Lochs 'o fun

Another day, another train ride.  Not really, but it does feel that way at times.  We came in from Edinburgh on the train on Tuesday afternoon.  Our first order of business was to find the neighborhood laundromat to arrange for clean clothes.  We weren't smelly (yet) but it is very nice to have a suitcase full of clean clothes.

The hotel, the Columba, is located right next to the river Ness just off the main road/bridge through town about a 10 minute walk from the train station.  As a side note, Columba was an Irish missionary who brought Christianity to this part of Scotland.  He is also one of the very first observers of Nessie.  That's the story here anyway, and they're sticking to it!

Today we took a city bus out to the Culloden battlefield and toured the visitor center and battlefield.  It was cold, windy and wet today, the same as on the day of battle we were told.  It was very interesting and very moving.  What makes it especially interesting is that if Bonnie Prince Charlie had won, there probably would not have been a Seven Years War between England and France, taxes might not have been so outrageously high, and who knows, America might still be a British colony today.

 

This afternoon was an organized bus tour/cruise to Loch Ness and Castle Urquhart.  No monsters, just beautiful scenery and another castle to scramble around in.

Tonight is our last night in the UK, tomorrow is another train ride to London, then Heathrow and off to Reykjavik!