How Shall We Remember?

Feeling adventurous this morning I tried potato scone and over night porridge.  The breakfast here as the whole experience was great and I sure wish we had had another night here as the grounds are lovely and we literally did not have time to explore.  

This is NOT a coffee country, it is bad,  there is only milk to put in the bad coffee and there is just not enough sugar to make it better . The overnight porridge was ok at first taste but it did not really grow on me.  To my surprise the potato scone did and I ate it all!

We are (@0830) on our way to a whiskey tasting!  

I don’t know what it was a year ago, however the last gap pump we passed =9.16 a gallon.

We’ve been separated from Melissa and Jim who we have ridden in front of or behind this whole trip.  What’s up with that crap?

First bonus stop was a German POW camp built by German and Austrian Jews fleeing the Nazi regime.  It had an entirely different look and feel from those I’ve seen in Belgium and Germany.  Claire had a look in the window of one of the huts and got a big surprise as there were people inside!  It is used as B&B type situation.  

                                                            This Lovely Church in Crieff

We subsequently visited Glenturret distillery for a lesson on distilling and a “wee dram” I did not like this as well as the one I had the other day.  BUT the Murray mint helped!!!!!

The blue thing on the wall is a cat for, the diagonal thing at the bottom is a ramp!

HE’s doing his job isn't he?

Maddie and Jennifer

                                                      The actual copper still, they only last about 50 years.

                This kitty is is the Guinness Book of World records for catching the most mice.

We stopped on the way to Edinburgh at a monument called the Kelpies which generated a lot of excitement with some of the girls on the bus.  It was cool, in honor of the horses who helped build the country and specifically the canal.  

                                                                      I  particularly liked the Unicorn Statue.  

The ride into Edinburgh was a bit hairy mostly because it recurrent disagreement with the guide and the driver.  I have not noticed hardly any grafitti, but here is what I was in Edinburgh

            But we are here and our room is surprisingly nice so far we are happy. 

Dinner was at an event space, and it started will, A Piper

Followed by dinner and a show.

Dinner was an appetizer of Haggis Balls and sauce, I thought it was pretty good.  Soup followed and I couldn’t figure out the predominant taste until I figured it was Peas.  Chicken, scalloped potatoes and veggies accompanied, A nice roll and wine added sustenance.  Dessert was a Scottish Cranachan. The premise is nice but it was too much double cream with no backbone.  At least not for me.  Then the show.  I thought it was corny and am glad  it was not my last night.  

All’s Mostly Well That Ends Better

I woke up this morning starving!  We went down to breakfast and it was complete and utter chaos. This place was a doosey. The entry way looked worse than my gardens,  overgrown and not even weeded.  

The entry was lovely all Victorian carved wood, a

Herringbone dance floor but it was not finished/sealed, plenty of tables in curved windowed alcoves .  The stairs which we walked up were surprisingly maneuverable for me both up and down. The room was literally bare, there were curtains, I’ll give them that and a TV(don’t know if it worked), and a hot pot with tea and instant coffee.  Period , no towel racks , sat on the walls, hair dryer or even Kleenex. https://highlandhotel.co.uk

Currently we are in the bus and in our way to Loch Ness,  will we see Nessy????

There  were Coos, but there was no Nessie spring but honestly we were

Barely on the boat for 30 min so didn’t really have time. 

Dochfour Estate

Loch Ness

Light House

 What we did see was beautiful though.  

Culloden Moore was interesting, sad and fulfilling to see a place I had hard a lot about.  Stephen lined us up in three rows of ten and told us we were English soldiers and about how the battle went.  I have to admit he did a good job with that.  

Clan Fraser - of course

Clan McKensie

Lunch was a strange cheese and tomato sandwich, the verdict was out, but I have decided they are not my favorites. 

 And Lavender Lemonade, which I think I could duplicate.  

The grand finale of the day was going to see a sheep farm and the dogs who work it with Neil.

  They reminded me of MIko and Remi and melted my heart right away.  They are SO smart and seeing them herd the sheep was pretty fun.  THey could literally divide the herd until there was only one left. 

And he explained how that was useful, for example if there was a pregnant one needing attention.  

Then he let folks do some shearing which several of the ladies on the tour did.  And lastly he let us feed the lambs which I felt morally obligated to do since I was once a lamb feeding expert!

The hotel is a complete 180,  it is lovely, we were treated efficiently and there are 2 working elevators.  CIE decided, ( I think with much motivation from Stephen) to give us each 2 drinks tonight so About one and a half glasses of Medoc in, I am feeling mellow after a delicious meal.  I had Cauliflower “wings” in a chili sauce,

LambShoulder with mashed potatoes , carrots and asparagus. 

 Ending with a Pavlova with Raspberry Sorbet.  

Hopefully tomorrow morning will also begin much better than today!

Up front at last!

Funny I was happiest about row 11 but today we are on the front of the bus

It has pluses (the big window in front) and minuses (when the door is open it’s cold), but you can get off quickly and get pics without the crowd.

Breakfast was a bust bad croissant and coffee that I was not allowed to take to the room by the bossy Elsa.  

On the way to our first stop we finally saw genuine highland coos.  

Three of them doing their best to ignore us.  Honestly with all the hype I truly thought I’d see more of Nn

First stop was the Italians Chapel made by Italian POW during WWII it was lovely and the human desire to worship  evident.  

It was also amazing how they had so little and made this beautiful place in the idle of their camp.  It is all that is left of the camp.

From there we returned to Stromne to catch the ferry, we had 30 minutes to kill and that was amazingly bad for my pocket book, seriously i bought a great sweater for a great sale price, it was like it had just been waiting for ME!

We drove along the coast of the North Sea for about an hour, the scenery was beautiful.  The next  stop was Dunrobin Castle.  The grandeur, though, has come about off the backs of others.  Can you say Highland Clearances. 

The building and interior were lovely and very fun to visit.  

                                                 I was not alone in being a Francophile!

Finally I have found what I need in the Masion de les Chines ( aka She Shed).

Do you know which and what?

Look at all the bathing accoutrements, I wondered if any of them were used as a Bidet??

On the way to the hotel the guide wanted to stop at a TESCO and the bus driver DID NOT.  I thought they were going to fight, the guide threw his hone across the dash.  

The hotel was probably amazing in its day,  Lots of old wood  and  stairs, we are on floor 3 ( USA 4) and had the opportunity to climb up.  Grrrr

Our room is sparse, not even Kleenex.  But clean and a place to rest.  

Dinner on the other hand, Claire and I agreed that Stouffer’s Frozen Lasagna is better.   The Profiteroles, were good, Jodi would have loved them!

Answer: The She Shed item above is a Female Urinal, I wonder if a gravy boat would work????