A weekend in Inverness

[clairetucker1]

Last weekend, my friend from university got married just outside Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland.

I flew up from London on Friday night, and flew back here Sunday evening. It was a great weekend, and I thought I'd post a few of the pics here. They're to my usual standard, though, and don't do the scenery justice. If anyone ever gets the chance to visit Scotland, please do it - it's a beautiful country (and I think that the people are lovely too - though I might be a bit biased about that!!)

[Q3210]

Re: A weekend in Inverness

You got a shot of Nettie?

btw. How was your Jamaica vacation?

[clairetucker1]

Re: A weekend in Inverness

No, Q, no shots of Nessie - I never made it to the loch this time. I remember a trip from childhood when I got very excited by the big plastic Nessie they have in a little pond outside the visitor's centre there - not sure I'd be so impressed now!

My Jamaica trip was great, but I can't face doing that trip report yet - besides, that part of the board is scaring me just now!! I might get round to posting some pics up there soon.

Anyway, as I said, I arrived on Friday evening, about 7pm. It was gloriously sunny in Inverness - I hadn't been expecting that at all!! So, I checked into my room in the hotel and quickly went out to find a pub with some outside space to enjoy the sunshine. I took these pictures at about 8.30pm. It stayed light until around 10pm - very weird after just returning from Jamaica!









I was on my own for the evening, as the girls I knew that would be at the wedding were either part of the bridal party or travelling up the next day. I enjoyed a couple of pints in the sunshine, then had a lovely pizza at a restuaurant just across the river (though not as good as a Chances pizza!). The restaurant was filled with posters of Barga - a tiny Italian mountain village that I visited last year, which was a strange coincidence!

After my lager and red wine, I was feeling a little tipsy, so decided it was best to head to bed, to get enough sleep for the long day ahead.

[Q3210]

Re: A weekend in Inverness

Jamaica has fairly decent light up to 7pm and perhaps more up to the 21st June, the longest day in the calendar.

Your Inverness looks pretty cool and maybe the farthest north pictures posted here on this Board.

One of my relatives lives in Inverness, but thats the Inverness in the hills of southern St. Ann, Jamaica. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

[wandaweberg]

Re: A weekend in Inverness

Thanks for the photos.

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[Tuff Gong]

Re: A weekend in Inverness


Pretty cool!

[diabolical_Tanya]

Re: A weekend in Inverness

Hey Scotgirl, how's the knee? better I hope [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70459-hugs.gif[/img]

[clairetucker1]

Re: A weekend in Inverness

Hey Empress - thanks for remembering!! I'm just about to go to my first post-injury yoga session so I'll let you know how it is after that!!

After all my time spent tracking down a support for my knee that I could wear on the beach in Negril, I took the bandage off when I got to Jah B's on my first night, and didn't wear any support the whole time I was there! And it was fine until I got back to rainy England and suddenly it seized up again!!

I'll continue with my trip to Inverness later - off to inflict some pain on myself first!!

[Nanook]

Re: A weekend in Inverness

Hi Scotgirl, I love your photos! They are wonderful and I wonder if you have more? It is light out here until between 9 and 9:30pm now. I love it.

[clairetucker1]

Re: A weekend in Inverness

OK, so my knee and I survived yoga...back to the weekend.

And thanks for all the compliments on the photos - it doesn't happen often!!

Anyway, I woke up early on the Saturday as I had to get some last minute bits for the wedding. Went shopping in the city centre - the only pic I have is this -



Slightly random, but I'm amazed by the fact that in Jamaica Clarks shoes are desirable items to own. In the UK it's the really dull shop that sells the sensible shoes that your Mum makes you wear to school. I had to take this photo to show C next time I'm in Jamaica - I chickened out of taking a photo in the store, showing the range of sensible shoes and bored people in there!

