Inverness

 June 11

We thoroughly enjoyed sleeping in, having a leisurely hot shower and not having any

where we need to be.  We venture out to have a late breakfast and just down the street is an organic, family run pancake place.  Oh, the pictures of the choices are enticing!  There was a bit of a wait but well worth it.  I had 2 light, fluffy pancakes with dark chocolate, strawberries and cream.  After breakfast, we found the tourist information place where walking tours were supposed to start from.  They aren't doing them any more.  Trusty friend, Rick Steves, had a short one that we followed.  Many of the streets in the center of the old town are now pedestrian walkways.  There were several people busking.  I particularly enjoyed a young woman singer.  We got caught up in the gift shops.  I resisted buying anything.  Knowing that whatever I buy, I have to haul around for the next 5 weeks, keeps me from succumbing to impulse shopping.  

Marilyn and Connie decide to go back to the hotel and rest but Melodie and I want to walk down by the river.  We cross the "bouncy bridge" which is a pedestrian suspension bridge.  Between the wind and the bounce, it's a challenging walk.  Across the river is a tartan store that has several books with samples of various clan tartans.  I decide to look up the Scott tartan.  There are several from different time periods and seasons.  They also have various souvenirs related to the different clans.  I succumb and do some impulse buying of little clan trinkets.  

We walk along the river's edge for quite awhile and then turn back.  When we meet back up with Connie and Marilyn, we find that they got sidetracked and went in to a bar, Hootenannies, that is famous for good live music and really enjoyed themselves.  

For dinner we again go to a nearby restaurant.  Local beer and wood fired pizza.  It is a popular place but we are able to find a place to sit, sharing a table with several others.  We get 2 small pizzas - a mushroom one and a blue cheese with something that we didn't know what it was.  Both excellent.  We need another one and order one with lamb meatballs.  Also wonderful.  I think whatever we ordered would have been great.  The beer was good too.  

After dinner, Melodie and I decide we need to go to Hootenannies before turning in.  The place is full but not crazy crowded.  We sit down on the floor in front of the table closest to the stage.  A young gentleman comes and brings us chairs.  So now we have the best seats in the house!  A fiddler and a guitarists are really filling the room with wonderful music.  The fiddler has a board under his feet that he uses for percussion.  The energy level is really high and several people are dancing.  The next group of musicians is a drummer, accordion and guitar.  They were really good also but we liked the first group a bit better.  I sure don't have the dancing stamina that I used to have!