A Fairy Tale Castle part 5

September 24-28 Foulis Castle, Evanton, the Scottish Highlands

The flat is built into the castle wall and boasts 2 en suite bedrooms, a well-equipped kitchen, dining room, and a drawing room with fire place on the half-landing.  Hilary lives close by in one of the estate cottages.  Foulis has been the seat of Clan Munro for 800 years and there is a connection to Nova Scotia.  Several Munro baronets were awarded NS land in the 18th century.

And a rainbow too!

Side of Foulis, looking towards Firth of Cromarty

A view from the back of the castle

Crocuses in September!

Bedroom window

William Tell and friend?

 Outside the castle flat.  What is Wayne looking at?

In the enchanted forest

Keyhole window

After we settled in, Hilary took us down the road to The Storehouse, a most amazing restaurant on the Cromarty Firth.  Courgette soup, baked potatoes stuffed with just about anything you could want, and the most enormous meringue I have ever seen, it was the size of small football! 

Sleeping to Inverness Part 4

September 23-24

We packed our bags and tubed it to Euston station during rush hour and with a rugby World Cup match on!  We even had a plan to reunite should we get separated/lost/forget where we were going.  However, under Hilary's excellent leadership we made it to the Caledonian Express, our overnight sleeper train.

Ready to board at Euston Station

All aboard!

Presenting our tickets

Caledonian Express

Lounge car:  tea, single malt and a bumpy ride

Cheers or slaint!

Arrive in Inverness and hop on the train to Dingwall, a 30 minute ride.

Cycling rules!

The light, the light!

Ditto

5 people, 10 pieces of luggage, a large tube (canvas for Wayne), 1 small car. 

 All of us crammed into Hilary's 'wee' car and set off for Foulis Castle (pronounced something like Fowlz), seat of the Munro clan. Hilary lives in one of the estate cottages and we are to spend the next 4 days in a flat built into the castle wall!!!! 

London from the Sky Garden Part 3

Wednesday, September 23

A brilliant sunny day for our last day in London and a visit to one of London's newest attractions: the Sky Garden, on top of what we call the Razor building (it looks like an electric razor).  We've been looking at this building from our flat on the south side every day, not realizing that this was where we were heading with our free booked on-line tickets.

Tall building on the left:  Razor

We met our friend Andrea (from Mae Sot days) and after going through airport-like security and producing photo ID, we were whisked up to the 33rd floor and a 3 story atrium, with a gentle staircase rising from the first level, green trees, ferns, flowers everywhere, a fabulous not expensive cafe, lots of comfy seating and purple blankets in case you were chilly!  And the views weren't bad either! 

Fore: Hilary, Terry, Wayne, Nat, Susan, Andrea

Aft:  Hilary, Terry, Wayne, Nat, Andrea

Outside elegant 3rd level restaurant: photos at 30 paces

Looking down at 1st level

The Shard

Looking at the Thames and the Tower

Alas, it's time to say goodbye to London, and continue the further adventures of Canadians on the loose in the Highlands of Scotland with our intrepid and oh so patient friend Hilary.

London: where Wayne wows 'em at Canada House Part 2

Tuesday, September 22

A little grey drizzle did nothing to dampen our excitement this morning:  Wayne was taking us to Canada House to see his magic carpets and maybe even walk on them.

After figuring out which door to enter and producing passports, we were ushered into the lobby, replete with a throne chair (display only), pictures of the Queen, and an elegant staircase, carpeted in op-art-y kind of stripe (not a Boucher).  We were met by Caroline, the PR person with whom Wayne had been corresponding, and another staffer who wanted to meet Wayne, and then we were off on the tour.  The house has been completely redone, with Canadian art from every province and territory: carpets, paintings, chandeliers, sculptures, furniture.  Every where you look there is something to ohh and aaah about.  Of course, the Wayne pieces stand out; bold, bright, warm.... but I digress....

Waiting outside Canada House...

Canada House lobby papparazzi

Caroline and Wayne

The staircase

Wayne checks out his carpet

Sam checks out a chandelier

The chandelier

Winnie the Pooh in the Manitoba room

Can you spot Terry in her coat-of-many-colors (thanks, Velma Keevil!)

And so we say farewell to Canada House and walk across Trafalgar Square to St. Martin-in-the-Fields for a hearty lunch in the crypt, followed by a concert in the church; piano and saxophone, played like you've never heard a saxophone played before.

After which we strolled up the Mall to Buckingham Palace (the Queen was not in residence, she preceded us to Scotland and Balmoral).

Canadians on the loose....

Having had our fill of 

Royals, we wander through St. James Park, with the occasional rest stop.

 This glass sculpture was designed by Art and Alice White's nephew.

Cyclists are alive and well in London