Stopped off for lunch and continued touring

 The Scotland highlands excursion was the longest one - eight hours - and the one we liked the best. After a long drive through the countryside, stopping for 15 minutes to see a highland cow and look in the shops for Nessie, we went to a hotel that obviously was serving many of the bus excursion tourists in their dining room. Some of my siblings were leaving as went in. Driving through the city we noted a big mix of old and new.

Look at the building next to the river - old - and the buildings behind are new

Then it was off to another castle. It was not on the regular tour as the castle listed in the brochure was either a road washed out or was under some kind of restoration. She took us to Brodie Castle that had been built in the 15th century, burned, restored and then added on to over the years until the Victorian age. The added on parts are much bigger than the original. 

The front - notice the middle original windows are small, so are the stairs and ceilings, the part on the right has much bigger windows, rooms, and ceilings. It sprawls to either side and out the back also.

Back and left side. A kitchen is beside that small turret in front. I have to keep the domed steeples in front so I remember where the front is.

This is the add ons on the right side with the Victorian rooms in grey and another add on in the lighter brick. The floors are flat and the walls are straight.

The grounds are extensive and we did not have time to tour around the grounds.

There is debate about how this clan and castle came into existence and the Pict found a little ways away adds to the legend. 

According to Wikipedia it is called Rodney's Stone and has its own story. 

I absolutely love the day, the tour, and especially our tour guide - was her name Sonia? Anyway her mother had been a tour guide. Sonia (?) had gone on to university and such but was back this summer as a tour guide. She sang to us several times - five actually. Two of them were in Gaelic. I got the impression that life is difficult and stressful in the Highlands but totally worth it. Taxes are so high I don't see how we could ever live there, but it would be cool if possible. 

As we drove back to the ship (with Sonia singing in Gaelic) the clouds came back over and matched the song. I was mesmerized. I just wanted to stay there listening to her.

At the wharf a bag pipe group was saying good bye to somebody. It really was a cool day.

And when we got on board - DAVE and DIANN were there!!!