Day 9
Today’s journey took us through the Argryll Forest and a stop at the Inveraray Jail. The rainfall over the past few days made this journey a bit longer as some roads were closed due to landslides. Our first clue to the vast amount of rain was the water pouring off a set of stairs next to the hotel But our extrordinaary coach driver Eddie wound his way around the mountansides to Inverary. Some may say, it’s a dreich day! – Said in reference to the weather, when it’s cold, damp and miserable.
Inveraray Jail is a living museum and visitor attraction where real people portray life in a 19th century prison. We were encouraged to sit in the restored 1820s courtroom with lifelike models and listen to excerpts from trials of the past before moving on to the prisons below and meeting with Warden Matron and the prison guides, all dressed in period costumes.
Afterward we boarded a boat for a cruise on Loch Lomond, the jewel in Scotland’s first National Park. It was so beautiful.
After our fabulous potluck cocktail party yesterday we had enough food left over to again take over the lobby of the Loch Long Hotel and enjoy drinks and treats. Followed by our final dinner together was filled with much laughter and good cheer. We were all sad to think we had to travel back to Boston tomorrow. Alas, it was off to our rooms to pack all of our treasures to bring back to the States.