Even the Scottish Cattle are redheads.

We finally found some furry cows. These are Highland Cattle and are so adorable. We saw a few near Inverness but these were on the Isle of Skye. It was pouring rain and they were content in all their fur to be hanging out together. I was so happy to find some. Although they are from the Highlands, they are kind of rare. You don't see many of them. This was our first day on the Isle of Skye, Sept. 14, and it was so stormy that we barely could stand outside. It was a lot like the Oregon Coast. So windy, so rainy and so incredibly beautiful. That day, we spent the evening inside and watching the storm rage outside. We stayed in a dingy but fine bed and breakfast. The hostess had a few movies downstairs and after all these days of traveling through Scotland we just had to watch Braveheart. We ended up watching it on Davey's laptop and listening to the rain pounding our roof. Much was yet to come...

Nessie...

Here we are narrowly escaping one of the many attempts on our lives by Nessie, from Loch Ness in Invernesshire County.

More Highlands

This photo was taken of a Loch along the road from where we stayed to where we went for dinner. The sun was just setting and the mountains were just beautiful. The water was black and beautiful, with little islands popping up all through the Loch.

Always just a phone call away.

We got to Inverness, Scotland and then took off onto a one lane road into the real highlands where we were staying with a couple near Loch Ness. The farmland is so beautiful and there are sheep everywhere. As we are buzzing along, literally 20 miles away from civilization, with only cows and sheep to talk to, there is a phone booth. So, I'm here, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by grass and animals, talking to my brother Ian on the phone. Just a strange experience.

Drastic Heights!

Driving through the Scottish highlands was one of the most unbelievable experience. The mountains were daunting and the colors beautiful. The clouds were massive and cast large shadows over the lands. It was such an amazing day. One of the best days of our lives. I've never seen country like that in my life. Extraordinary!

Hitting the Scottish Countryside

This is just outside a beautiful little Scottish town called Pitlochry. There are farms everywhere, with large rolls of hay like this.

We're in Scotland!

Here we are, sitting on the walls of a castle that dates back to the 11th century, and looking out over the city of Edinburgh and the ocean beyond. So fantastic! The castle is at the top of the "Royal Mile", a mile of amazing sites and restaurants in the middle of Scotland's capital. There was even a wedding going on in Margaret's Chapel, a tiny chapel in the castle that is the oldest building in the castle, dated 1066 or something. The bride and groom were in traditional scottish attire.

This is Edinburgh.

Can you imagine living in a city where there is a castle on the hill, looking over it? Edinburgh castle is amazing! Housed Mary Queen of Scotts and many other kings and queens of Scotland. Edinburgh is very influenced by this castle. The building are all impressive and massive. Very unique and fascinating city.

I feel like I'm in a time warp!

This is Stratford-Upon-Avon, in the town. It feels like we're still in the 17th century, but there is a Body Shop and a Starbucks in buildings like this. Kind of strange, but really relaxing and peaceful. Just don't go out at night...the small town teenagers are trouble. Wouldn't you be growing up in a tourist town like this?

Shakespeare Town

So, to continue our travels we got on a train from London and took a two hour ride to Stratford-upon-Avon which is the town where Shakespeare was born. This is a lovely shot of the middle of the town, where swans are everywhere, mingling with the people. The Royal Shakespeare Company Theater is just down the river Avon and the rest of the town is on the other side of this bridge. A very quaint, sweet little town.

The London Tower

Here are a couple of shots of the London Tower. On the left is a shot with our backs to the River Thames. On the Right is a shot of the Guard tower which they use as an entry point for the Tower. They call it a tower but really it is an impressive fortress where the Kings and Queens of England used to live. Many of King Henry the VIII's wives were executed, and buried here. The grounds are lived in by members of the military that keep it running. It is a tourist hot spot but is a fully functional community. It houses the Crown Jewels, which are viewable by the public and under heavy watch in a very secure vault within the grounds.

