Oops, silly me, I forgot add this lovely group pic drawn by Legend Kathy!
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Thursday, 9 April 2009
Scotland - Day 5
Sob Sob, the last day :o(
First on the list of things to do was hunt hairy coos, but we had to have a slight break for some of the hungover lads to "get some fresh air". Emily takes over while Yoouu-in sorts them out.
Yay!! Hairy Coooos!!
Hairy Coos, we love you!!
Scenery on the bus.
After the coos we stopped off at St Conan's Kirk (church). This church was built by some fellow who felt sorry for his dear mother having to walk 5 miles to church. Has lots of Knights Templar symbology. Didn't get a decent photo of the outside though.
Errr, a cherub with a boat strapped to its back? Interestingly the roof of the church is made of an old Viking longship hull I think.
Robert the Bruce. Not actually his grave, but a piece of his leg bone is displayed below.
Kilchurn Castle. This castle used to be haunted by the ghost of a piper, and you could hear the bagpipes playing at night. As I recall, it stoppd when they found the body and gave it a proper burial.
Michael, dispenser of the sweets!
Barbara from Germany
Und Nina from Germany - nice pose.
A wee stop at a river.
Ah, Scotland's most famous hairy coo, Hamish. He has opened the highland games for the last 17 years. Go Hamish! Hamish is nice and tame and you can feed and pet him. Check those horns out!
Hamish the hairy cooo, we love you tooo! Moooo!
Hooray another fantastic treat!!! Castle Duone, scene of the most vicious French Taunting to ever beset poor King Arthur and his noble nights. Now go away, lest I taunt you a second time!
Final stop of the trip was Stirling to see the William Wallace Memorial. He of Braveheart fame. Wallace beat the English in a fine victory at Stirling. Our guide went into such detailed description of his gruesome execution, I nearly fainted on the bus, and came over all a-twitter. Down with King Edward!! 
Walllace Monument.
Back in Edinburgh alas, and just time for a taste of Haggis down the pub before going home. Quite tasty actually. Amy and Morgan. Oh, and the Haggis was tasty too!
Farewell Clan MacBackpackers!
First on the list of things to do was hunt hairy coos, but we had to have a slight break for some of the hungover lads to "get some fresh air". Emily takes over while Yoouu-in sorts them out.
Yay!! Hairy Coooos!!
Hairy Coos, we love you!!
Scenery on the bus.
After the coos we stopped off at St Conan's Kirk (church). This church was built by some fellow who felt sorry for his dear mother having to walk 5 miles to church. Has lots of Knights Templar symbology. Didn't get a decent photo of the outside though.
Errr, a cherub with a boat strapped to its back? Interestingly the roof of the church is made of an old Viking longship hull I think.
Robert the Bruce. Not actually his grave, but a piece of his leg bone is displayed below.
Kilchurn Castle. This castle used to be haunted by the ghost of a piper, and you could hear the bagpipes playing at night. As I recall, it stoppd when they found the body and gave it a proper burial.
Michael, dispenser of the sweets!
Barbara from Germany
Und Nina from Germany - nice pose.
A wee stop at a river.
Ah, Scotland's most famous hairy coo, Hamish. He has opened the highland games for the last 17 years. Go Hamish! Hamish is nice and tame and you can feed and pet him. Check those horns out!
Hamish the hairy cooo, we love you tooo! Moooo!
Hooray another fantastic treat!!! Castle Duone, scene of the most vicious French Taunting to ever beset poor King Arthur and his noble nights. Now go away, lest I taunt you a second time!For those of strong disposition, you may view this uncalled for abuse here
Sadly, there was no time to go inside and run up and down clapping coconuts together.
Final stop of the trip was Stirling to see the William Wallace Memorial. He of Braveheart fame. Wallace beat the English in a fine victory at Stirling. Our guide went into such detailed description of his gruesome execution, I nearly fainted on the bus, and came over all a-twitter. Down with King Edward!!What many of you might not know, is that William Wallace was not Braveheart. Braveheart was actually Robert the Bruce, who defeated the English at the battle of Bannockburn after Wallaces death, and ruled Scotland for a fair while after. He was called braveheart, as when he died he asked that his heart be removed and taken into battle to inspire the troops, or something to that ilk.
Check out the famous scene - They can never take away our FREEDOM!
Walllace Monument.What I also did not know, is that the Scottish anthem, Flower of Scotland is about Robert the Bruce and how he defeated the English. err, or was it about Wallace?
Have a listen here.
Back in Edinburgh alas, and just time for a taste of Haggis down the pub before going home. Quite tasty actually. Amy and Morgan. Oh, and the Haggis was tasty too!
Farewell Clan MacBackpackers!Click here for a rousing song to send you all off.
We'll be coming down the road, when you hear the noise of the Tartan Army boys, we'll be coming down the road!
Scotland - day 4
It was up bright and early to visit Saucy Mary's castle. Saucy Mary was a Scandinavian princess who stretched a chain from the castle across to the mainland, and would charge sailors a toll to get through. If she was in a good mood, she would give the passing sailors a bit of a flash, which is where she got her name.
Good place for a jump.
ooh, saucy!
Yoouu-in shows how to make a kilt the traditional way. Just lay a large bit of tartan out, make some pleats, wrap it around, and voila. Long time to get dressed, but quick to disrobe!
Nan ready for highland action!
Eileen Donan castle is famous for being in the movie Highlander. Personally I can't recall the scenes it was in though, but here's a link to help you remember.
