Who doesn’t love a day on the beach–a double hot beverage for myself, listening to the waves lap on the firth was a delight.
The person whom might not enjoy the scenery would be the Rosemarkie man, whom was murdered and left in the caves many a year ago and found. The history of what happened can be read on this link–I admit, he is quite handsome but then again, I am in the highlands of Scotland.
Enjoying reading about the local history on beach placards and watching families build sand castles on the beach, despite the cold wind, made for quite a day. The Rosemarkie Beach cafe not only offers tasty hot beverages but outside seating for ease and enjoyment–which is a delight, and offers a few local postcards as well.
While in Tain today, we ate more fish and chips (it’s so delicious, especially with malt vinegar and salt!) We stopped at the local chippy, to pickup lunch and a beverage, after doing some walking and touring. We went down to the Rose Garden to enjoy our meal, spectacular meal with quite a view!
A stop off to get a pot of tea and a pastry is always essential on an adventure, like the Hobbits–there is always time for such necessities.
While Kevin enjoyed a Cappuccino, I enjoyed a blended fusion pot of tea and some scones shared between us. What better way than to start of the daily adventure and tours?
We walked up Lamington Street in Tain, we stopped to read and admire the statue/monument and moved forward to the oldest royal burgh in Scotland.
The Tain Museum and Ross Center is free of admission but the volunteer on site gave Kevin and I the most amazing tour of the museum, the old church and the cemetary on site–so it’s a must!
King James visited Tain in the past and even attended this church, which has been historically maintained through the years. It is now on the historical registry.
The small painting in the photos below is part of the history musuem and I absolutely love it, noting that is worth sharing. It reminds me of Scotlands history as well as Ms. Price in Bed Knobs and Broomsticks (Disney Movie!)
A quaint little village along the banks of Loch Ness, enroute to Urquhart Castle, Drumnidrochit is a lovely place to spend an afternoon, meandering your way around and looking for Nessie and more. The Nessie cafe is also a delightful place to stop for a good lunch and some hot beverages on a chilly day–and one can see a perfect replication of Urquart castle in the center of the village.
The history continues to unfold here in the Highlands of Scotland. Kevin and I are discovering all kinds of old and new history- tucked away in each corner and Glenn we stumble across, literally and figuratively.
Built in 1245 A.D. what is left/seen is only a fraction of what was originally built. Fortrose lies between Avoch and Rosemarkie on the A832 on the southern coast of the Black Isle. Many of the buildings are of an ornate Victorian style, evidence that it was during this historical period that it went through a rapid period of expansion. However, other buildings are evidence of a much older history. Just to the seaward side of the High Street is Fortrose Cathedral.It was built in 1250 A.D., and though only a fraction of the original building remains standing, it is an impressive sight. These ruins are older than the USA, and yet, here they stand strong.
It was a rather chilly afternoon, so Kevin and I popped across the street after the ruins and had a pint to warm up, at Union Tavern–always a friendly venue.
Yes, this deserves its own blog post here, it was that delicious!
Kevin and I, while in Cromarty, on the Black Isle, had our very first Fish and Chips in Scotland-garden peas, salad, and a homemade cream sauce/tartar included–absolutely worth it! While I had eaten at this restaurant many years before, I knew how delightful the cuisine is at Sutor Creek-but for Kevin, it was a first, and he couldn’t get enough!
Located on Cromarty Firth in the Black Isle of Scotland, not far from Inverness, it is well worth the efforts and travels to get there, highly recommended. Make reservations beforehand, it’s that good!
It all started in the little town of Wiggins, Colorado…We started our grande adventure in Cromarty, Black Isle of Scotland!
We started off by getting coffee in downtown Inverness at Cafe Nero–and headed to the Farraline bus station to catch our bus (of course, we got the megarider, 4 zone bus card, from StageCoach!)
We dismounted the bus at Victoria Hall in Cromarty and walked down to the firth to watch the water lap up on the shore lines and made our way down High Street, to visit the Library (I needed to use the ladies room) and librarian gave us a local site seeing map.
We continued our walk and picked up another coffee to go at the local venue and we checked out the Gaelic chapel and the courthouse and Hugh Miller Cottage from the exterior as they were closed.
We walked further along the path and came to the East High Church and entered. It has always been one of my most favorite places on the planet. It’s a preserved and restored Medieval Churches, full of carvings and stone scrolled head stones and more.
There so many headstones carved and scrolled out by the Protestant Reformer Hugh Miller, his handywork and skills are seen in so many forms, not only in the graveyard but around Cromarth and Inverness as well. Stunning! As seen by the photos, Kevin can’t get enough of it either!
We followed the signsTaking note of pretty rod iron fences along the wayNoting stone walls and holly treesthe old organ from the churchthe reverands office doorCarvings by Hugh MillerKevin being the walk around the perimeterShopping/goodies tote in haulMe in one of the best places on earthSeveral headstone carved by Hugh Miller, the Protestant Reformer, Fossil Findeer and MasonEast High Church, Cromarty, and Anna PotthoffHeadstones Anna PotthoffAnna Potthoff, AdventurerEast High Church, CromartyEast High Church, CromartyEast High Church, CromartyEast High Church, CromartyEast High Church, CromartyEast High Church, CromartyKevin R. Harris @ East High Church, CromartyEast High Church, CromartyEast High Church, CromartyEast High Church, CromartyEast High Church, CromartyEast High Church, CromartyThe coffers help keep the church going as it’s medivel and volunteer supportedEast High Church, CromartyWe had to get coffee before our adventure started Getting coffee at NeroEast High Church, CromartyEast High Church, CromartyEast High Church, CromartyCoffee timeDropping off postcards on the corner in CromartOne of my favorite houses, I love the gates and the old treesEnjoying the walk towards the firthCoffee @ Nero while we waited for our bus slotOne of my favorite houses, I love the gates and the old treesEnjoying the walk towards the firthDropping off postcards on the corner in CromartGetting coffee at NeroCoffee time
Our group caught a tour/speed boat to Isle Saona, the southern tip of Dominican Republic. We spent a splendid day tour of the National park. There are only 600 inhabitants live in a 1000K radius.
