Final days in Inverness

Day 11: I learned long ago while traveling solo that it is OK — in fact, recommended— to take a day off. Traveling is exhausting, mentally and physically. And when solo, only you make the decisions, deal with the unknown and unfamiliar, learn the currency denominations and calculate the exchange rate, order items from a menu with often little clue what you will get, figure out where you order and pay, determine if a taxi driver is honest and safe, know if you are on the right bus or train and when to get off, decide when dining whether you can leave your table to use the bathroom without your food being cleared and your table given away or which belongings you can safely leave at the table while you’re gone.

And I’m in a country that speaks my language and actually likes Americans! But even so, I allowed myself a day off. 

So Day 11 was a rest day. I had purchased some essential food items to last me til dinner. I watched stupid American sitcoms on my iPad. I wrote and read and slept in my little room on the toppety toppest floor of the guesthouse where I’m staying. 

After a long afternoon nap, I quickly showered and headed to the pub in hopes of still being able to get a table. And I had a fabulous time!! I met 3 other solo travelers: from Alabama by way of Nashville, from the Czech Republic by way of Germany, and from Germany, ummm, by way of Germany (so just Germany). We listened to live music, a couple of us danced (not I), we took selfies, and we exchanged stories. It was such a wonderful time that, though difficult this far north and so close to the summer solstice, I walked home after dark (it is really only truly dark here from about 11:00 pm to 3:00 am).

Day 12: For my last full day in Scotland, I took a taxi to Culloden Battlefield, which is famous on its own, but if you’re an Outlander fan, it is even more renowned. The Scots may not have known what to do when all these American women showed up already in love with Jamie Fraser. But they responded. I don’t know how famous Clan Fraser was before the Outlander series, but it is currently referenced frequently in gift shops and on store fronts. You can even book an “Outlander Tour.”

And thus ends my trip. Tomorrow I begin the long trek home. Probably with another rest day, I could have rallied and gone to Edinburgh or beyond. But I’m ready. A new life awaits me at home, and I’m ready for what’s next.

And now, photos (click to enlarge):

Sunrise on the left in Aviemore, 3:49 am! I woke up to go to the bathroom at what I thought was “the middle of the night.” No, that would be “dawn.” And barely dusk over the River Ness, at 9:00 pm. But in the winter it is the opposite — full sunlight only from ~11:00 am to 3:00 pm!!! I could not do it.

My little room on the top floor of this little guesthouse.

Fun at the Highlander pub.

Images from Culloden. The wide open field does not look ideal for a battle to me. Note that the stone marker for Clan Fraser is roped off. It is the only one that is. I’m thinking that is to deter Outlander fans from taking selfies? It’s actually a mass grave, people! Not a TV set.

Not every place is historic 😉