Zahava "Z" in the castle
There can be only one!
Stopping at Loch Garry in the background. Loch Garry is interesting as it is in the shape of Scotland, with abridge in just the right spot to show the border.
Drinking from the Seven Heads Well. There were 7 nasty chaps in the area, who killed the guy the were supposed to be protecting. His brother tried to get the locals to helps, but they were too scared to get involved, so had to recruit outside help. The brothers were killed, and their heads thrown into the village well to teach them not to help. That water tastes a bit sandy now!
War memorial with Ben Nevis in the background. There used to be a German POW camp here and after the war, the prisoners who no longer had family back in germany were allowed to stay, so if I am not mistaken there is a wee German population living in the area.
Glencoe. Glencoe is another sad moment in Scottish history, and poor Thomas "Clan Campbell" received a bit of a blow about his proud lineage. The Campbells were turncoats who switched over to the English side in exchange for land and such. The english had the Campbells slaughter the MacDonald clan while they slept, wee bairns included, after the MacDonalds had kindly offered them shelter for the week. To this day, our guides mother will not let a Campbell in her house. Methinks she should take a leaf out of Mandela's forgiveness book!
Good place for a jump.
ooh, saucy!
Yoouu-in shows how to make a kilt the traditional way. Just lay a large bit of tartan out, make some pleats, wrap it around, and voila. Long time to get dressed, but quick to disrobe!
Nan ready for highland action!
Eileen Donan castle is famous for being in the movie Highlander. Personally I can't recall the scenes it was in though, but here's a link to help you remember.
Zahava "Z" in the castle
There can be only one!
Stopping at Loch Garry in the background. Loch Garry is interesting as it is in the shape of Scotland, with abridge in just the right spot to show the border.
Drinking from the Seven Heads Well. There were 7 nasty chaps in the area, who killed the guy the were supposed to be protecting. His brother tried to get the locals to helps, but they were too scared to get involved, so had to recruit outside help. The brothers were killed, and their heads thrown into the village well to teach them not to help. That water tastes a bit sandy now!
War memorial with Ben Nevis in the background. There used to be a German POW camp here and after the war, the prisoners who no longer had family back in germany were allowed to stay, so if I am not mistaken there is a wee German population living in the area.
Glencoe. Glencoe is another sad moment in Scottish history, and poor Thomas "Clan Campbell" received a bit of a blow about his proud lineage. The Campbells were turncoats who switched over to the English side in exchange for land and such. The english had the Campbells slaughter the MacDonald clan while they slept, wee bairns included, after the MacDonalds had kindly offered them shelter for the week. To this day, our guides mother will not let a Campbell in her house. Methinks she should take a leaf out of Mandela's forgiveness book!The massacre is remembered in this song
Time for another refreshing dip. BRRRRR!
Well blow me down if this was not a great surprise. Castle Stalker itself of Monty Python and the Holy Grail end scene! Wicked! Begone you stupid english Knnn-niggits. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of Elderberries. Check out the final scene here
Waaah, the Loch Ness Monster!!
Shake that booty Amanda!!
Our final night was in Oban, with lost of lovely islands off the coast. One day I will come back here and go to Fingal's cave on the Isle of Staffa.
A wealthy chap at the turn of the century built a colloseum on top of the hill, based on the one in Rome. He died before it was finished completely, but what a gorgeous place to watch the sunset! So peaceful with the birds all a twitter.
Time for another refreshing dip. BRRRRR!
Well blow me down if this was not a great surprise. Castle Stalker itself of Monty Python and the Holy Grail end scene! Wicked! Begone you stupid english Knnn-niggits. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of Elderberries. Check out the final scene here
Waaah, the Loch Ness Monster!!
Shake that booty Amanda!!
Our final night was in Oban, with lost of lovely islands off the coast. One day I will come back here and go to Fingal's cave on the Isle of Staffa.
A wealthy chap at the turn of the century built a colloseum on top of the hill, based on the one in Rome. He died before it was finished completely, but what a gorgeous place to watch the sunset! So peaceful with the birds all a twitter.Cathy and I catch the Hungarian couple, Istvan and Eniko in a romantic embrace.
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Macurdie Museum
On the North coast of Skye, our brave guide had found a delightful little museum in the middle of nowhere, just in one tiny little building about the size of my bedroom! (Hey, I have a nice big bedroom!)
The museum is dedicated to the nutter that used to live around here, old Macurdie, and you either get it or you don't!
First 3 photos are dedicated to my birdwatcher friend, Mr Myburgh. I know how much you love photos of birds, and the 3 sea birds below are some fine examples!
Caveman drawings of prehistoric lobsters.
If I am not mistaken, after leaving Macurdies we all enjoyed the funky tune with weird indian style chanting, so here it is for your pleasure. It seems to be the theme song from a fairly suspect looking movie from 1974 starring Sean Connery called Zardoz.
The museum is dedicated to the nutter that used to live around here, old Macurdie, and you either get it or you don't!
First 3 photos are dedicated to my birdwatcher friend, Mr Myburgh. I know how much you love photos of birds, and the 3 sea birds below are some fine examples!
Caveman drawings of prehistoric lobsters.
If I am not mistaken, after leaving Macurdies we all enjoyed the funky tune with weird indian style chanting, so here it is for your pleasure. It seems to be the theme song from a fairly suspect looking movie from 1974 starring Sean Connery called Zardoz.
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