should mention the tour bus driver. Tony has dedicated his life, it seems, to researching the loch ness monster. He had all sorts of facts, and faked photos of the monster- only to reveal that they now believe that the "monster" is in fact a very large sturgeon fish. So much for the mystery! ;-) Anyway, after the souvenir shop, we went to a Loch Ness exihibition tour. Again, gave a little history, and the research they are currently doing in proving the theory of the "monster". A lot of sonar is currently being used to discover the truth. After the exhibition, we were dropped off at Urquhart Castle. This castle is in ruins because the Jacobites blew it up so that the English would not use it. The castle has had some repairs to it, but you can definately picture what it used to be like. After the castle tour we went on a lovely boat ride down Loch Ness (all the time searching for Nessie, or course). We ended back up in Inverness. By the time we got back, it was past 1800, so we were a little hungry. We went out to eat, the restaurant was called "Castle Restaurant" - it was like a greasy spoon diner - but it was my choice to eat there, as this is what I wanted. Had curried chicken and rice, with a huge side of "chips" - it appears that all meals come with a side of chips here. (even D - she ordered a pasta dish, and got a side of chips with it!). Wanted a quiet night, so we walked around Inverness a little, and went back to the hostel. Both of us got a little sunburned that day - don't know how, but somehow it got through my sunblock!!! Spend a quiet night at the hostel - I really didn't feel like going out and celebrating. This trip is really all of the celebrating I need at the moment.

One thing to note here - in Inverness it doesn't get dark until after 2300 - and the sun rises at 0440!!!! And it's not even the longest day of the year yet!!!! Anyway, spend some time outside, as it was still pretty sunny @ 2130 - writing in my travel diary with a cup of tea, contemplating life a little.... went to bed

*no Jamie found*