“It’s my fault.”
Someone once told me that statement is the husband’s secret to happiness. I’m happy to say it in jest, because Anne’s open heart and mind enable us to talk about everything until consensus emerges. So this time the quip is that during initial planning for this UK/EU Adventure I wanted to visit Inverness and she didn’t. Now that we’ve both greatly enjoyed this lovely city in the Scottish Highlands (and the thoughtful dialog that brought us here), “taking the blame” is my playful “told you so.” 😀
105639 LHR to Inverness
It didn’t add all that much to the cost of our trip, so a night’s sleep after our whirlwind London walking tour we were winging out of LHR up over the English countryside. Far too soon, high and fast in this jet, we descended over the heather nearing the wide mouth (Inver) of the River Ness.
115518 Scottish Highlands
We both enjoyed every moment of the journey: London hotel to LHR, flight, and bus into the city. But I’ll spare you those pix and go next to what greeted us outside the bus station.
6772 Scottish Air
The general air of healthy, friendly, hardy people bustling about uncrowded sidewalks contrasts with stolid stone buildings, noble statues, and flags snapping in the brisk wind. It’s instantly refreshing. Those signs on the left point out the direction and walking times to various local points of interest in the native Gaelic and English. We wandered smiling, popping into the occasional shop in large part just to taste the flavor of routine life here.
104650 Colorful Streets
An easy stroll from here is the river, where a beautiful pedestrian bridge beckoned us to explore the more residential side.
6788 Footbridge
Instead we detoured a few steps to check out perhaps the city’s oldest active church.
6793 Old & Older
The building on the right is older than most in the U.S., and on the left stand remains of one with 1607 carved on it and tombstones silently crumbling to sand inside.
From there we wandered more of the city’s daily life. In time we strolled back to that footbridge, and paused out over the Ness for a longer look at the residential side.
6828 Along the Ness
Back on the downtown side an imposing brick castle (now refurbished government building) stands guard on the distant hill.
6829 River Ness
Walking along the river we got a closer look at the castle and imagined how everything looked at various points back into the distant past.
6847 Proud Castle
Eventually we explored our way toward our B&B that seemed so exotic when booked from home, now nestled among assorted tidy homes. We’d already exchanged friendly looks, greetings and some conversation with locals but when we noticed this dude’s dog he proffered what was easily the most demonstrative wave and posed for a pic.
Most yards had flowers in front, and glancing over the fence as we passed this back yard glimpsed the owner’s little heaven.
6877 Scottish Sanctum
Unlike many (most?) cities, fences here are of a height to establish dominion but low enough to invite conversation if agreed by exchange of mutually approving non-verbal eye contact.
After friendly dialog with our host, depositing our light luggage and freshening up, we headed back toward town to seek out dinner. We enjoyed a gourmet meal with glorious view of the Ness & castle, a sound sleep in our comfy room, and a morning meander around the castle. In front of the castle wall atop the hill we snapped these views before heading to catch our train.
6895 Castle View
6908 Along the Ness
John & Anne Wiley 
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