Finally...

Well I am FINALLY going to get this blog going since the summer is more than half over for us. It's been an interesting, curious summer full of new twists and turns and unexpected adventures. We arrived in Aguadulce (on the southern coast of Spain) in mid May to reunite with EcstaSea. She had a restful winter nap in port and was ready to come out and play.
We arrived within just a few days of the May full moon and enjoyed her fullness from the foredeck of Esea (my nickname for EcstaSea) in port:

A few days later we heard that a dear friend was very ill in the States, so we packed our bags and headed back home to America.We spent a few days in Tucson home and then went on to California to see her. What a blessed time we had with such a love- heart connection, that it made us thankful that we had come.
Then we flew back to Spain and arrived on Esea just in time for the June full moon. And once again celebrated Her fullness in port:

There was a craft fair in port and we met a really cool couple selling jewelry and unique hats. The hats are made out of a tropical flower out of Columbia.

The hats are funky and fun, as well as the couple, and of course, the Captain just had to have one:

And still EcstaSea had to stay in port and delay her sailing, as we flew to Scotland to our grandson's graduation from the University of St Andrews. It was our first time in Scotland and we began in Edinburg.
We first toured Edinburg Castle in the heart of old town:

Iconic red telephone booth:

And bagpipes everywhere, even in the center of town:

And here in Edinburg we began our exploration of Scottish whiskey with a tour and tasting at the Whiskey Experience. Here is the Captain in front of the largest unopened whiskey collection in the world. All four walls of this room are covered with unique, unopened, old and expensive whiskeys:

Even a bottle made exclusively for Prince Charles and Diana:

Then we picked up Richard's sister Judy and her husband Paul at the airport. We rented a car (which in itself could be a blog about the challenges of driving on the wrong side of the road down dirt paths which they call roads!!!) and drove over to St Andrews for Jack's graduation.

Handsome fellow isn't he? Just like his Grandpop...

...
We had a great week with the family and are so thankful for this time together.
Another plus for the Captain was that he was able to play golf at the oldest and first golf course in the world, The Old Course at St Andrews. This is where it all began and only a golfer would understand the significance.

Hair still windblown, even though he is not on the boat...

The Captain with his caddy...

The Captain, grandson Jack, and brother in law, Paul on the famous Swilcum Bridge on the 18th hole at the Old Course at St Andrews...

After a week with the family, we toured the rest of Scotland with Judy and Paul. We headed north to the Highland region and stayed in Inverness. We drove the next day to the Isle of Skye but typical of Scotland, it was cold and rainy. It was breathtakingly beautiful and reminded us of Alaska. And why we didn't take any pictures is beyond me, unless it was because of the cold and rain!

The next day we went to Culloden where the famous battle of the Jacobite Uprising took place. It was up in this Highland region that was the backdrop for the Outlander Series-- the books and now the TV series, which we can't recommend enough!

It was up in this region that we saw the Highland cows, which we took to calling the "Shaggy Cows".
Really cool, aren't they?

Then we drove by Loch Ness and looked for Nessie, but she was hiding since it was so dreary, rainy out...

Then we headed down south stopping at Whiskey Distilleries along the way...

The last night in Scotland we stayed at a very elegant resort with an extensive whiskey selection in their bar. For some reason the men decided to call it an early night, so Judy and I decided to stroll into the bar to sample some more Scottish whiskey. And yes, they did have quite a selection of which the bartender had great fun bringing to us. And just when we were uncontrollably giggling because we were lost and couldn't find our way back to our rooms, the Captain came just in time to find and rescue us from ourselves.

And yes, we did learn to say the Gaelic toast, "Slainte Mhath"--pronounced "Slange-va". And yes, we said it quite often!!!

Then it was time to cross over to Ireland on the ferry--but that's another story...