So, the wedding went really well - my friend from uni (the bride) looked amazing. The reception was in a beautiful country house hotel, and we had the best table for dinner - right in the bay window overlooking the water. Here are some pics from my seat at dinner (and before you ask, no that's not UFOs, just the reflection of lights in the window!):



And the ubiquitous sunset (but this time through a window instead of on the beach):


A good night was had by all, although I couldn't partake in the ceilidh dancing because of my knee. The next day I was meeting my Mum and Dad, as they'd driven the 2+ hour drive from my home town to come and see me - bless them!

[clairetucker1]

Re: A weekend in Inverness

I woke up bright and early on the Sunday morning, surprisingly hangover-free.

Unfortunately the weather had taken a turn for the worse, and it was pelting down with rain - and it didn't stop all day. So, given the weather, the ideal first stop on our little family outing was...a big field.

Now, this wasn't just any big field, this was Culloden:







As some of you know, I was actually born in England, but grew up in Scotland. This may not sound like a big deal to some of you, but believe me, it was. My 2 brothers are much older than me, and were already at High School when we moved to Scotland - I was only 2. So, I'm the only person in my whole family with a Scottish accent - and it's a very handy thing to have growing up in rural Scotland! Some of the teachers I adored I later found out would give my brothers the belt just for being "sassenachs"! Anyway, one of the things my mother particularly disliked about my Scottish schooling was the fact that we pretty much only learnt about Scottish history in school. This meant our school trips consisted of going to battlefields to learn about how the evil English massacred the Scots at this particular spot. So, I'd been to Culloden before, and it always stirs up mixed emotions in me - I'm English by blood, but my upbringing was basically as a Scot. Besides, you've got to admire the underdog, and also any nation whose primary weapon is showing their bits to the enemy in an attempt to frighten them! Anyway, I'm rambling now!! I did find the little marker stones with the clans names on them very touching:



Needless to say, my Mum stayed in the car while Dad and I walked over some of the battlefield (I think she muttered some about why would you want to fight over this god forsaken place [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70456-eyebrows.gif[/img] ).

Well, I'm afraid that's all the photos I can share - after Culloden we went to the Black Isle Brewery and tasted many, many beers! And then we went for lunch, and I shared my photos from Jamaica with my parents - surprisingly I had less in-depth questioning than I expected! I think my Mum's waiting until my Dad isn't around to ask the questions she really wants to!!

Then, all too soon it was time to catch my flight back to London town. By this point it was raining so hard, the airline provided a bus to the plane from the terminal building - the plane had to be all of 30 feet away!

And now, it's back to work and back to saving for my next trip...I wonder where that'll be to [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/img]

[R00TS]

Re: A weekend in Inverness

Just wanted to let you know I enjoyed this also [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]
I was wondering where your brothers ended up living and
are you doing a jamaican trip report soon? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/proud_jamaica.gif[/img]

[clairetucker1]

Re: A weekend in Inverness

Thanks Roots.

My brothers both joined the forces as soon as they could to escape Scotland, and both settled in London when they finished their time. Now one's living about an hour from me and the other works overseas - they still like visiting Scotland, and made some lifelong friends there, but neither would ever live there again!

Not sure when I'll do my Jamaican trip report - I was very organised and took a journal with me this time, but for some reason every time I thought about writing in it, I didn't want to! So, it'd be from memory - besides, I didn't do much except watch football matches and play pool so it wouldn't be very interesting! I'll have a look at the photos I got and see what I can do!

[Q3210]

Re: A weekend in Inverness

About Clarks shoes. There products have a special part of fondness to Jamaican men for years.

Strong and sturdy, fashionable and masculine.

[swedishrasta]

Re: A weekend in Inverness

((((ScotGirl))))
Thank you so much for sharing your pics. My ex-husband was of Scottish descent and really treasured his Scottish heritage. He wanted to wear a the Traditional wear at our wedding in Ja...[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

Iverness is just gorgeous and the little city center reminds me of the city center in my home town. Lord...am I ever homesick....I want to spend some of those long summer nights. The sun at home doesn't go down until late late at night in the summer.

Thank you again and I would love to read a petite trip report from your Ja trip. (especially anything you would share about Jah B's...thinking of staying there on my next reach).

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