Chicago O’Hare…

Have had some technical problems with writing the blog, but I think I am on track now.
We had some travel challenges getting to Scotland… thinking for a while that we might miss the embarkation of our ship in Edinburgh. Scheduled to leave on Monday Aug. 19, our flight was cancelled because of storms in Newark. We were rebooked for 2 days later and had mechanical problems in Chicago. We began talking about where we wanted to go on vacation if we missed the ship. Fortunately they did have another plane available and we arrived at the port just in time for embarkation, where they actually bused us to another port because the winds (from Ernesto!) had made it impossible to dock the ship in Leith (Edinburgh)!

Bad travel karma is hopefully now behind us and we so excited that we made it the ship! Now on to the mystery and wonder of our adventure!

Relaxing in our cabin after a long and stressful travel experience.

First evening on ship… My first scotch ( Dalmore- yummy) and Keith’s great martini!

Harry, the bartender and jokester! The crew is terrific!

At sea all day on Friday…. settling in. Saturday Aug 24- Up early to watch the approach into our first port- Invergordon. Sun reflecting off an oil drill repair platform and our pilot ship. Love this early morning on the ship when few people are yet up.

Hired a taxi today (Saturday) and our first stop was Cawdor Castle and its incredible gardens! I was in my happy place exploring the magnificent gardens!

Cawdor Castle from the 14th century. Reputably known as Macbeth’s castle and the site of the murder of Duncan.

Culloden Battlefield- site of the last battle to be fought on British soil, namely the bloody Battle of Culloden in 1746 between Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Duke of Cumberland. The Jacobites got beaten badly and it began the decline of the Scottish clan system over the next 40 years. The desolate fields where the conflict took place have scarcely changed over the past 250+ years.
Photos above – the cairn is the burial site for those who fell in battle. The other photo is of the now beautiful site.

Our next stop was to be Loch Ness where we were planning to have lunch. An accident on the main road to Loch Ness caused us to turn back where our driver knew an alternative route up and over the mountain (on a one car road with “pass” pullovers.) Although we had to turn around on that road also because of traffic stoppage, we had a wonderful silver lining experience… heather fields and hills in the highlands. Heather actually only blooms 3 weeks a year, and we were here at the end of the blooming season. What a treat! The photo above is Loch Ness from our alternative route through the hills!

Sunday Aug 25 – berthed at Kirkwall on Orkney Island today. Our two destinations today were Scapa Flow (Keith’s interest) and the neolithic ruins (my interest). Photos above are 1) wreaths at the Royal Oak memorial museum , honoring the Royal Oak ship sunk by the U 47; 2) one of 4 barriers that Churchill had erected to protect the Scapa Flow naval base; and 3) and 4) the chapel built by Italian prisoners of war so they could practice their Catholicism.

One more Scapa Flow photo- Keith says this is the anchorage of the German fleet in June 1919; and this is what it looks like after the scuttling of the German ships – ships now on ocean’s bottom.

Stones of Stennes – ceremonial stones dating back almost 5000 years. The Neolithic Heartland of Orkney has been designated as a World Heritage Site.

The Ring of Brodgar – about 500 years newer than the Stones of Stenness. Of the original 60 stones ( creating a circle as big as a football field) there are 25 standing. A ceremonial site surrounded by a moat. Quite a remarkable and moving site!

Skara Brae- the oldest stand alone homes at Skara Brae were built around 3100 BC. An incredible archeological find!

Lunch in Kirkwall- we were looking forward to our fish and chips and local beer! Yum…