The Tower Bridge

Just us outside London Tower, over looking the Thames River and the Tower Bridge. This was built in the 1800s, by the Victorians.

Shakespeare's Globe

We took a tour of Shakespeare's Globe Theater. It was a lame tour, really expensive and super short, but we got to see the inside of the famous theater. It was rebuilt because it was basically destroyed in the fire of London many years ago, but they built it exactly how it would have been built in the 1600s. They even used tools from the 1600s. It was pretty cool. The roof is the only roof in all of London that is thatched. They had to get special permission because of the laws against thatched roof tops.

Looks like Harry Potter huh?

This actually is not Kings Cross Station where Harry Potter leaves for Hogswarts, but this is the Nottinghill Gate tube station. I just thought it was such an awesome picture. We've been using the tube all the time, multiple times a day. It is so easy to use and extremely user friendly. There are literally maps everywhere. Thank goodness or we would be out in some unknown place. It's been fun riding all over the city and seeing all sorts of things that would be very expensive without the tube.

Buckingham Palace

This place is crazy touristy! We got there just as the changing of the guard was finishing and there were so many people watching, it was crazy. This is where the Queen of England lives, but she is on "holiday" out of the city for two months. She opens up part of her home for the public to view. It is quite an impressive building. It has probably 50 acres of fenced grounds behind it as well. It is right in the middle of London! Beautiful though. Quite an experience. We're just not used to this royalty stuff and it is amazing how dedicated these people are to their Queen.

Changing of the Gaurd

While in London yesterday, we watched the changing of the guard, before the fresh guards continue on to Buckingham Palace. There is a very flamboyant ceremony and then the guards getting off shift take their horses back to their stables and the fresh ones go on to guard the palace. It is amazing because the horses, with a rider/guard, literally stand for hours at the front of these gates. The horses just stand there, expected not to move and stand for thousands of tourists to take their pictures along side them. The sweet horses are amazingly mellow and the guards don't move. We spared the horses and didn't get our picture, grinning goofily (like every other tourist) next to them. It was a pretty awesome sight though.
Here is a digitally enhanced photo of the Mounted Guards exchanging post, routinely at 11:00AM

Mind the Gap!

Every stop on the subway you hear the same thing. "Mind the gap please, mind the gap!"
Luckily we haven't fallen into the gap between the train and platform yet and we were still alive once we reached Westminster station. Here we are in front of "Big Ben," and he's freakin' enormous.Big Ben is part of Parliament, where the prime minister works. It is unbelieveable how many people are out and about in the middle of the day. Add the traffic into the mix and during the week it seems as though it is busier than New York.

WE MADE IT! Safe and Sound.

We arrived in London early this morning after flying Air India and enjoying Indian plane food and lovely service. Because we had so much time until we were to be at the hostel, we decided to take an adventure and figure out the tube (subway). And it was super easy and saved us about ninety dollars we would have spent on a cab. You have no idea how proud we were of ourselves. So, this is the hostel we're staying in. Nice place, but literally two bunk beds in a closet. We took a nap( we felt like we were at summer camp, with the bunks and all), showered(felt like the dorms, had to wear shoes in the shower) and are now exploring Earl's Court, the part of town we are staying in. So far, it is great! It is an international part of town alive with food, internet cafes and lots and lots of people speaking different languages. So, all is well and we'll explore London tomorrow.

Does the layover ever end?

After taking a red-eye from Portland with screaming babies, no leg room and not a wink of sleep, we have been sitting in the New York JFK airport for nearly eight hours now. We still have four hours to go, so we've been chillin' in the international part of JFK. Talk about amazing people watching! We've been switching off sleeping on the bench and watching the stuff. While Dave was sleeping, I spent an hour and a half watching people from every culture and part of the world and listening to the many, many languages spoken in this portion of the airport. What an experience to be in our country and have so many cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds in one place. Fantastic! We're already having fun: eating fantastic airport food; sitting, sitting and sitting; and participating in a rousing game of dominoes. Despite the lack of sleep, we're ready to take on London.