A special treat awaited for me in Kensal Green, London. A young man from Finland willing bestowed a lovely song up our music loving group, performed by him, sung in Finnish, entertaining the whole group. Lots of fun, a great way to enjoy the accommodations!
Culture is in the eye of the beholder and the artists of old captured the essence of all things great in the centuries before us….and viewing them is free at the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square in downtown London.
A fabulous aspect of the National Gallery is the general entrance is free, which is great for those traveling on a budget like myself. I attended/viewed the Gallery a total of 3 times to get through all the exhibitions (not fully shown here). The exhibits are large, spacious, and overly awesome to boot. Why? The National Gallery offers era’s from classical to Renaissance to Modern, DaVinci to Rubens to Van Gogh to Monet to Post Modern Art. It is all very wonderful.
The Gallery also sets on Trafalgar Square, which in its own ways is always awesome, a full day or two of free adventures all in one wonderful location, well worth checking out and very friendly on the wallet (post cards of must of the art work is also available for those without a photographic eye or wanting to play “Where’s Waldo” postcard style).
Rosemarkie, a charming small town along the Moray Firth on the Black Isle, is a quaint place to wander, taking in the sea air and the charms of the area. Everything is acccessible by foot, once arrived in the town, which is a really nice treat.
The Church parish itself is easily found, tucked away just behind the High Street, along the Moray Firth, which offers stunning views inside the parish church as well as in the Kirkyard.
The church, founded by St. Boniface, is lovely and includes old history:
The town of Rosemarkie, though no large, is of considerable antiquity. It was erected into a royal burgh by Alexander, King of Scotland, probably Alexander II. The town of Chanonry was united to the burgh of Rosemarkie by a charter granted by King James II., anno 1444, under the common name of Fortross, which charter was ratified by King James VI., anno 1592; and confirmed in a still more ample form by the same monarch in the year 1612. (Source Link)
The Struy Guest House has honestly been the very best
accommodation that I have stayed in while traveling and adventuring. The property manager, Kasper, has been super friendly and accommodating, the premises clean and neat, everything is tidy, and it is very affordable.
I love that it is located about a Mile from downtown Inverness, easily within walking distance (with a lovely walk to and from) but also located about 2 blocks from a bus stop. The quiet neighborhood provides an extra air of serenity. A simple breakfast is provided with a small extra charge but it is a great way to kick off the day.
I really liked it, too, because it wasn’t the run of the mill, generic place to crash, very pretty cottage style house, which added to the ambiance of visiting Scotland. Shared rooms and suites both have amenities such as coffee/tea pots and more, which is super helpful, comfortable bedding and always kept clean.
I thoroughly enjoyed staying here as I met some really great people and felt very comfortable, relaxed, and at ease, which is a huge thing I often don’t find at hotels/motels, etc. (Keep in mind, I have never tried an AirBnB)
Struy House 109 Ballifeary Road, Inverness, Scotland iv35p3
struyguesthouse@gmail.com
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/15229912
Vincent Van Gogh style original abstract impressionistic oil painting of dreams and blooms during a raging storm. Original, signed 16×20 inch framed on stretched canvas, ready to hang. Oil painting, vivid brush strokes. #art #oilpaintings #canvas #impression #vincentvangogh #style. ready to hang as it is mounted on wood framing. Make me an offer!!! Click Here to make an offer/purchase
Please, take a moment to watch the video. I originally made the video for my younger brother as part of a conversation we were having (via Whatsapp) and he thought I should share.
The poster, in which I referenced, is located towards the bottom of the post/blog, along with some of the words in a language that i use in English that are not English.
Original Language Word
German Schnitzel
German Brotchen
Spanish Guacamole
Spanish Tapas
Russian Czar
British English Rucksack
Turkish Yufka, pida
Italian Tiramisu, cappuccino
Seek out local events, read/seek the local posters and attend local events (there are often free, inexpensive venues)
Hear music? Hunt down the source, ask a local about something interesting in the area. Use your senses, get “lost” by wandering and treasures will unfold
Try the local fare and cuisine, ask the server the daily special, purchase chow from a food wagon/truck
This is a great tip but by also checking out the postcards before endeavoring on the daily adventure, a postcard will also some highlights of the town/area you might not otherwise known of previously and thus will discover awesome things while hunting the sites
15% of the sale price benefits:
Original, signed, new, ready to hang, mounted canvas” $1,500 or best offer (will accept as low as $499)
Wonderful fashion and treasures on my eBay
What an exciting and interesting afternoon-evening of people watching. So much variety and interactions galore–skipping children, a bicycle with a legit trailer, a skinned knee, an elderly man whistling down the cobble stones, a couple on a date (and enjoy Apfel Streudel) and so much more!! While enjoying the visual stimulation, my taste buds were delighted by Blood Orange infused teas and a snack on the very busy platz. What a beautiful day!!! 
My Travels 