Maya's Mercato

We were in Scotland for a quick 10 day trip to see family (and for me to just be home).  My soul belongs to the Scottish highlands.  My family live in Inverness.  We took a daytrip down to Drumnadrochit (the official site of the Loch Ness monster museum) to see friends and take a walk up the hill to look over the village and Loch Ness.

This is the Caledonian Canal which dissects Scotland between Inverness and Fort William.  It was an engineering marvel in its day, and one of our family cars was stolen and dumped in there several years ago.  This day was a spectacularly sunny day, perfect for a walk along the canal and into town.

So, we were walking into town from my sisters house and I was asking her if anyone raises chickens.  I explained that its sort of fashionable in the US to have chickens these days.  “No” she said, and then almost immediately we saw this guy walking down the road.  “Um, I guess so”.

Many many Scottish folks take their summer vacations in Spain heading to Costa Brava or some other strip of beach.  On our walk, we saw this house with its name emblazed on the rock in front.  Can you see what they called the house?  “Costa Fortune”.  Love the Scots sense of humor.

Barbie and her friend Kelly and a huge bunch of other friends closed down this spa for the day and got the wine out.  What fun!   Pedicures, makeup and lots of pink wine.  I wasn’t feeling so jolly later that night.

 Not all ancient Redwoods grow on the West coast of America.  Here’s one right in the heart of the Highlands.

 Reece and Maya wearing their Perpetual Change t-shirts proudly.

 After a short rainstorm, the perfect photo op presented itself.  I love this picure.

 My sister has an excellent view of Inverness from her house.  This particular morning the mist had rolled in.  See the boat masts in the foreground?  They are on the canal.  Inverness is festooned with church spires.

 …and here’s downtown Inverness.  The pedestrian bridge on the left is a suspension bridge and I remember walking over it as a child and making it bounce.  Now Maya does the same thing.  One of my favorite restaurants is right at the end of the bridge (Riverside Cafe).  The food is excellent and the owner always remembers us and has a warm greeting.  I love going home.