The trip there was taken by Speed boat (as you can see in the video, I was in the front and taking the bounce of every break we hit!)
I have never had much experience with boats/rafts/kayaks/catamarans or any other kind of water or seafaring vessel- so riding in a speed boat and a cataraman in the same day was quite an adventure! the dance party aboard the catamaran on the return voyage as also quite delightful.
While on the Island, the tour company provided us with lunch and beverages, buffet style, and it was lovely–I also picked up a couple of souvenir conch shells as well from a local man.
Enroute to the Island, the speed boat stopped at the lagoon. We swam on and near the sand bars was a splashing good time. According to the tour guide/captain, the area was used for some filming of the movies “Blue Lagoon” with Brooke Shields and some scenes in the Pirates of the Caribbean Movies staring Johnny Depp. Once we re-boarded the speed boat, we left for the Island.
Several hours of play and fun on the island required a 1.5 hour return to Punta Cana, for the end of a splendid day.
The boats are “docked” on the lagoon while we splash and playTrying to be fancy and fun in the sun with my sun bonnetTrying to be fancy and fun in the sun with my sun bonnetBouncing on the boat as I was placed in the front and bounced with every waveAll of us playing in the lagoon with the sandbarsOur arrival boatMe and my Sweetness on the islandI got a conch shell on Saona Island my second Conch Shel a Souvenir for my parentsMy sweetness with his UV blocking shirtPapa and Abuelita Sandra on the CatermerannSaona Island, Dominican Republic Speed BoatPapa and Aunt MargieSweetness on the IslandOur Group, including me, Papa, Aunt Margie, Ms. Sandra, and Mr. JED Horton and Sweetness David Jones Papa and Ms Sandra on CataramaranMe adn my Sweetness
A lovely fun filled day that started off by my sweetheart booking a special, day long tour for me with the concierge desk man, after viewing through some pamphlets and books, everthing was arranged by Thursday evening–so all I had to do was take my receipt and hop on the tour bus at 7 a.m this morning-with promises of a bilingual/multilingual tour guide (English featured.)
To start off, the tour bus stopped at several locations to pick up other adventure goers–and I was blessed to have a nice accountant from Argentian lady set next to me, as it was a very full tour. She only spoke spanish, with a very limited smattering of English and with the multilingual tour guide speaking in Spanish, German adn French and a few words of English, my day was started and finished in Spanish, the most common language of the tourists and German, the other language spoken on the bus-for a day filled with history and exicitement.
First stop was a the Tres Ojos Caves, so aptly named for the three caves, each bearing natural water pools with a different eye color in each. Cynthia, the lovely Argentian lady, and I became travl buddies for the day and enjoy walking up and down the 500+ stairs of the caving system and she assisted in simplifying the spanish for me to understand–reading spanish is easier but listening is a bit hectic when it’s fast!
Las Damas Cave–the legend goes that if you put your feet in the fresh water, make a prayer and a wish and a splash, the prayer and wish comes true
The next few stops included the Christopher Columbus museuem and the Presidental house, neither which are view-able at present for various reasons but still a site to behold–and the seeds are from the palm trees and they are prevelant everywhere!
Eating lunch in the old part of the city inside of ruin walls
The group walked through the aldstatd, the older part of the city with the pantheon ruins, a museum that once was a fortress (see photos) and then the St. Marie De Menos Cathedral and then a free period of shopping and enjoying the plaza and live music!
My Argentianian companion described the day perfectly, lots of really informative venues, many cool sites and it’ was so hot outside, we were the butter on the stove (we were melting!)
And if any one has an opprotunity to try it. Mamanhuana is worth drinking! I also drank coffee and enjoyed the live music from an elderly musician on the Parque Colón, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana
My siblings and I always love to watch the pigeons (which we say “PIE-GONES” beause my brother mispronounced when he was a kid) and so if I see pigeon in the plaza, i got to take photos Drinkingcoffee on the plaze
A day excursion first to Higuey for a bit of local shopping, and yes, I picked up some goodies, and then our chauffer drove us to one of his favorite locations to eat a late lunch–I never caught the name of the venue but it was amazing with fresh catch of the day–under a thatched dining area overlooking the “Goonies” style cove–absolutely stunning and lovely get away from the resort and it was tourist free (besides us) and my bilingual boyfriend was able to talk for all of us–what a splendid experience! Well worth the efforts to get there@
Boca De Yuma CoveMr. Horton and Ms. SandraOur GroupGoonies looking coveMs. Sandra and Mr. HortonMe and my SweetnessNatures Best at the coveThatch roofing is so common hereFresh Caught Shrimps in a creamy sauce in a Plantain bowl, a local favoriteFresh Catch of the dayFresh Caught Snapper
My Travels 