The SCOTS LAND...and the ORkNEyS

SO it has been a few days since I last updated the blog...but it is definitely not because I wasn't enjoying myself. Scotland is AWESOME!!! Before flying out of Galway...which was an experience on it's own....(Jessie doesn't like small planes much)....we decided to hire a car for two days and go exploring. Since I was the only one with driving experience on left side of the road, I was volunteered...and to be honest....i loved it. It was like being back in New Zealand all over again....well, besides the crazy right hand turn rule....thank god that doesnt exist here. Anyways, we spent the first afternoon cruising up the northwest coast outside of Galway, down some funky little dirty roads, onto some beautiful coral encrusted beaches, and to one the best fish and chips places I have ever been to. That night we visited a great local pub...well, we thought it was a local pub, until we realized it was just after college finals, and there was a dueling guitar performance going on...and yes, we decided to close down the bar. It was also the last night of a mate that we met from Killarney, and we had to send her off proper. The next morning, we awoke bright and early at 6am and headed for the Cliffs of Moher....which are spectacular. Luckily we got there super early and there were no tourists. We explored, hiked, took heaps of pictures, and right when the tour buses showed up...we got the heck out of dodge. WE got to the airport and right on time...flew from Galway, Ireland to Edinburgh Scotland....and I slept the whole way. After arriving in Edinburgh, we met up with some family friends who were nice enough to host and feed us for two days, and gave us a great tour of the local pubs, Edinburgh Castle, and the downtown streets of Edinburgh. After the wonderful tour, Jessie and I took off on a good 10 mile hike to the top of Arthur's Seat and throughout the streets of Edinburgh, which is a beautiful city.....and that is saying a lot, b/c I do not prefer cities much.
Anyways, after two days in Edinburgh we were ready for our next adventure. Due to the fact that hiring a car is much cheaper and way more convenient than figuring out the bus system...we decided to hire a car and go venture through the highlands of Scotland. We first stopped by Sterling, saw the Castle and the Wallace Monument....which were AWESOME...and then headed north into the highlands, past Lock Lomond and onward to Fort William. We stayed at a cute little bed and breakfast outside of Fort William, and then the next day headed north towards the northern tip of Scotland. Along the way, we stopped by a great distillery, tried the local drink and then finished our day in Thurso, which is just south of the Orkney Islands. Early this morning, we left Thurso and took the ferry to the Orkney Islands, which is my new northern hemisphere's mystical destination. We hired bikes today and spent the day coasting along the countryside, visiting the neolithic inhabitant's standing stone circles, which are approx. 5,500 years old...way older than Stonehendge. This place is not only mystical....but the energy here is like no othere. After our wodnerful bike ride, we came back to the little town of Stromness...where we got some grub, and went and ate our sandwiches and biscuits, over looking a seal colony, the Stromness Harbor, and the North Sea. So far, the trip has been phenomenal and I can only wait for more of the adventures to come. I have rambled on long enough for now...but I hope everyone's summer is filled with heaps of fun, sunshine, and plenty of adventures....equal but different to my own. Until next time.... Cheers to ALL and much Love from Scotland!